Richard P. Cook

Attorney/Founder

BIO:

Richard P. Cook is the owner and managing attorney of Cape Fear Debt Relief, a boutique bankruptcy firm located in Wilmington, N.C. Founded in 2011, Cape Fear Debt Relief represents individuals and small businesses in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 cases before the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in Eastern North Carolina. Richard is board certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in both business and consumer bankruptcy law. A proud double Tarheel. Richard received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Richard serves as a Chapter 11 Subchapter V Trustee for the Eastern District of North Carolina. In 2020, Richard was recognized by the American Bankruptcy Institute as a “40 Under 40.” Richard is a frequent speaker at state and national bankruptcy conferences, regularly argues cases before the Fourth Circuit, and files amicus briefs on behalf of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys in various Circuit Courts of Appeals throughout the country.

Experience:

Chapter 11, Subchapter V Trustee, Eastern District of North Carolina, February 2020 – present
Owner | Managing Attorney, Richard P. Cook, PLLC dba Cape Fear Debt Relief Wilmington, North Carolina, November 2011 – present
Represent trustees, consumers, and small business owners in Chapters 7, 11 and 13 cases before the Eastern District of North Carolina Bankruptcy Court, District Court and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
Successfully argued rehearing en banc before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Hurlburt v. Black, 925 F.3d 154 (4th Cir. 2019) (en banc)

Circuit Leader, Fourth Circuit – National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (2019 to 2021)
Subcommittee Co-chair – National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees Orders/Rules/Model Documents Subcommittee (2021 – 2022)
Board Member N.C. Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Section Council (2013 – 2016; 2023-present)
Co-authored multiple Circuit level amicus filings on behalf the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys including, Isaacs v. DBI-ASG Coinvestor Fund, III, LLC (In re Isaacs), 895 F.3d 904 (6th Cir. 2018), and Miller v. United States, 71 F.4th 1247 (10th Cir. 2023)

Select speaking engagements:

December 2023 – “Merchant Cash Advance Lending,” 46th Annual N.C. Bankruptcy Institute, Asheville, NC
November 2023 – “Subchapter V: Streamlined and Debtor Friendly Version of Chapter 11,” NACBA’s Member-Only Workshop, Nashville, TN
June 2023 – “Hot Topics in Consumer Bankruptcy,” Eastern Bankruptcy Institute, Myrtle Beach, SC
July 2022 – “Nondischargeability Litigation,” American Bankruptcy Institute, Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop, Amelia Island, FL
June 2022 – “Discharges in Subchapter V, What Has Changed from Chapter 11, What Remains the Same,” National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, Vancouver, BC, Canada
April 2022 – “Advanced Chapter 13 Hot Topics,” American Bankruptcy Institute, Annual Spring Meeting, Washington, DC
November 2021 – “The Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019: The Bankruptcy Code’s Newest (Sub)Chapter,” American Bankruptcy Institute, 2021 Consumer Practice Extravaganza
August 2021 – “Getting Paid: An Overview of Subchapter V Trustee Compensation,” National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, Chicago, IL
December 2020 – “Subchapter V Update,” 43rd Annual N.C. Bankruptcy Institute, Cary, NC
May 2020 – “SBRA Workshop,” National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys

Education:

UNC Chapel Hill, School of Law

Chapel Hill, North Carolina 2007

Juris Doctorate

Co-president, Mediation Team 2005-2007
Best Attorney, Third Round, 1L Mock Trial Competition 2004

Bachelor of Arts, Exercise and Sport Science

UNC Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina 2003

Tulane University

New Orleans, Louisiana 1999 – 2002

Awards:

N.C. Bar Association, 2021 Bankruptcy Pro Bono Award
American Bankruptcy Institute “40 Under 40” in 2020, emerging leader in the insolvency profession
Super Lawyers: 2023
Super Lawyers Rising Star: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Pro Bono Honor Society, Supreme Court of N.C. (50+ hours of pro bono service):
2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Business N.C. Legal Elite for Bankruptcy: 2013, 2016, 2022, 2023

Publications:

Discharges in Subchapter V: What Has Changed? What Remains the Same? Are Elephants Hiding in Mouse holes? ABI Journal, Vol. XLI, No. 6, pp. 24-25, 58, June 2022
Co-Editor, North Carolina Bankruptcy Practice Manual, Ninth Edition, Appeals from the Bankruptcy Court (2023)

Cape Fear Debt Relief : High-Quality Legal Service

If you would like to work with a compassionate, experienced lawyer who cares about you and your legal matter, please contact Richard P. Cook.

Contact our office

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