Founded 2009 · New York, NY

Independent Advisory.
Senior Expertise.
Global Reach.

Global Trading Firm was built on a single conviction: that companies navigating international markets deserve senior-level advisory from practitioners who have done it themselves — not associates following playbooks.

Our Story

Built by Practitioners,
for Practitioners.

Global Trading Firm was established in 2009 by Robert Chen and Margaret Holbrook after 20+ years of combined experience at Goldman Sachs International and White & Case. They saw a clear gap in the market: mid-size companies with genuine international ambition were being served by either large consulting factories charging for generic frameworks, or small boutiques lacking the cross-border depth to handle complex multi-jurisdictional engagements.

GTF was built to occupy that space: a rigorously independent advisory practice where every engagement is led by a partner, every deliverable is bespoke, and every recommendation is grounded in real-world transaction experience.

In 2014, David Kim joined as Partner, expanding GTF’s M&A and private equity advisory capabilities. Since inception, the firm has guided over 200 engagements across 40+ markets, with combined deal value exceeding $2.4 billion.

15+
Years in Operation
200+
Engagements Completed
40+
Markets Covered
$2.4B+
Combined Deal Value
History

Fifteen Years of Building Value
Across Borders.

’09
2009
Founded in New York
Robert Chen and Margaret Holbrook establish Global Trading Firm as a boutique advisory focused on market entry and corporate architecture for US companies expanding internationally.
’12
2012
First $100M Transaction Advising Role
GTF advises a New York-based industrial conglomerate on a $110M acquisition of a German precision manufacturing group — establishing the firm’s M&A advisory practice.
’14
2014
David Kim Joins as M&A Partner
Former Lazard Director David Kim joins as Partner, bringing a track record of $4.5B+ in cross-border transactions and expanding GTF’s private equity coverage.
’17
2017
APAC Practice Launch
GTF formalizes its Asia-Pacific advisory capability with dedicated partner coverage of China, Japan, Singapore, and Southeast Asia — driven by US-headquartered client demand.
’19
2019
Trade Compliance Practice Expansion
Amid heightened US-China trade tensions, GTF expands its Trade & Compliance practice to serve clients navigating export controls, sanctions, and customs optimization.
’21
2021
Strategic Retainer Programs Launched
GTF introduces its flagship annual Strategic Partnership Program, providing companies with continuous senior advisory access on a retainer basis for the first time.
’23
2023
200th Client Engagement Milestone
GTF completes its 200th client engagement, reaching $2.4B+ in combined deal value advised — maintaining a portfolio concentrated in mid-market cross-border transactions.
’25
Today
Full-Service International Advisory Platform
GTF operates as a full-service cross-border advisory platform serving a selective roster of clients across six core practice areas, with coverage spanning 40+ markets across all major global regions.
Founding Team

Senior Partners with Real
Transaction Experience.

Every GTF engagement is led — not just supervised — by a founding partner. No associates, no rotational staff.

👔
Robert Chen
Managing Partner & CEO
Robert has 25+ years of international advisory experience spanning Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas. He led Goldman Sachs International’s Greater China corporate advisory desk before founding GTF. He holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA in Economics from Yale.
Market EntryAPACCorporate Strategy
⚖️
Margaret Holbrook
Partner, Corporate Architecture
Margaret spent 18 years at White & Case LLP as a partner in the international capital markets and corporate group before transitioning to advisory. She specializes in international holding structures, regulatory entity design, and cross-border governance. She holds a JD from Columbia Law School.
Corporate ArchitectureGovernanceRegulatory
📊
David Kim
Partner, M&A Advisory
David joined GTF in 2014 after a decade at Lazard as a Director in the Financial Restructuring and M&A groups. He has led advisory on cross-border transactions totaling $4.5B+ in deal value, with a concentration in industrial, technology, and healthcare sectors. He holds an MBA from INSEAD.
M&A AdvisoryFinancial StructuringPrivate Equity
Advisory Board

Complementary Expertise
When It Matters Most.

GTF maintains relationships with a select group of senior advisors who contribute domain expertise on complex multi-disciplinary engagements.

Dr. Elaine Sutherland
Trade Policy Advisor
Former: WTO Secretariat, Geneva
James Okafor
Africa Markets Specialist
Former: Frontier Markets Group, Lagos
Prof. Ingrid Larsson
Nordic Regulatory Counsel
Stockholm School of Economics
Kenji Watanabe
Japan Business Development
Former: Nomura International, Tokyo
Our Values

The Principles That Have
Never Changed.

🔒
Unconditional Independence
GTF takes no success fees, retrocessions, or referral commissions from third parties. Our only compensation is the advisory fee agreed with you. Our advice is structurally free from hidden incentives.
🎯
Execution-Oriented Deliverables
Every GTF deliverable is built to be implemented, not filed. We write recommendations that go to boards, terms sheets that go to lawyers, and roadmaps that go to operations teams — not abstract strategy decks.
🤝
Absolute Confidentiality
Every engagement begins with a mutual NDA. We do not publicize client names, reference transactions without written consent, or share any engagement details with third parties — period.
Network

Trusted Professional Relationships.

GTF works alongside leading professional service firms when engagements require specialist legal, financial, or risk expertise.

Deloitte Legal
Legal Counsel
JP Morgan Private Bank
Financial Services
Baker McKenzie
International Law
KPMG International
Tax Advisory
Control Risks
Political Risk
Marsh McLennan
Risk Management

Ready to Work with GTF?

Start with a complimentary 30-minute introductory call with a founding partner — no sales staff involved.

Schedule an Intro Call View All Services