Burford research finds cost overtakes legal merits in UK litigation decisions in 2026
BUR•Burford Capital’s research with The Lawyer found that cost has become the top factor in UK litigation decisions, outweighing legal merits alone. The analysis also cited wider use of legal finance and rising law firm investment in technology, including AI.
1. Cost shapes decisions
Burford Capital published market analysis in Burford Quarterly on how capital discipline is reshaping dispute strategy. Research conducted with The Lawyer found that cost has become the top factor in UK litigation decisions, while separate analysis pointed to wider use of legal finance and rising law firm investment in technology, including AI.
