Travis Lenkner

Travis Lenkner is an entrepreneurial leader, strategist, and lawyer who has built and led pathbreaking organizations at the intersection of law and finance.

Recognized by The American Lawyer as an “innovative business creator in the legal space,” Travis has had extensive experience at successful startups as well as large institutions. His background includes co-founding a leading national law firm; launching a global, law-focused investment advisory business; practicing as in-house counsel at a Fortune 50 company; litigating at an AmLaw 25 law firm; and serving as a law clerk at the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a collaborative problem-solver and seasoned executive whom the New York Times described as “driven by a legal reformist spirit and entrepreneurial zeal.”

Most recently, Travis co-founded and was Managing Partner of Keller Lenkner LLC. In just four years, the firm established itself as one of the leading complex-litigation and mass-action firms—growing to more than 120 professionals and three dozen lawyers, securing more than half a billion dollars in settlements, and obtaining successful resolutions for more than 500,000 clients. Travis also co-founded and was a Director of the firm’s European counterpart, Keller Lenkner UK Ltd.

Previously, Travis was one of three partners who launched Gerchen Keller Capital. After entering the nascent litigation-finance market in 2013, GKC grew to become the world’s largest private investment and advisory firm focused on legal and regulatory risk, managing roughly $1.5 billion of institutional capital. In 2016, GKC was acquired by Burford Capital Ltd., which is listed on the New York and London stock exchanges. At Burford, Travis served as Managing Director and was a member of the global Management and Investment Committees.

Before starting his own enterprises, Travis was Senior Counsel at The Boeing Company and an attorney in the New York and Washington, D.C. offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

Travis is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Institute of Judicial Administration at New York University School of Law and the Leadership Council of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke University School of Law. He is frequently featured in the media as an expert on the Supreme Court, complex litigation, and the economics of the legal industry.

Travis was a law clerk for Justice Anthony M. Kennedy at the Supreme Court of the United States and for then-Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He earned his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Kansas Law Review, and his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University.