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
- 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.
Patrick Riley
Senior Associate
Since 2008, Mr. Riley has focused his practice on business and consumer bankruptcy matters. He has helped thousands of individuals and business owners navigate through the bankruptcy process. In 2010, Mr. Riley was appointed as Special Counsel to the Chapter 7 Trustee and served in that role until the trustee retired. Mr. Riley enjoys assisting clients with credit and personal finance matters. He was formerly an Accredited Financial Counselor ® and published “I Hope I Never See You in My Office” in May 2011.
Mr. Riley has represented a diverse clientele of both debtors and creditors. He has represented banks in foreclosure proceedings and Chapter 11 bankruptcy matters. He has represented investment institutions in licensing actions against financial advisors. Mr. Riley served as general counsel for a multi-state corporation and assisted them with credit and financing transactions. He has litigated bankruptcy matters across North Carolina and in other jurisdictions including New York, Delaware, and Maryland. In 2019, Mr. Riley became a Board Certified Specialist in Consumer Bankruptcy law by the North Carolina State Bar. In 2020, Mr. Riley became a Board Certified Specialist in Business Bankruptcy law by the North Carolina State Bar. He has served as the mentor to new potential specialists since this time. Mr. Riley is also passionate about assisting clients with their business and estate planning needs. He is motivated to help clients meet their immediate objectives and prepare for future life events.
Mr. Riley holds the distinction of being an Eagle Scout and dedicates time as an adult volunteer with his son’s Cub Scout Pack in Wrightsville Beach. He often chides that he “will always be an Eagle Scout first, and lawyer second
Education
- Wake Forest University B.A (2004)
- Oxford University, St Peter’s College Richter Fellowship
- Wake Forest University School of Law J.D (2007)
Bar Admissions
- US District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
- US District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
Certification
- North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization
- Board Certified Specialist in Business Consumer Bankruptcy Law
Professional Memberships
- North Carolina Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section
- National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
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