Mesirow Financial Consulting's Melissa Kibler Knoll Named President-Elect of the American Bankruptcy Institute

Industry Veteran Leads Influential Insolvency Association as Country Seeks Perspective to Improve Policy, Practice and Outcomes

NEW YORK, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesirow Financial Consulting, LLC (MFC) announced today that senior managing director Melissa Kibler Knoll was named president-elect of the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), an organization comprised of over 12,000 professionals with experience in issues related to insolvency. Her election affirms Knoll's past contributions to ABI, most recently as Vice President-Membership. She also serves on ABI's Board of Directors and is a member of the Executive Committee.

As President-Elect, Knoll will draw from 19 years of cross-industry experience providing accounting and financial advisory services to companies, unsecured creditors, secured lenders, and other parties in bankruptcies, restructurings, turnarounds, and related litigation.

Ralph S. Tuliano, MFC president said, "Melissa's role as ABI President-Elect speaks volumes about the reputation she has built as a solutions-minded advisor with objective and keen insight. Throughout her tenure at our firm, she has been instrumental in developing Mesirow Financial's position as a leader in the restructuring field, and I have seen first hand her ability to navigate challenges with clear thinking, natural leadership and strategic advice. Her voice at the ABI will amplify the important work the organization is doing to foster education and interaction among insolvency professionals worldwide and help our industry navigate an increasingly complex and daunting array of issues."

Knoll added, "ABI understands that the need for idea generation and frank dialogue about insolvency is not contained to any one sector or demographic; it is industry-agnostic and is both a public and private concern in the US and internationally. I feel incredibly proud to be a part of MFC's, and now ABI's, leadership. I look forward to facilitating meaningful insolvency education and contributing to the development of practical solutions for our profession and the constituencies we serve."

Knoll has been integral in driving successful outcomes on a number of high profile engagements, such as Quebecor, Enron, Kmart and Bethlehem Steel, as well as numerous other bankruptcies and confidential out-of-court restructuring matters. Her experience also includes a broad array of work in the fields of litigation support, forensic accounting and expert testimony.

About Mesirow Financial Consulting

A full-service financial advisory consulting provider, MFC provides corporate recovery, litigation and investigative services, valuation services, interim management (services provided by Mesirow Financial Interim Management, LLC), operations and performance improvement, distressed mergers and acquisitions, alternative investment services, due diligence services and technology advisory services.

About Mesirow Financial

Mesirow Financial is a diversified financial services firm headquartered in Chicago. Founded in 1937, it is an independent, employee-owned firm with nearly $31.7 billion in assets under management and more than 1,100 employees in locations across the country and in London. With expertise in Investment Management, Investment Services, Insurance Services, Investment Banking, Consulting and Real Estate, Mesirow Financial strives to meet the financial needs of institutions, public sector entities, corporations and individuals. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, the firm posted $490 million in revenue, with more than $246 million in capital. For more information about Mesirow Financial, visit its Web site at www.mesirowfinancial.com.

SOURCE Mesirow Financial Consulting