Contracts / Cash Flow Instruments Appraisal & Valuation Expert Witnesses

Kirk D. Kleckner, CPA, MBA, ABV, ASA, CFF is the Managing Principal of ValuationUSA, a boutique Valuation / Litigation Support firm. He is also the current President of Automotive Group Capital and Consulting, LLC - a ten person business specializing in the dealership industry.

Mr. Kleckner is a CPA, MBA and is professionally accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is also a Senior Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and Certified in Financial Forensics from the AICPA (CFF). Mr. Kleckner is a Qualified Expert Witness with experience in complex business litigation.

Mr. Kleckner's experience includes seven years as Chief Financial Officer for a well respected top 50 dealership group. He spent nineteen years with an accounting firm as its Chief Operating Officer, Director of Business Valuation and Litigation Support Services and Shareholder.

Mr. Kleckner's expertise leverages both his professional and hands-on industry experience. His practical experience includes buying, selling and integrating of businesses and organization and owner tax planning.

Mr. Kleckner has experience as an expert witness in various legal actions including class action settlement valuation, ownership dispute valuation and business damage calculations.

Areas of Expertise:

Business Valuation

Litigation Economic Loss / Damage Analysis and Independent Opinions, Expert Witness

Product Warranty and Class Action Settlement Valuation

Dealership - Valuation, Profitability and Practices

Business Interruption, Minority Interests and Fair Value, Ownership Disputes

Estate and Gift Valuation

Succession and Business Owner Wealth Transfer Planning

Acquisition / Merger Advisory

Mining Interest Valuation

SEDA Experts is a boutique consulting firm specializing in Financial Services. They provide superior independent advice, data analytics, valuation, and expert testimony services to financial institutions and law firms in both litigation and business contexts.

Their experts have unmatched industry experience in a vast array of financial services practices. With over 30 years as global managing directors at leading financial institutions and consulting firms, each of their experts is dedicated to applying exceptional real-world economic, financial, and quantitative principles to complex business and legal challenges.  

SEDA Experts provides independent advice, financial consulting, data analytics, valuation, and expert testimony services to financial institutions and law firms in both litigation and business contexts.

Services:

Expert Witnesses Testimony and Report Litigation Process Support Mediation Class Certification Consulting

Complex Data Analysis  Damages Calculations Engaging World Class Expert Advisory Services

Richard A. Marin, Managing Director, a former finance senior executive with over 40 years of industry experience, and a former clinical professor at Cornell University, is a world-class testifying expert. Mr. Marin is a Finance, Real Estate, and Venture Capital industry executive who is currently the CEO of Low Emissions Resources Corporation.  He also is involved in managing private equity investments, consulting on major commercial real estate and attractions projects, and an expert in the retirement field.

Mr. Marin was previously a senior executive at three major financial institutions; Bankers Trust Company, Deutsche Bank and Bear Stearns.  His initial career spanned corporate finance, sales and trading, structured products, emerging markets, processing, and several other disciplines. Later in his career, he focused on building and running large asset management businesses in both the traditional and alternative spaces and in the institutional and high net worth markets. He also served as Chairman and CEO of AFI (USA), a major distressed commercial and residential property developer, for whom he restructured over $2B of liabilities. 

Mr. Marin has been a successful financial entrepreneur, involved in founding several venture capital firms (Beehive Ventures and Green Visor Capital) and a hedge fund (Ironwood Global).  He served as CEO of the New York Wheel, a $650 million development project, from 2012 to 2017.  He is currently the CEO of Low Emission Resource Corporation, a start-up scientific research & development company working in the areas of hydrogen and ammonia production. 

He is a published author of Global Pension Crisis: Unfunded Liabilities and How We Can Fill the Gap (Wiley & Sons, 2013), Mater Gladiatrix (Lulu Press, 2017) and Gulag 401k: Tales of a Modern Prisoner (Lulu Press, 2017). View full Vitae.

 Areas of Expertise: 

Asset Management Alternative Investments Private Equity Investments

Securities Lending Retirement and Pensions Real Estate / Project Financing

Kenneth Simmons, Managing Director, has over 30 years of industry experience as Executive Vice President at leading financial institutions, and at regulatory agencies such as OCC and FDIC. He is a Review Board Member and Faculty member at the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, and the North & South Metro Atlanta Compliance Roundtable Founder and Chairperson at the Community Bankers Association. 

He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at Origin Bank, and in a similar position at Hamilton State Bank. During his career he was responsible for all aspects of Regulatory Compliance, he devised comprehensive BSA/AML Programs including complex layers of investigations and an enhanced monitoring system to exceed Supervisory Expectations, and developed comprehensive risk assessments, audit schedule and compliance testing programs addressing regulatory inventory of risks.

Mr. Simmons served the Office of the Comptroller Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as Compliance/ BSA Specialist Bank Examiner. During his tenure with the OCC he was the functional Examiner-in-Charge (FEIC) on complex BSA & Compliance examinations, and the Supervisory Review Examiner for BSA/AML, fair lending, and CRA examinations. 

He evaluated effectiveness of AML systems (such as FCRM, Bankers Toolbox, and FIS (Prime) and formulated opinions on the use of such systems. He also worked directly with Supervisory office and legal staff regarding BSA/AML violations, MRAs, and consent order issuances, providing guidance and direction to financial institutions regarding resolution of these matters.

In addition, he served as the General Audit Manager for a multi-billion dollar financial institution, and he served as a Compliance Officer for several financial institutions.  View full Vitae.

Areas of Expertise:

Finance Anti-Money Laundering Bank Secrecy Act Compliance

Financial Crimes Risk Management Regulatory Compliance AML / BSA Risk Management

Kevin D. Oden, Managing Director, has unrivaled Financial Risk Management expertise and over 30 years of financial markets experience with leading financial institutions firms Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs, holding executive positions. 

Mr. is an innovative risk manager and entrepreneur with a strong track record of leading risk teams to the forefront of industry practice. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Risk Management Association (RMA) and on the RMA Journal Editorial Advisory Board and the financial technology firm Scienaptic Systems.

During his career, he managed small and large teams (as many as 4000) across a number of risk disciplines including market risk, counterparty risk, model validation, risk model development, operational risk, cyber security, financial crimes and compliance. Developed an industry leading practice in model risk management with patents pending on several innovations in system design. Highly successful at building working relationships with business leaders as well as U.S. and foreign regulators. 

Mr. Oden has over 30 years of industry experience, including risk management, trading, sales, portfolio management. Superior quantitative background and communication skills provide a unique ability to deliver risk insight to all stakeholders and influence decision making throughout the firm. He was a member of Wells Fargo’s management committee and Asset Liability Committee (ALCO). 

Dr. Oden was an Executive Vice President and Head of Operational Risk and Compliance within Corporate Risk at Wells Fargo & Co., managing second-line risk activities across information security, financial crimes risk, model risk, operational risk, regulatory compliance risk, and technology risk. Prior to this he was the Chief Market & Institutional Risk officer for Wells Fargo & Co.  View full Vitae.

Areas of Expertise:

Market, Credit and Counterparty Risk Operational Risk Risk Model Development and Validation

Risk Management and Compliance Portfolio Management Asset and Liability Management

Joseph B. Matheson, CPA, ABV, CVA, DABFA, FACFEI, CITP, CFF, CFE, is a Certified Public Accountant, with over than 30 years of public and private accounting experience. Mr. Matheson is a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) by the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA, one of the oldest and most prestigious certification organizations) and is Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is also a Fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute (FACFEI), holds a Diplomate from the American Board of Forensic Accountants (DABFA), and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. In addition, Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), and a Certified Financial Forensics (CFF) all of which are earned from the AICPA. Mr. Matheson has taught various accounting and business classes for the Small Business Development Centers of New Jersey (part of the SBA), continuing education classes to other CPAs, and was a member of the Speakers Bureau for the New Jersey State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Litigation Support - Joseph Matheson uses Forensic Accounting and Auditing skills to provide an analysis of financial records in conjunction with dispute resolutions, as well as fraud and theft investigation. His damage measurement methods can determine the extent of financial loss and illegal accounting practices. Mr. Matheson is qualified and testifies as an expert witness in New Jersey State and Federal Courts. He also provides analysis to mediation attorneys to assist in settlement.

Areas of Expertise:

• Business Valuation for bankruptcy, partner and shareholder disputes, contract disputes, marital disputes
• Valuation of closely held businesses, stock options and restricted stock for capital gain, gift tax and compensation purposes
• Wage and economic loss reports, business interruption loss reports, divorce (lifestyle analysis, tax-effected balance sheet preparation, alimony, and child support analysis)
• Investigative accounting and fraud analysis
• Merger and acquisition negotiation purposes

View Joseph Matheson's Consulting Profile.

Dennis M. Giuffré is an Economist and Professional Engineer in private practice since 1978, and previously with the consulting firms, Allstates Engineering Company and Equitable Environmental Health, Inc.

Background Experience: Prior to a consulting career, Mr. Giuffré engaged in basic subsurface research at Texaco, Inc., corporate planning and development at the Gulf Oil Corporation, process engineering and design at the Petro-Tex Chemical Corporation, and process engineering and economics at the Olin Corporation, among other companies.

Economic Damages Expert Services:  Mr. Giuffré provides expert witness services primarily in the area of Economic Damages, and in related economics and technical issues. He has been engaged by both plaintiffs and defendants, and has testified as an expert witness in federal and state courts, and in arbitration and administrative hearings.

Mr. Giuffré has been retained as a damages analyst and expert in insurance claim losses, patent and other intellectual property infringement, trade secrets misappropriation, antitrust, breach of contract, deceptive trade practices, unfair competition, unconstitutional taking, products liability, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, defamation, slander, trespass, legal malpractice, and numerous other causes of action pertaining to business entities; as well as in personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, discrimination, retaliatory discharge, class action, and other causes of action pertaining to individuals and households.

Specific Litigation Expertise:

Damages Analysis and Expert Services Forensic Economics  Lost Profits Analysis Reasonable Royalty Analysis Unjust Enrichment

Loss of Personal Earnings Analysis of Anticompetitive Behavior     Fair Market Price or Value Closely Held Securities Evaluation Business Evaluations

View Econalysis® Consulting's Consultant Profile.

Donald M. May PhD, CPA, Managing Partner at DMA Economics, LLC, possesses over 30 years of Valuation and Economic Damages experience. He implements a broad range of damage analyses and valuations for clients, including billion-dollar investment funds under SEC investigation as well multi-national firms involved in intellectual property disputes, consumers in product mislabeling cases, and small to mid-sized businesses involved in complex commercial litigation.

Background Experience - Prior to founding DMA Economics LLC, Dr. May was Managing Director at Berkley Research Group and the Principal in charge of valuation and litigation support services for a regional accounting firm, a Managing Director for PricewaterhouseCoopers, and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Sloan School of Management. He has performed over 200 valuations of closely held businesses across numerous industries for financial reporting and estate planning.

Dr. May has been published in several distinguished academic and practitioner journals such as The Journal of Finance, The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Hedge Fund Law Review, and is currently an editorial board member of The Journal of Business Valuation and Economic Loss Analysis.

Litigation Support - Dr. May is a world class expert in the Valuation of Damages. Dr. May has prepared expert reports and testified in federal and state courts as well as AAA, JAMS, and FINRA arbitration hearings, and has also effectively communicated as an expert witness testifier and consultant in several multi-million dollar cases.

Recent Litigation Matters:

• Misrepresentations in Leveraged Buyout (“LBO”) Financing Practices
• Theft of Trade Secrets, Trade Dress, and Intellectual Property
• Food Product Mislabeling
• Securities Fraud Under SEC Section 10b-5 and Section 11
• Accounting Misstatements in Public and Private Company Acquisitions
• Lost Profits and Lost Enterprise Value Associated with Product Defects and Breach of Contract

View DMA Economics' Consulting Profile.

Corporate Sciences, Inc. (CSI) is a highly regarded Economic Consulting Firm providing financial services to corporations, law firms, and government agencies. CSI professionals have served some of the world’s largest multinational corporations and law firms. Many of their team members hold advanced academic degrees and specialized credentials with extensive consulting experience in all the areas they provide service.

Litigation Support - CSI has been assisting law firms and their clients in all aspects of litigation requiring Economic Accounting or Financial Expertise for over 40 years. Services are provided as consultants, testifying experts, arbitrators, and mediators. CSI professionals understand the complexity in the many stages of litigation including discovery, liability assessment, damage calculations, expert testimony, and critique of opposing expert opinions.

CSI professionals have been through hundreds of engagements appearing in many venues including trials, ADR proceedings, and regulatory hearings. Their testimonial work is supported by state-of-the-art research, analysis and pragmatic business insight. CSI professionals are widely regarded for their ability to convey results of complex analysis and opinions in easy-to-understand language and demonstrative exhibits. Many of their cases have been large and complex often running into hundreds of millions and billions of dollars at stake.

Areas of Expertise:

Real Estate Construction Intellectual Property Insurance Securities Fraud Banking Forensic Accounting Mergers and Acquisitions Valuation/Appraisal Real Property

Breach of Contract Damages Antitrust Healthcare Bankruptcy Environmental Labor and Employment Financial Institutions General Commercial Disputes Design & Conduct Market Opinion Surveys Valuation/Appraisal Business Entities

Scott S. Miller, MBA, ASA, ABV, specializes in Business Valuation and Transaction Consulting for small to middle market companies. He has over 35 years of professional business experience that ranges from senior operations management with publicly-traded companies to handling all aspects of operations in small privately-held manufacturing and service businesses.

Along with an MBA from the University of Houston, Mr. Miller achieved the Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) designation from the American Society of Appraisers, the Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) certification from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has over 15 years of business / financial asset valuation and consulting experience. He is a past President of the Houston Chapter for the American Society of Appraisers and is a member of the Houston Estate and Financial Forum.

Prior to the formation of Convergent Capital Appraisers in 2007, Mr. Miller held positions with McClure, Schumacher & Associates, RR Donnelley Financial, several positions/locations with Bowne & Co., Inc., and Industrial Screenprint, Inc. 

Litigation Support - Mr. Miller provides expert witness services to attorneys for plaintiff and defense in need of appraisal services. His expertise is in business valuation of closely-held businesses and the appraisal of fractional interests of equity holders. His services include thorough review and reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. 

Business valuation and appraisal services have been provided for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to:

Family Law Matters Shareholder / Equity Holder Litigation Buy-Sell Agreements

Buy-Sell Transactions Business Damages Estate and Gift Tax Matters

View Scott S. Miller's Consulting Profile.

Peter J. Bondy FSA, MAAA, has more than 45 years of experience as an Actuary and a Financial Services Professional. He has served as a corporate executive, as a corporate director, and as a consultant domestically and internationally. Mr. Bondy has extensive experience with insurance company and reinsurer matters and practices ranging from basic business practices to matters involving financial projections and valuations as well as sales practices. He has served on corporate boards and brings a broad understanding of the issues involved. A published author, Mr. Bondy has delivered lectures and spoken frequently around the country. He is fluent in English and Spanish, his first language.

Litigation Support - Having had experience with many complex projects throughout his career, Mr. Bondy is able to serve as an expert consultant or as an expert witness for complex matters and issues regarding annuities, insurance, reinsurance, emerging mortality, experience issues, and corporate matters. He provides a broad range of litigation support services to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant.

Areas of Expertise

• Actuary / Actuarial
• Reinsurance
• Economic Loss
• Joint Marital Property
• Valuation of Streams of Contingent Future Payments
• Usufruct Arrangements
• Private Annuities
• Insurance : Life / Health / Annuities / Disability
• Life Settlements / Structured Settlement Annuities
• Appraisal and Performance Evaluation of: Life Insurance / Life Settlement Transactions / Annuity Benefits / Retirement Benefits