Hausfeld to Pursue Volkswagen Claims in Germany, Backed by Financing From Burford Capital

BERLIN, Dec. 02, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last month Hausfeld, a global claimants’ law firm dedicated to competition and other complex litigation and cross-border dispute resolution, announced its expansion in Germany. At the same time, Burford Capital (“Burford”), the leading global finance and professional services firm focused on law, announced that it was making available €30 million in financing to Hausfeld for its clients’ German competition and other commercial claims.

Today—with their German agreement in place and in light of the two firms’ shared depth of experience in complex dispute resolution—they announce that Hausfeld, with additional and substantial financing from Burford, will bring its expertise to bear on the multifaceted global disputes pending as a result of the recent Volkswagen AG (“VW”) scandal.

VW admitted on September 18, 2015 that it installed “defeat devices” in millions of diesel cars sold worldwide, thereby harming a variety of constituencies. Achieving a resolution of this global dispute will require expertise in complex negotiation as well as coordinated litigation and cooperation with regulators and governments in the US and Europe.

Hausfeld is ideally suited to play a lead role in this process, given the firm’s recognition as one of the world’s 50 leading negotiators and successes in commercial litigation across multiple jurisdictions.  Burford will provide additional financing to support Hausfeld’s representation of those harmed by VW’s misconduct.

Michael Hausfeld, Chairman of Hausfeld, said: “This is a complex global dispute with broad ramifications not only for VW, but for German workers, business, and the German economy.  The combination of our firm’s skills and achievements with the strength of Burford’s financial backing, make it ideally suited to spearhead a just resolution.”

Christopher Bogart, Burford’s CEO, commented: “Burford has unparalleled expertise in financing complex commercial litigation, and we’re proud to support Hausfeld in this effort. We’re well positioned to work with Hausfeld and we remain committed to ongoing innovation in the field of litigation finance."

About Hausfeld

Hausfeld is a leading global law firm with offices in Berlin, Brussels, London, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. The firm has a broad range of complex litigation expertise, particularly in antitrust/competition, financial services, sports and entertainment, environmental, mass torts, consumer protection, and human rights matters, often with an international dimension. Hausfeld aims to achieve the best possible results for clients through its practical and commercial approach, avoiding litigation where feasible, yet litigating robustly when necessary. Hausfeld’s extensive experience with alternative and innovative fee models offers clients a diverse menu of engagement options and maximum flexibility in terms of managing their cost exposure.

Hausfeld is the only claimants firm to be ranked by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a top tier firm in private enforcement of antitrust/competition law in both the United States and the United Kingdom. For more information about the firm, including recent trial victories and landmark settlements, please visit: www.hausfeld.com.

About Burford Capital

Burford is a leading global finance and professional services firm focused on law.  Burford’s businesses include litigation finance, insurance and risk transfer, law firm lending, corporate intelligence and judgment enforcement, advisory and professional services and a wide range of investment activities.  Burford’s equity and debt securities are publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange, and it works with lawyers and clients around the world from its principal offices in New York and London.

For more information about Burford: www.burfordcapital.com

Hausfeld contacts:

North America:
Deborah Schwartz, Media Relations
240 355 8838
[email protected]
	
Europe:
Andreas Engel, Presse Engel
+ 49 172 450 7579
[email protected]

Burford contacts:	

Investors:
Robert Bailhache, Neustria Partners
+44 (0)20 3021 2581
[email protected]

Europe:
Neil McLeod, PHA Media 
+44 207 0251 350 
[email protected]
 
North America:
Steve DiMattia, Greentarget
+1 646-695-2881
[email protected]