NRF appoints Australian partner as global co-head of financial restructuring and insolvency
BigLaw firm Norton Rose Fulbright has appointed Sydney-based partner Scott Atkins as its global co-head of financial restructuring and insolvency.
Mr Atkins (pictured) will — alongside US-based partner Howard Seife — lead a global team of bankruptcy, financial restructuring and insolvency lawyers who, the firm said in a statement, are “at the forefront of the most significant cross-border restructuring and insolvency cases involving complex multi-jurisdictional issues and regional insolvency laws”.
“He led a team, working with the Asian Development Bank and the Union Supreme Court of Myanmar, to draft a new insolvency and restructuring framework for Myanmar, culminating in the passage of Myanmar’s Insolvency Law in February 2020 — a transformative and economically important piece of legislation. This has led to similar current advisory work for Scott and the firm in Armenia,” NRF noted.
Speaking about the appointment, NRF global chief executive partner Gerry Pecht said that he is thrilled to have Mr Atkins join Mr Seife in leading this global practice group.
“Bankruptcy, financial restructuring and insolvency is a major focus of our cross-border work, and we are fortunate to be trusted by multinational clients to advise on their most complex matters,” he said.
“Scott’s history of leading insolvency associations, and the unique perspective he has gained from helping countries to modernise their insolvency regimes, will be an enormous benefit to our clients and people.”
Mr Atkins added: “Through the remainder of 2022 and into next year, we expect greater economic headwinds as the result of inflationary pressure, governments winding back COVID support measures and continuing geopolitical unrest, supply chain constraints and rising interest rates.
“These factors will see an increase in cross-border and domestic restructuring and insolvency matters, which we are well placed to help our clients navigate. I am honoured to join Howard in leading our global financial restructuring and insolvency team at this important time for our clients and the firm.”
Mr Atkins is also the chair and head of risk advisory for NRF in Australia, as well as a member of the International Insolvency Institute and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and the immediate past president of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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