Jim Zukin

Jim Zukin serves as an Executive Partner to Elara Nova’s Financial Advisory Solutions sector.  Jim was a Co-Founder of Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, now known as Houlihan Lokey (NYSE “HLI”), where he served for 38 years as a Senior Managing Director and later the Chairman of Asia. During Jim’s tenure, the firm grew to be a top investment bank and leader dominating mid-market M&A.  Jim is a noted pioneer in the development of the M&A field, having led, reviewed, or supervised over 1,000 M&A transactions, and co-authored seminal texts on financial valuation. He has established, with his partners: 

• HL as the global leader in M&A financial restructuring and fairness opinions, 
• Creation of the HL Aerospace, Defense, and Government (ADG) Group, a perennial leader in M&A transaction volume, 
• The leading advisor on ESOP transactions, including Lockheed Martin, 
• Established the HL Sovereign Debt Advisory Group, a marquee group who advised Iraq, Iceland, Greece, Korea, and Russia et al. on sovereign debt restructurings, 
• Opened Houlihan Lokey offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, 
• Advised the China State Council (SASAC) on SOE public company spin-offs.  

Jim established Zukin Partners in 2021, an M&A boutique. Its affiliate, Zukin Certification Services, is a leading provider of Projection Reviews for public filings for SPAC acquisitions. ….

Zukin graduated from UC Berkeley with a concentration in macroeconomics and poetry. He received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Zukin is an accomplished poet. His awards include the Robert Creeley Prize from Marsh Hawke Press, judged by Mary Jo Bangs in 2023.