Duff & Phelps London restructuring boss relocates to Hong Kong

DUFF & PHELPS has announced that it is enhancing the firm’s corporate finance capabilities in Asia.

James Cook, who served as a managing director in the firm’s restructuring practice in London, is relocating to Hong Kong to specialise in local and cross-border financial restructurings, distressed and special situations, debt advisory, and related services.

He will work in partnership with the firm’s existing global restructuring teams that are based in key financial centres around the world – including offices throughout the UK, US, Cayman Islands, Ireland and Canada – and the firm’s existing valuation, disputes and investigations, M&A and fairness opinions practices in Asia.

“Duff & Phelps’ Asia Restructuring Advisory practice will complement our existing services in the region, particularly against the backdrop of rapid credit growth, higher default rates and a proliferation of cross-border stakeholder disputes in Asia,” said David Lu, head of corporate finance in Asia.  “We look forward to leveraging our credibility, broad service offering and international expertise to assist our clients with turnaround and restructuring situations.”

Cook brings more than 15 years of debt advisory and restructuring experience and is a chartered accountant. His experience includes advising creditors, debtors and other stakeholders in a broad range of complex restructuring and insolvency situations, including debt raising and refinancing, options analysis, financial restructurings and contingency planning. Many of these assignments have included cross-border considerations, as well as challenging operational issues.

Duff & Phelps’ presence in Asia includes around 175 professionals in 11 cities throughout the region, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

The firm’s 2015 acquisition of American Appraisal, in particular, contributed to significantly enhanced valuation capabilities globally. The firm’s greater China operations, which can be traced to American Appraisal’s first office in Hong Kong in 1975, are led by Patrick Wu.