Stephanie Smith
Legal Finance Strategy Leader | Former First-Chair Commercial & IP Litigator | Litigation Portfolio Finance & Legal Asset Monetization
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Specialties & Experience
About Stephanie Smith
I am a former first-chair commercial litigator who now partners with companies and law firms to unlock the strategic value of litigation through legal finance. Over 15+ years in the courtroom—including serving as managing partner of my firm. I led high-stakes commercial and trade secret matters through mediation, trial and settlement. I saw firsthand how capital constraints shape legal strategy, influence risk tolerance and impact outcomes. Over the past seven years in legal finance (across multiple funders) and now at Burford Capital, I have evaluated opportunities and structured investments with a focus on merits, damages, budget discipline, risk allocation and incentive alignment. My background as lead trial counsel and firm leader informs how I assess not only legal strength, but also the real-world drivers of value: timing, collectability, settlement dynamics and decision-making under uncertainty. I also understand what law firms need from funding arrangements—from portfolio management to economics and partnership. If you’re a GC, CFO, founder or firm leader looking at a high-value matter and asking, “Is this the best use of our capital?”—that’s exactly the conversation I love having.
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