Duff & Phelps has joined the Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL) as a new associate member.

This takes the ASTL’s membership to 28 and its associate membership numbers to 17.

Duff & Phelps is a global valuation and corporate finance adviser which specialises in complex valuation, dispute consulting, M&A, restructuring, and compliance and regulatory consulting.

Andrew Stoneman, managing director (London) of Duff & Phelps, said: “With this new partnership, we will strengthen our commitment to best serve clients in the UK and further increase our industry focus in the financial services, asset management and real estate sectors.

“We also look forward to being able to learn and grow with other members of the ASTL to help shape and improve the standards of the market that we are a part of.”

Benson Hersch, chief executive of the ASTL, said: “Duff & Phelps are industry professionals and have deep knowledge of micro and macro trends that affect the market. The firm’s expertise will be increasingly relevant in 2015 given the ever-changing regulatory requirements in the bridging industry.

“The firm’s membership will add to the diversity of the ASTL continuing to ensure it is such a thriving trade body. This adds to our aim to continue to add value to our members while raising the standards of the bridging industry.”