In this session we will explore how to properly use and interpret market multiples when performing valuations.  We will cover the sources of market multiples and what observed multiples tell you about how the market is assessing the cash flow, growth, and risk attributes of the corresponding businesses.  The session will conclude by illustrating how to adjust and apply observed market multiples in your valuations.

The Advanced personal injury and wrongful death session will address some of the more difficult and unusual topics including: calculating losses in child/adolescent cases when there are confounding circumstances; calculating economic losses in cases involving union members, receiving early pension benefits; calculating losses for business owners; and life care plan computations. We will also discuss the use of worklike tables.

Forensic accountants are often called upon to produce a written report documenting their observations and conclusions. The content and structure are of great importance and likely will be the subject of significant scrutiny. The communication of complex concepts or subjects in a forensic accountant’s report is as equally important as the structure and content of the report. Whether communicated within the report or through demonstratives at trial, the visualization techniques to explain complex models can be the vital difference between the trier of fact understanding the complex subject or ignoring the forensic report due to a lack of understanding. This session will explore different types of reports, the general framework of the report structure and an overview of relevant standards. This session will also discuss how to demonstrate complex topics with visual techniques in a report and provide examples of visualization methods and graphical illustrations. Finally, the session will discuss tips and best practices, as well as identify certain pitfalls forensic accountants should seek to avoid, in preparing their reports.

This distinguished panel will tackle the tricky part of valuation by addressing the tough issues, Including:

• Discounts and premiums for minority and control valuations
• What tax rates to use in an S Corp valuation?
• Are S Corp premiums valid?
• Cost of capital resources and reliability
• What does company specific risk really capture?
• How to determine long-term growth
• Valuation reliability before, during, and after COVID
• The market approach before, during, and after COVID
• A new look at premises of value
• Financial forecasts in periods of great uncertainty
• Is there really an optimal capital structure?
• What is normal in normalization adjustments in minority and control valuations?
• The tension between “known or knowable,” subsequent events, and hypothetical conditions under SSVS and USPAP

As the headlines over the past few years make clear, public and private companies alike face a host of different issues—from employment, to complex accounting and disclosure matters, to allegations of criminal misconduct—that require further review, investigation and, in appropriate cases, remediation. Not all issues need to be addressed in the same way. Some can be handled by in-house lawyers, compliance and human resources, while others need to be addressed by outside counsel and/or truly independent counsel with the assistance of forensic accountants and experts. Come learn best practices regarding how these investigations should be designed and how counsel and forensic experts can work together to get the best result for the client.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors are of increasing importance in making investment decisions and monitoring investment performance. In this session we will discuss qualitative and quantitative ESG measurement techniques, the objectivity of such measurements and the potential impact on fiduciary duty.

A review of elder fraud, committed by individuals in positions of trust and predatory strangers and estate litigation by beneficiaries. Two forms of financial victimization that target the elder before and after death. This session will discuss the rise in elder fraud issues that target seniors using online or over the phone methods to extract money. The session will also discuss estate litigation in the context of an ageing baby boomer generation with an impending significant transfer of wealth and discuss how a forensic accountant can get involved when allegations of fraud arise.

This session will describe the role of CPAs and Business Valuators who should provide expert testimony under the Rules of Evidence, Civil Procedure, and Professional Conduct, but where the expert has instead become a paid "hired gun" for their client. The presenter has given expert testimony in over 180 cases and will discuss judicial decisions relating to financial valuation and damage quantification where the court admonished the CPA or Business Valuator for conduct unbecoming, such as "please-my-patron" bias, lack of impartiality, intellectual dishonesty, advocacy, or violation of the Rules. This session will cite from numerous cases in which courts have expressed their outrage regarding certain expert witness testimony and will suggest how to insulate against attack by the cross-examiner.

Join us for a dialog about the impacts to businesses working to recover from significant cyber incidents.

The virtual courtroom is here to stay.  Even the most experienced witness has to adopt to testifying over Zoom, Skype, Team and the other virtual platforms, just as theatre actors had to adopt to 'talkies', the big and small screens, and now podcasts.  As with any other paradigm shift,  you cannot simply package your old wines in new bottles: You need to obtain a whole different set of skills to the new medium, because, as Marshall McLuhan so aptly put it, "the medium is the message".   This session introduces you to the skills you need to learn to captivate your forensic audience in the virtual courtroom.