Alvarez & Marsal opens second UK office, in Birmingham

Alvarez & Marsal has strengthened its presence in the UK by opening its first regional office in Birmingham, complementing the firm's previously existing location in London. The office will be spearheaded by restructuring specialist Omar Mirza who joins as a Managing Director.

With over 3,000 people across four continents, Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is one of the world’s leading professional services firms. A&M’s diverse offering includes debt restructuring solutions, insolvency, and creditor advisory offerings for clients. The firm also applies its operational know-how to corporate performance improvement and transformation projects. Alongside a number of new appointments across its global operations, A&M has also been working to expand its office count.

Now, the consultancy has strengthened its presence in the UK by opening its first regional office in Birmingham, aimed at assisting business leaders across the Midlands. The news comes as the region faces significant uncertainty, with the impact of Brexit, a slow-down in the global economy, fluctuating currency rates, and changes in consumer spending meaning that firms may need to make fundamental changes to protect and grow their businesses.

The new office will be spearheaded by former Deloitte restructuring specialist Omar Mirza who joins as a Managing Director. Mirza brings considerable experience with clients in the area to the role, having been based in Birmingham since 2001, advising on a number of high-profile turnaround and restructuring projects in the Midlands and nationally.

Commenting on the development, Omar Mirza said, “The vast majority of Midlands businesses are built on solid foundations. But after a decade of cheap credit, many are faced with the challenge of managing overleveraged financial structures at a time when margins are coming under pressure. These companies should take early action to best protect value for all stakeholders. We are here to help them and believe a local presence is important for our clients who want advice from people who know the local market but have access to global capabilities.”

Mark Firmin, Managing Director and Head of UK Regional Restructuring, added, “A&M is committed to helping businesses transform across all key UK regions. Omar has unparalleled knowledge of the Midlands market and there is no better person to establish our presence in the region. If the right steps are taken, we believe the local business community will emerge from this period of uncertainty in a position of real strength.”

Related: Alvarez & Marsal launches People & Organisation Change unit in Europe.