Norton Rose Fulbright appoints Scott Atkins as global co-head of restructuring

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright announced today that Australian partner Scott Atkins has been appointed global co-head of restructuring, alongside US-based partner Howard Seife.

Scott and Howard lead a global team of bankruptcy, financial restructuring and insolvency lawyers at the forefront of the most significant cross-border restructuring and insolvency cases involving complex multi-jurisdictional issues and regional insolvency laws.

Scott is a leading lawyer in one of the most reputable restructuring and insolvency practices in the Asia-Pacific region, having been repeatedly recognised as Australia's only ‘Eminent Practitioner’ for this category in the Chambers and Partners regional legal rankings.

Along with this work, Scott is also the chair and head of risk advisory for the firm in Australia and president and an inaugural fellow of INSOL International, as well as chair of INSOL's Asian Advisory Council. He is a member of the International Insolvency Institute and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. Scott is the immediate past president of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association.

Scott brings a long history of advising on international matters. 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.

Norton Rose Fulbright global chief executive partner Gerry Pecht commented:

“We are thrilled to have Scott join Howard in leading this globally renowned team for our clients and our firm. Bankruptcy, financial restructuring and insolvency is a major focus of our cross-border work, and we are fortunate to be trusted by multi-national clients to advise on their most complex matters. 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.”

Scott Atkins commented:

“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 geo-political 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 restructuring team at this important time for our clients and the firm.”