Richard Preston Cook

Richard P. Cook is the owner and managing attorney of Cape Fear Debt Relief, a boutique bankruptcy firm in Wilmington, N.C., that represents individuals and small businesses in chapter 7, 11 and 13 cases before the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in Eastern North Carolina. In February 2020, Mr. Cook was named a subchapter V trustee for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He is recognized by the North Carolina State Bar as a Board-Certified Specialist in both Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law. Mr. Cook was selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and in 2020 he was honored as one of ABI’s “40 Under 40.” He formerly served on the board of the North Carolina State Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Section Council from 2013-16 and as the Fourth Circuit Chair for the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys from 2019-21, and he is a regular speaker at state and national bankruptcy conferences. In 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021, Mr. Cook was recognized as a Pro Bono Honor Society Inductee by the N.C. Pro Bono Resource Center for providing more than 50 hours of pro bono legal services each year. Prior to founding Cape Fear Debt Relief, he was an associate with Butler & Butler, LLP in Wilmington, N.C., and prior to that, he was an associate with Brock & Scott, PLLC in Winston-Salem, N.C. Mr. Cook 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. He received his undergraduate degree and J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2003 and 2007, respectively.