Do it in the UK.
He can self certify and take the 14 exams without paying an ATO.
To get the ATPL issued, he'll need to take an LPC on a type he has on his FAA cert (and has more than 500 hours in) - this will effectively give him the TR and ATPL at the same time. If he doesn't have 500 on type he'll have to do a full TR course.
Personally, I would just pass the exams and start applying for jobs - they'll have to put him through a TR course anyway and it's a pilots market at the moment.