Cory Lipoff
Principal & Director
Clipoff@hilcoglobal.com
An expert in insolvency, corporate reorganisation and restructuring, Mr. Lipoff is an internationally recognised specialist in structuring and implementing sophisticated asset redeployment strategies for retailers. During his tenure with Hilco Global, he has led initiatives involving tens of thousands of store locations and inventory valued in excess of $50 billion.
Today, Mr. Lipoff serves as a principal and key management leader at Hilco Merchant Resources, one of the world’s leading retail asset specialists with offices in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Under his leadership, the firm has grown substantially by successfully investing in and improving retail companies and debt and equity investments in such companies, by converting underperforming stores, inventory and related assets to working capital, facilitating mergers and acquisitions, and conducting whole company and divisional wind downs. Additionally, Mr. Lipoff serves as the lead partner responsible for oversight and management of all operations in Australia, after previously serving in that role for Hilco in the UK.
Providing unparalleled operational knowledge and resources to ensure seamless integration, minimal disruption, and maximum results, Cory has led Hilco Merchant Australia to numerous successful transactions including Dick Smith, WOW Superstores, Sleep City, Flether Jones, Mothercare and Allan’s Billy Hyde.
Over the years, Mr. Lipoff has been called upon by many high-profile retail organisations and their advisors to maximise the value of inventory, fixtures and equipment. Included among the notable brands around the world are Disney, Warner Bros., Radio Shack, Dick Smith, Montgomery Ward, Circuit City, Borders Book Stores, Forever 21, Toys “R” Us, Saks Fifth Avenue, Walgreens and many more.
Prior to joining HMR, Mr. Lipoff was a partner in bankruptcy/commercial law at the Chicago office of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue. While at Jones Day, he participated in such major retail chapter 11 cases as Federated Department Stores/Allied Stores Corporation, Herman’s Sporting Goods, Warehouse Club and Gantos. Mr. Lipoff was a member of the Board of Directors, and Chairman of the Compensation Committee, of Loehmann’s Holdings Inc. that, through its subsidiary, operated the nation’s leading specialty off price retailer of high-end designer and brand name apparel from 2000 through October, 2004, when the company was sold to a private equity firm.
Mr. Lipoff is a frequent speaker on legal, financial and bankruptcy cases. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison (1980) and earned his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law (1983).