Forensic and Dispute Advisory Services

Cherry Bekaert’s Forensic and Dispute Advisory Services group brings together accounting, consulting and forensic experience to provide the insight and clarity required to meet the challenges of litigation, and other corporate disputes, with confidence.

On this page:

Skilled Forensic Analysis for Successful Dispute Resolution and Litigation Support

As business disputes arise, having experts who provide clear and credible analysis that will withstand the scrutiny of courts, arbitrators, mediators and opposing counsel is critical to a successful resolution. Our professionals assist clients in navigating and responding to the financial aspects of business crises, controversies, damages and complex transactions.

We work with businesses and law firms of all sizes, both as consultants and testifying experts. Our professionals have extensive experience in analyzing financial information to uncover issues that impact liability and damages, as well as crafting discovery requests that reveal information beneficial to the case.

Uncover Truth in Numbers

As testifying experts, we provide objective, independent and thoughtful analysis to clients while presenting complex financial information in ways that judges and juries can understand and accept.

Commercial Damage Analysis & Business Losses

We have over four decades of experience in assisting clients in the calculation of lost profits in commercial litigation matters and business interruption claims in connection with insured events.

Recoveries in these matters have totaled in excess of tens of billions of dollars. In the case of insurance claims, we calculate lost profits and extra expenses resulting from business disruptions, including natural disasters and other insurable events and assist our clients in their filing and collection of these claims. 

Our team stands ready to assist you with:

  • Lost Profits Calculations
  • Business Interruption Calculations
  • Business Crises
  • Litigation Support
  • Expert Witness Testimony
  • Expert Reports & Disclosures
  • Arbitration & Mediation Assistance
  • Settlement Analysis

Extensive Disaster Recovery Experience

Our notable insurance claims recovery experience includes representing clients on some of the most economically impactful natural disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ian, Ida, Laura, Michael, Gustav and Ike. Other notable engagements involving catastrophic events include the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the largest oil spill in U.S. history and one of the worst environmental disasters ever, where we were engaged to calculate the business and individual losses of thousands of claimants for payment by BP.

These claims included those for the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, as well as many of their local governments. Our efforts in calculating these governmental lost profits resulted in the largest economic environmental disaster settlement on record in the U.S., totaling more than $20 billion.

Podcast

Business Interruption Services for Private Equity Portfolio Companies

Understand how business interruption insurance offers private equity firms protection against natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, and cyberattacks.

Explore Our Forensic & Dispute Advisory Services

Fraud Detection & Recovery

In today’s digital world, it’s essential to be aware of the risks of corporate crime, fraud and litigation. We understand how hard business owners worked to build their businesses, and we know how important it is to protect the business enterprise’s reputation and integrity. Our certified fraud examiners can assist with fraud detection and recovery in numerous areas, including the manipulation of accounting records, corrupt practices, cash embezzlements and cyber fraud. Our fraud detection and recovery experience encompasses:

  • Cash & Asset Tracing
  • Asset Recovery & Redistribution
  • Internal Controls & Prevention
  • Ponzi Schemes
  • Money Laundering
  • Financial Statement Fraud
  • Data Analytics

Expert Witness Testimony

Cherry Bekaert’s testifying experts provide credible and objective testimony on behalf of our clients in ways that both judges and jurors can understand and accept. Our expert witnesses bridge the legal-accounting technical divide and draw on first-hand experience gained in a wide range of industries, including construction and engineering, energy and natural resources, infrastructure and real estate, healthcare, life sciences, media and technology, hospitality, state and local governments, and financial and professional services. These clients range in size from local, privately owned businesses to multinational Fortune 100 companies.

The breadth of our extensive successful expert witness experience in federal, state and local courts throughout the U.S. includes:

  • Expert Witness Reports & Testimony of Accounting and Financial Matters
  • Economic Damages Calculation, Reports & Evaluation
  • Quantifying Lost Profits & Business Interruption Losses
  • Fraud Detection & Recovery
  • Shareholder Disputes
  • Class Action Claims
  • Analysis & Explanation of Complex Financial Transactions
  • Corporate Veil Piercing & Single Business Enterprise Determinations
  • Bankruptcy Disputes
  • Wrongful Termination & Employment Claims
  • Probate Matters – Accountings & Disputes
  • Lost Wages
  • Whistleblower Investigations

Shareholder Disputes

Shareholder disputes can be stressful, complex and challenging to resolve. In these matters, it is essential to seek out experienced financial experts in the early stages before a situation adversely impacts a company’s financial position and public image. We are committed to assisting our clients in uncovering the critical facts and circumstances unique to their specific situation. Our capabilities include fraud detection and recovery, forensic accounting, expert witness testimony and related advisory services.

Our team is ready to assist you with:

  • Alleged Breaches of a Shareholder Agreement
  • Fiduciary Misconduct
  • Shareholder Derivative Actions
  • Appointment of Receivers
  • Minority Shareholder Disputes
  • Differences in Contribution Versus Compensation
  • Business Valuations
  • Sales, Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Bankruptcies

Complex Financial Transactions

With a keen understanding of financial arrangements and a commitment to uncovering the facts, Cherry Bekaert offers comprehensive solutions to businesses, law firms and their clients in connection with complex financial transactions in matters before the trier of fact. Our team of seasoned professionals combines extensive training and experience in accounting, finance and forensic investigative techniques to deliver objective results.

In analyzing complex financial transactions, our forensic accountants frequently uncover fraudulent transactions including:

  • Fraudulent Misrepresentations
  • Ponzi Schemes
  • Money Laundering
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Violations
  • Bribery & Other Corruption
  • Fraudulent Transactions, Including Billing Schemes

Whistleblower Investigations

Cherry Bekaert’s Forensic and Dispute Advisory team is committed to integrity, accuracy and professionalism in every whistleblower investigation. Our goal is to help our clients safeguard their assets, protect their reputations and promote a culture of transparency and accountability within their organizations.

Our whistleblower investigation service offerings include:

  • Providing confidential channels for employees or third parties to report concerns regarding fraud, corruption or other unethical behavior
  • Conducting impartial and comprehensive inquiries to validate allegations and determine the extent of wrongdoing
  • Working closely with management and legal counsel to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and protect the confidentiality of all parties involved
  • Providing detailed reports that offer clear findings and recommendations for the recovery of corporate assets and remediation actions to prevent future occurrences

Intellectual Property Disputes

Intellectual property (IP) disputes, whether around trademark, patent or copyright issues, are as complex as they are expensive to litigate. Cherry Bekaert’s Forensic and Dispute Advisory professionals are well-versed in the determination, evaluation and presentation of damages involving IP.

Our IP services include:

  • Assessment of Reasonable Royalties
  • Infringement & Misappropriation of Trade Secrets
  • Lost Profits
  • Unjust Enrichment & Profit Disgorgement
  • Financial Analyses to Aid in Settlement & Licensing Negotiations
  • Pre- & Post-Judgment Interest Calculation

Bankruptcy Disputes (Trustees & Receiverships)

Cherry Bekaert’s Forensic and Dispute Advisory team provides value-added financial accounting and consulting services to fiduciaries, debtors, creditors and other parties of interest in bankruptcy proceedings. Our results-driven approach focuses on maximizing value for our clients and other stakeholders at all stages, including pre- and post-bankruptcy proceedings. Our areas of focus include:

  • Solvency Analysis
  • Tracing of Funds
  • Analysis of Preference Actions & Fraudulent Conveyances (Avoidance Actions)
  • Analysis of Proofs of Claim
  • Distribution Calculations
  • Evaluation of Potential Mismanagement & Fraud
  • Identification & Analysis of Insider Transactions
  • Expert Reports, Affidavits, Declarations, Discovery, Depositions & Trial Testimony

Fraud Detection & Recovery

In today’s digital world, it’s essential to be aware of the risks of corporate crime, fraud and litigation. We understand how hard business owners worked to build their businesses, and we know how important it is to protect the business enterprise’s reputation and integrity. Our certified fraud examiners can assist with fraud detection and recovery in numerous areas, including the manipulation of accounting records, corrupt practices, cash embezzlements and cyber fraud. Our fraud detection and recovery experience encompasses:

  • Cash & Asset Tracing
  • Asset Recovery & Redistribution
  • Internal Controls & Prevention
  • Ponzi Schemes
  • Money Laundering
  • Financial Statement Fraud
  • Data Analytics

Expert Witness Testimony

Cherry Bekaert’s testifying experts provide credible and objective testimony on behalf of our clients in ways that both judges and jurors can understand and accept. Our expert witnesses bridge the legal-accounting technical divide and draw on first-hand experience gained in a wide range of industries, including construction and engineering, energy and natural resources, infrastructure and real estate, healthcare, life sciences, media and technology, hospitality, state and local governments, and financial and professional services. These clients range in size from local, privately owned businesses to multinational Fortune 100 companies.

The breadth of our extensive successful expert witness experience in federal, state and local courts throughout the U.S. includes:

  • Expert Witness Reports & Testimony of Accounting and Financial Matters
  • Economic Damages Calculation, Reports & Evaluation
  • Quantifying Lost Profits & Business Interruption Losses
  • Fraud Detection & Recovery
  • Shareholder Disputes
  • Class Action Claims
  • Analysis & Explanation of Complex Financial Transactions
  • Corporate Veil Piercing & Single Business Enterprise Determinations
  • Bankruptcy Disputes
  • Wrongful Termination & Employment Claims
  • Probate Matters – Accountings & Disputes
  • Lost Wages
  • Whistleblower Investigations

Shareholder Disputes

Shareholder disputes can be stressful, complex and challenging to resolve. In these matters, it is essential to seek out experienced financial experts in the early stages before a situation adversely impacts a company’s financial position and public image. We are committed to assisting our clients in uncovering the critical facts and circumstances unique to their specific situation. Our capabilities include fraud detection and recovery, forensic accounting, expert witness testimony and related advisory services.

Our team is ready to assist you with:

  • Alleged Breaches of a Shareholder Agreement
  • Fiduciary Misconduct
  • Shareholder Derivative Actions
  • Appointment of Receivers
  • Minority Shareholder Disputes
  • Differences in Contribution Versus Compensation
  • Business Valuations
  • Sales, Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Bankruptcies

Complex Financial Transactions

With a keen understanding of financial arrangements and a commitment to uncovering the facts, Cherry Bekaert offers comprehensive solutions to businesses, law firms and their clients in connection with complex financial transactions in matters before the trier of fact. Our team of seasoned professionals combines extensive training and experience in accounting, finance and forensic investigative techniques to deliver objective results.

In analyzing complex financial transactions, our forensic accountants frequently uncover fraudulent transactions including:

  • Fraudulent Misrepresentations
  • Ponzi Schemes
  • Money Laundering
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Violations
  • Bribery & Other Corruption
  • Fraudulent Transactions, Including Billing Schemes

Whistleblower Investigations

Cherry Bekaert’s Forensic and Dispute Advisory team is committed to integrity, accuracy and professionalism in every whistleblower investigation. Our goal is to help our clients safeguard their assets, protect their reputations and promote a culture of transparency and accountability within their organizations.

Our whistleblower investigation service offerings include:

  • Providing confidential channels for employees or third parties to report concerns regarding fraud, corruption or other unethical behavior
  • Conducting impartial and comprehensive inquiries to validate allegations and determine the extent of wrongdoing
  • Working closely with management and legal counsel to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and protect the confidentiality of all parties involved
  • Providing detailed reports that offer clear findings and recommendations for the recovery of corporate assets and remediation actions to prevent future occurrences

Intellectual Property Disputes

Intellectual property (IP) disputes, whether around trademark, patent or copyright issues, are as complex as they are expensive to litigate. Cherry Bekaert’s Forensic and Dispute Advisory professionals are well-versed in the determination, evaluation and presentation of damages involving IP.

Our IP services include:

  • Assessment of Reasonable Royalties
  • Infringement & Misappropriation of Trade Secrets
  • Lost Profits
  • Unjust Enrichment & Profit Disgorgement
  • Financial Analyses to Aid in Settlement & Licensing Negotiations
  • Pre- & Post-Judgment Interest Calculation

Bankruptcy Disputes (Trustees & Receiverships)

Cherry Bekaert’s Forensic and Dispute Advisory team provides value-added financial accounting and consulting services to fiduciaries, debtors, creditors and other parties of interest in bankruptcy proceedings. Our results-driven approach focuses on maximizing value for our clients and other stakeholders at all stages, including pre- and post-bankruptcy proceedings. Our areas of focus include:

  • Solvency Analysis
  • Tracing of Funds
  • Analysis of Preference Actions & Fraudulent Conveyances (Avoidance Actions)
  • Analysis of Proofs of Claim
  • Distribution Calculations
  • Evaluation of Potential Mismanagement & Fraud
  • Identification & Analysis of Insider Transactions
  • Expert Reports, Affidavits, Declarations, Discovery, Depositions & Trial Testimony

Class Action Claims

Cherry Bekaert’s class action experience includes our appointment by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York and for the District of Delaware in the bankruptcies of the notable pharmaceutical companies of Purdue Pharma, LP and Mallinckrodt, PLC, where we represent the bankruptcy trustee on behalf of over 500 acute care hospitals throughout the U.S. in connection with their claims in these bankruptcies. The amounts of claims we administered have totaled over $100 million. Our services have entailed the use of sophisticated data analytics of over 100 million data points to calculate lost profits of these bankruptcy claimants.

Our Professionals

Connect With Us

Lori Smith

Forensic & Dispute Advisory Services

Partner, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC

William (Bill) Legier

Forensic & Dispute Advisory Services

Managing Director, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC

John Collier

Forensic & Dispute Advisory Services

Managing Director, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC

Jacqueline (J.C.) Tuthill

Forensic & Dispute Advisory Services

Managing Director, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC

Contact Our Forensic & Dispute Advisory Team