Business (General) Expert Witnesses

Education:

• Princeton, 1964 (B.A., Economics, with honors)
• NYU Business School, 1966 (MBA, Top of class)

Expertise: Mr. Purcell has over 40 years of experience in every area of investment banking including the following:

• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Leveraged Buyouts and Recapitalizations
• Fairness Opinions and Fairness Issues
• Adequacy Opinions
• Solvency Opinions
• Bankruptcy issues, including fraudulent conveyance
• Valuations
• Advice to Special Committees of Boards
• Due Diligence and Disclosure Issues
• Fiduciary Issues
• Damage issues and analysis
• Lender Liability
• Fee issues
• Document Interpretation and Standards from investment banking point of views
• Criminal cases involving alleged securities violations and insider trading
• Financing of Debt and Equity (both public and private, taxable and tax-exempt, including structured financings)
• Venture Capital
• Leasing and Real Estate Financing

Background: Mr. Purcell was a Managing Director at Dillon Read for almost 25 years and has been a Senior Advisor to a number of medium-sized investment banks. He also has served as interim CEO of a public company and has served on Boards of Directors. Mr. Purcell is currently Senior Director to the Investment Banking Firm of Seale & Associates, Washington, DC. area. Mr. Purcell has been an expert in more than 100 cases with over 100 Law Firms, including cases for the SEC, IRS and the DOJ. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants. Subjects include all areas mentioned above.

 View Consulting Profile.

MCS Associates is a nationally recognized consulting group that has provided financial, operations and regulatory/compliance consulting services nationwide to financial institutions, insurance companies and regulatory agencies as well as real estate and financial services organizations for over 40 years. Expert Witness and Litigation Consulting are a primary focus of our services. We undertake expert witness assignments throughout the United States and our clients include several hundred leading law firms around the country, working on behalf of both plaintiff and defendant financial institutions, borrowers, depositors, investors, developers, insurance companies and their insured, securities/insurance/real estate brokers/agents, regulators and government agencies, and individuals. 

Together with MCS Associates’ specialized resources in banking, financial services and real estate, we also draw on key strategic alliances in insurance, economics, academia and the securities industry to meet a wide range of expert witness needs. Our litigation experts include experienced bankers, lenders, consultants, regulators, managers, brokers & agents in insurance, real estate, and securities; insurance claims and underwriting managers; economists, accountants, appraisers, real estate analysts, and academics. 

Areas of Expertise Include:

• Banking Operations/Administration
• Check Fraud
• Lending Policies, Custom and Practice
• Loan Underwriting & Credit Administration
• Loan Securitizations & Servicing
• Bankruptcy, Foreclosures and Workouts
• Trust & Fiduciary Issues / Operations
• Securities Brokerage & Investments
• Valuations & Damages Analysis
• Forensic Accounting
• Employment / Compensation
• Real Estate Brokerage & Management
• Title Insurance & Escrow
• Real Estate Appraisal & Transactions
• Insurance Industry Custom & Practice
• Insurance Coverages / Claims Handling
• Insurance Bad Faith

James F. Davidson is an Avant Advisory partner and managing director. He is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant with Financial Forensic Specialization credentials (CFF, CFS, CrFa, and FCPA), and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Mr. Davidson is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Corporate Director, Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA), Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP), and Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA).

Litigation Support - Mr. Davidson uses his expertise in issues of financial forensics, fraud, and corporate investigations, due diligence evaluations, litigation and dispute resolution, strategic planning, and corporate governance. His combined experience and professional qualifications fulfill the financial expert requirements defined by Sarbanes-Oxley, NYSE, and NASDAQ. With over 30 years of experience, Mr. Davidson has performed hundreds of forensic, fraud, and corporate investigations, due diligence evaluations, operational turnarounds and financial restructuring, for lenders, private equity firms, and attorneys under privilege.

Areas of Specialization:

Corporate Governance and Investigations Insolvency Bankruptcy

Financial Restructurings Operational Turnarounds Profitability Improvement

Background - Mr. Davidson has served in executive positions at both public and private companies ranging from entrepreneurial to multi-billion dollar firms. After 10 years of accounting, auditing, and consulting for Big Four Certified Public Accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, he spent over 10 years as a member of several boards of directors and in various financial and executive positions, including president and CEO, COO, CFO, secretary-treasurer, chief accounting officer, and corporate controller.

View James Davidson's Consulting Profile.

Alistair Hynd has over 15 years experience in Corporate Finance. He heads the Project Finance and Financial Modelling Team that functions at Baker Tilly Corporate Finance, LLP (Baker Tilly). Mr. Hynd specialises in Project Finance, PFI, PPP and Debt Advisory plus Financial Modeling. 

Mr. Hynd is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and member of the Institute's Corporate Finance faculty. He is also a full member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers. Mr. Hynd's team at Baker Tilly can become involved in Project Finance or Financial Modeling in three ways:

• Financial Adviser to the Government – structuring projects, evaluating bids, and negotiating detail
• Financial Adviser to the Consortium – assembling the bid, refining and optimising it, and acting as interface with funding markets
• Acting for the Banks and other Lenders - providing reassurance that the model on which they are lending is fit for purpose.

Other Services Include

• Capital Markets: Reporting Accountants, Flotation e.g. advice on Financial Structuring, Accounting Systems and Policies, Share Option, Director / Employer Benefits, Audit and Taxation services
• Due Diligence: Historic Performance, Cash Flows, Assets and Liabilities, Forecasts, Working Capital Requirements, Financial Systems and Controls, Taxation
• Mergers and Acquisitions / Private Equity:Preparing / Maximise Value from Business Sales, Negotiate Terms and Raise Private Equity / Debt Finance to Support Management Buy Out or Buy In, Raising Private Equity / Debt Finance for Growth, Cash Out or Recapitalisation, etc.
• Valuations: Shares, Businesses, Options and Warrants, Various Derivatives, Brands and other Intellectual Property, Film and Media Rights,Income Producing Assets

Profile: J. Michael Feeks, one of the founders of Bank Experts Group, provides litigation support and expert witness services to law firms in banking-related matters. He has handled approximately 100 cases as an expert and has provided court-room and/or deposition testimony in more than 25 of these matters. Expertise: Mr. Feeks has served as an expert in cases involving:

• Commercial and Real Estate Lending
• Loan Approval, Workout and Administration
• Business and Consumer Banking Operations
• Management Policies, Practices and Procedures
• Regulatory Compliance
• Bankruptcies and Frauds

Hiring an Expert Witness: A Bank Expert's Perspective

Law Firms Served, include: Bailey Kennedy, Reed Smith, Litchfield Cavo, Margolis Edelstein, Hughes Hubbard & Reed, McCarter & English, Shearman & Sterling, Bourgeois White, Moore & Van Allen, Anderson Reynolds & Stephens, and Gunster Yoakley & Stewart. Background: 35+ years of banking experience. Served major bank in business lending, branch operations, and management. Served community banks as president, director, and other senior positions. MBA – New York University. Graduate – Manhattan College and Stonier Graduate School of Banking. Bank Experts Group is a consulting firm that provides litigation support in banking-related matters and specialized assistance to banks and other financial institutions. The principals are experienced former bankers, regulators, and educators with extensive experience in bank management.

View Consulting Profile.

 

Bank Resources and Solutions is an executive management consulting group that has provided Financial, Operations, and Regulatory / Compliance consulting services nationwide to financial institutions, attorneys and regulatory authorities since 2008. Litigation Consulting, Forensic Research and Expert Witness work are an important focus of our services. We have worked with attorneys and regulators on suits throughout the United States. Their work has included both plaintiff and defendant financial institutions, borrowers, depositors and regulators. Areas of Litigation Support Expertise: FDIC Suits, Non-FDIC Suits, Bankruptcy Suits, Employee Criminal Actions / Bribery, Branch Operations, Bank Secrecy Act Policies / Procedures, Wire Transfers, New Account Fraud, Trust Account Fraud, Bank Negligence, Foreign Checks. Mark C. Riley is an experienced and successful former Bank Chief Executive Officer whose background includes leading the turnaround of two banks that had been operating under regulatory agreements upon arrival. Mr. Riley’s relevant experience was overseeing all areas of his banks including the development, approval, and implementation of effective risk management programs. For example, as CEO, Mr. Riley was involved in all phases of lending from business development to credit analysis and underwriting to overseeing loan approval and review process, providing due diligence of client bank loan portfolios, developing and overseeing workouts of nonperforming loans. This is particularly important in Expert Witness support as Mr. Riley’s background will carry more weight than technical specialists such as Loan Officers. Using loan officers, analysts and even lending group managers can provide the technical side of lending (underwriting, documentation, recordation and related nuts and bolts). As a Bank CEO & Director with lending expertise, Mr. Riley can provide all of that, but more importantly to a lawsuit, is knowledge of Director Loan Committees and their response to weaknesses that occurred in the technical side and what actions did they take to ameliorate or exacerbate the problem. Mr. Riley has provided Expert Witness services, including consulting, reports, depositions and testimony, to attorneys representing the FDIC, banks, bank clients, and related companies. Susan E. C. Riley is an experienced Senior Officer whose background includes the total responsibility for creating and managing the enterprise-wide systems of two denovo banks. Her relevant experience also includes creating and managing the Human Resources Department, Compliance, IT and IT Security, BSA/AML, ACH, Vendor Management, and related contract negotiations and Retail Bank Management. As co-founder of Bank Resources and Solutions, Mrs. Riley has analyzed, recommended, and implemented complex banking software within tight guidelines. She has established a solid reputation as a “no nonsense, identify the challenges, develop effective strategies and get the solutions in place” administrator. Mrs. Riley has provided Expert Witness research and consultation in client v. bank and bank v. client related matters. View Bank Resources and Solutions' Consulting Profile.

John T. Foster calls upon his deep and broad senior level experience, gained through a 35 year career in the broker-dealer industry, to provide uniquely relevant securities expert witness services. Uncommon in the “expert” field, Mr. Foster continues today to be actively engaged in the field as a specialized consultant for broker-dealer firms. He currently serves as the President and CEO of Bedford & Main Financial Consulting. Mr. Foster worked for many years in a senior management role for a large, multi-national self-clearing firm. He also served as the President and CEO of an independent broker-dealer where he was responsible for ensuring compliance and regulatory requirements were properly implemented to support a retail-based business. He is very familiar with financial services expert witness issues related to fundamental FINRA compliance regulations such as: suitability, supervision, senior issues, churning, complex products and written supervisory procedures (WSPs). He is also proficient in matters related to client and firm interactions with financial advisors, which frequently are subjects of FINRA arbitrations. Mr. Foster believes that in order to maintain ethical standards a high degree of selectivity is required when reviewing specific issues and determining his ability to provide a meaningful expert opinion. As such, he is happy to review a claim (“On my own time and expense of course!”) to determine if he has the proper background and agreement to support a case. Areas of Expertise:

Senior Issues Suitability Supervision Churning Clearing Firms / Broker-Dealer Operations Discount Web Brokers Complex Corporate Actions SEC Direct Market Access (15c3-5)	FINRA Compliance Anti-Money Laundering Specialist Written Supervisory Procedures (WSPs) Foreign Accounts Private Security Transactions Outside Business Activities Master Accounts and Sub-accounts Financial Advisor Supervision

Licenses and Memberships:

• FINRA Series 3, 7, 24, 27 and 63
• Certified FINRA Dispute Resolution Arbitrator
• Member of the Securities Experts Roundtable
• Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS)

View Bedford & Main's Consulting Profile.

Sameer Somal is the Co-Founder & Chief Financial Officer at Blue Ocean Global Wealth and Blue Ocean Global Technology. Sameer is a CFA Charterholder, a CFP® professional, and a Chartered Alternative Investment AnalystSM. In May of 2017 he was named an Iconic Leader Creating a Better World for All by the All Ladies League & Women Economic Forum. Sameer is an internationally recognized speaker, educator and entrepreneur. 

2016 - 2018  speaking engagements include, but are not limited to:

•    The US State Department’s Foreign Service Institute (McLean, VA)

•    Women Economic Forum (Delhi, India)

•    Dimensional Fund Advisors Conference (Chicago, IL)

•    Mick Law Conference (Scottsdale, AZ)

•    Legal Week 2018 (New York, NY)

•    Betta Gamma Sigma Leadership Conference (Chicago, IL)

•    Scotiabank Executive Strategy Retreat (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands)

•    The LavaCon Content Strategy Conference (Las Vegas, NV)

•    Global Digital Marketing Summit

•    The Securities & Exchange Board of India (Mumbai, India)

•    Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association (Mumbai, India)

•    National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), CFAI, & City of London (Mumbai, India)

•    CFA Society Texas 

Sameer is passionate about helping clients improve profitability, build brand equity, and adapt to the Digital Revolution. He oversees technology planning, consulting engagements, and key client relationships. 

•    Blue Ocean Global Technology serves clients and agency partners in 40+ countries. 

•    We have completed 3000+ web development, portal, eCommerce, and software projects over the past 15 years. 

•    We are Online Reputation (ORM) Experts, which includes building a positive reputation and mitigating a negative reputation on google for an organization or person. 

Blue Ocean Global Technology proactively builds stellar reputations. We create and promote digital assets that accelerate the growth of brand equity. We provide comprehensive reputation management services, which often includes search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing (SMM), and web development. When an individual or organization faces crisis, legal or PR issues that reach the internet, we specialize in mitigating the impact of the defamatory content and repairing the negative reputation.

Blue Ocean Global Technology serves both clients directly and an exclusive group of PR, Law, Digital Marketing, and Web-Development agency partners.

Litigation Support - Sameer is a subject matter expert witness and frequent speaker on online reputation management, search engine optimization, digital marketing and the digital revolution. He helps clients build, monitor and repair their online reputation. Sameer also provide testimony in courts for client cases and expert consulting specific to the digital footprint of individuals, companies and governments. Blue Ocean Global Technology has completed over 3000+ SEO & Web Development projects. We serve clients globally.

Areas of Expertise - Search Engine Optimization • Online Reputation Management • Internet Defamation • Internet Consulting • Digital Marketing • Website Development • Online Review Management • Digital Reputation Repair

View Blue Ocean Technology's Consulting Profile.

Rosemary Coates, President of Blue Silk Consulting, is a seasoned executive with an MBA and 25+ years of experience in Chinese Sourcing and Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Manufacturing and ERP Systems Consulting. Background Experience. 

Prior to BSC, Ms. Coates was a Senior Director at SAP, the Supply Chain Practice Leader at KPMG Peat Marwick and at Answerthink, and a Regional Manager at Hewlett-Packard. Ms. Coates has consulted with global and domestic clients, VCs, and PE firms on operations systems and processes. She has considerable international experience and has worked for extended periods in Asia and Europe.

Ms. Coates' experience spans a broad range of industries including High Technology, Software, Chemicals, Health Care, Consumer Products, Industrial Products, Food Distribution, Transportation, Publishing, Retail, and Oil and Gas. She has extensive knowledge and experience in manufacturing and outsourcing in Asia, Europe, and the US. She has written five Amazon.com books including Best Seller, 42 Rules for Sourcing and Manufacturing in China, and Legal Blacksmith: How to Avoid and Defend Supply Chain Disputes, and  42 Rules for Superior Field Service, and Negotiation Blueprint for Buyers, and The Reshoring Guidebook Ms. Coates is also the Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute and a member of the Board of Directors at the University of San Diego Supply Chain Management Institute. She teaches Global Supply Chain Strategy at UC Berkeley. She earned a BS in Business at Arizona State University and an MBA at the University of San Diego. She resides in Silicon Valley.

Rosemary Coates: Supply Chain Management Overview

Litigation Support - As an Expert Witness, Ms. Coates has assisted attorneys in their understanding of relevant Supply Chain Operations and Practices in sourcing, logistics, distribution, manufacturing, inventory, and Chinese Imports. She has worked on legal cases for the past 10 years, writing reports, giving depositions, and testifying at trial.

Case Opinions:

• Chinese Products
• Import / Export Management
• Counterfeit Imports
• Project Management for Enterprise Software
• ERP Software Consulting Implementation Failures and Runaway Projects
• China Sourcing and Manufacturing
• Securities
• Sales Channel Distribution and Compensation
• Supply Contracts
• Inventory Tax
• Global Manufacturing Operations, Contract Manufacturing, CMS, EMS
• Transportation and logistics, 3PLs and Freight Forwarders, Freight Shipping

Areas of Expertise:

Chinese Products / Chinese Imports Chinese Manufacturing Chinese Toys Chinese Plastics Chinese Drywall Electronics Purchasing Operations Planning

Inventory Warehousing Supply Chain Distribution Channel Manufacturing Operations Field Service Supply Contracts ERP Systems Implementations

View Rosemary Coates' Consulting Profile.

Dr. Larry Chiagouris has a rare combination serving as a senior Fortune 500 executive and as an accomplished academician. He has provided expert testimony and written opinions on damages, marketing, advertising, intellectual property issues (including the use of survey research) for plaintiffs & defendants at major national & local firms.

Experience summary:

• Experience evenly divided between plaintiff and defendant engagements over 25 cases

• Several cases include elements of intellectual property issues

• Majority of cases involve elements of consumer behavior or survey research

• Majority of cases involve elements of advertising related strategies and tactics

• Majority of cases involve elements of Internet related tactics

• Majority of cases involve written opinions and depositions

• Written and oral testimony in several Federal District Court jurisdictions

• Engaged by both large multinational law firms and small boutique firms

• Class action cases evenly divided between plaintiffs and defendants

Selected by Agency Magazine as one of 10 best and brightest researchers. He brings extensive experience as a Senior Marketing, Branding and Research Executive responsible for directing major assignments for companies such as AT&T, Campbell Soup, Kraft, Miller Brewing, Peugeot, Pfizer, Prudential and Visa.

He has a Ph.D. in Marketing, is Past Chairman, Advertising Research Foundation and Former Director of the American Marketing Association.

Bryan L. Parker, CPA/PFS, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CASL, FCPA, is a Certified Forensic Accountant with over 30 years of experience in his field.

Background - Prior to founding Bryan L. Parker, CPA, LLC, Mr. Parker held the position of CFO at McPherson Oil Company ($300 million + annual revenues) where he was responsible for advising and negotiating banking relationships, acquisition review, acquisition integration, financial reporting, and interaction with external auditors. His experience also includes serving as VP of Mergers & Acquisitions for Citation Corporation (Public Co.) and CFO of TIC United Corp., Dallas, TX ($300 million + revenues).

Mr. Parker has performed business valuations for more than 100 businesses in a variety of industries including manufacturing, trucking, printing, fuel oil distribution, motor/lubricating oil distribution, professional services, restaurants, fast food franchises, metal foundry, metal forge, machining, and plastic injection molding.

Litigation Support - Mr. Parker provides expert witness services to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant. He offers Forensic Accounting services, written reports, deposition, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Forensic Accounting Money Tracing Business Valuations

Divorce Settlements Business Damage Analysis Earning Capacity

View Bryan Parker's Consulting Profile.

Dr. Stephen Castell, Chartered Information Systems Practitioner and Member of the Expert Witness Institute, is Chairman of CASTELL Consulting. He is an internationally acknowledged Independent Computer Expert who has been involved in a wide range of computer litigation over many years. CASTELL Consulting, currently in its twenty-fifth year, provides independent professional consultancy and expert services in Computer Systems, Software, Project Management, Strategy, and Contract Disputes, to a wide variety of international clients and companies. As an Expert Witness in computer litigation, Dr. Castell has acted in over 100 major cases including the largest and longest computer software actions to have come to trial in the English High Court. He is the author of the best-selling Computer Bluff (1983), and of The APPEAL Report (1990) on the admissibility of computer evidence in court and the 'legal reliability' of information systems and technologies (with the CCTA).

The Center for Forensic Economic Studies is a leading provider of economic and statistical analysis relating to litigation. Our staff includes economists, statisticians and valuation experts.

We assist with discovery, critique opposing claims and produce clear, credible reports and expert testimony. Since 1980, attorneys and their clients have relied on our expertise in thousands of cases in jurisdictions across the country.

Our areas of Concentration Include:

Personal Injury / Wrongful Death Economic Damages

Commercial Damages / Business Interruption Claims

Economic Damages in Employment Matters

Employment Discrimination - Statistical Analysis

Business Valuations / Appraisal

Contact us to discuss your case.

Carlo Scevola & Partners is an International Fiduciary Company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with branches in six continents. We specialize in International Planning, Strategic Consulting and Wealth Management.

Our clients trust us for everything from setting up an Offshore Company to Mergers and Acquisitions to Business Finance and Asset Protection. CS&P’s customer-centric methodology ensures that each client gets a custom-tailored solution which addresses that business’ individual objectives and requirements.

Our team has expertise in every functional category and every important geography. From finance to operations to human resources to marketing – from the Americas to Europe to Africa, Asia and Oceania – CS&P can bring together experienced executives who know how to advise you and will make your enterprise a success. All this while always protecting your privacy.

Services Offered:

Business and Strategic Consulting

S.W.O.T. Analysis

Pre-investment Feasibility Studies / Competitive Background Assessments

Business Plan Research, Writing and Production

Strategy Definition / Implementation

Reworking of Operating Processes for International Suitability

Industrial Partnership Scouting / Matching

Tailor Business Model to Market Environment, Jurisdiction and Local Authorities Requirements

Corporate Finance:

Mergers, Acquisitions and CessionsCommercial Due Diligence or Investment / Financial Appraisals

Company Reorganization and Restructuring

Financial Feasibility Plans for Industrial Expansion

Scouting / Recruiting Highly Qualified Financial Management

Exit Strategies in the event of Buy-outs, Buy-ins, Spin-offs or MBOs, MBIs and LBOs

Listing on Stock Exchanges

Offshore Consulting:

International Tax Planning

Corporate Structuring, Maintenance and Trusts

International Contracts Law

Jurisdictions

Residency and Citizenship

International Banking

Logistic Support

Government Licenses

Aircrafts and Vessels

Intellectual Property

CS&P Operates In More Than 80 Countries Around The World.

Danny F. Dukes and Associates, LLC is a Forensic Accounting Firm that specializes in expert witness and litigation support services. We have investigated fraud and various financial transactions. We are extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of laws pertaining to financial transactions and lending transactions.

Our founder, Danny F. Dukes, has spent over 28 years in the financial institutions and mortgage industry. Danny understands all aspects of mortgage and financial institution transactions.

As a consultant, he has assisted community banks with investment management, asset liability management, investment banking, compliance issues, internal audit, bank operations, bank policies, and generally accepted accounting principles. He has assisted in a capital raise for de-novo banks. He has also served as a lead on the selection of data processing solutions and transition teams for mergers and acquisitions. 

Assisted in over 20 cases

Areas of Expertise:

Bank Fraud & Embezzlement Bank Operations & Practices Cash Management Check Processing / Check 21 Check Kiting Deposit Accounts Electronic Transactions / ACH, ATMs Embezzlement

Loan Administration Money Laundering Payment Processing & Fraud Detection/Prevention Royalty Audits Damage Computation Claims Analysis Determination of Compliance Divorce