Finance / Financing 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

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

Bob Lawson,  AIF®, CFE®, MRFC®, LUTCF®, is a Securities & FINRA Expert Witness retained for FINRA arbitration, mediation, and federal/civil court litigation. Mr. Lawson possesses over 35 years of experience within the securities and insurance industries. In 1988, Mr. Lawson founded Barrington Capital Management, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisory firm and Insurance Agency, and currently serves as the Managing Principal of Barrington Financial Consulting Group, Inc, a 12-person Securities Litigation and Consulting Expert firm.

In addition, Mr. Lawson serves as a FINRA Mediator and presides as a FINRA & NFA Dispute Resolution Chairman for disputes concerning investors, financial services professionals, broker-dealers, and dually-registered investment advisers. Claims often arise regarding breach of fiduciary duties, securities fraud, employment disputes, conflicts of interest, churning, unsuitable investments, and failure to supervise, among others. Mr. Lawson also serves as a public mediator and is a Qualified Neutral under Minnesota Rule 114 of Standard Practice in Mediation and Arbitration. His breadth of experience includes managing and supervising FINRA broker-dealer branch offices as a Registered Securities Principal, Options Principal, and Chief Compliance Officer.

Mr. Lawson also has considerable experience with insurance products including variable annuities, fixed and indexed annuities, long term care, and life insurance. Mr. Lawson possesses numerous accolades and is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE®), Master Registered Financial Consultant (MRFC), and a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF®).

Retaining Mr. Lawson as an Expert Witness and Litigation Consultant will clarify and address relevant issues pertaining to your case from an insider's point of view. Upon a thorough examination and analysis of the case material, Mr. Lawson’s conclusions and opinions are impartial, objective, and predicated upon years of industry expertise and experience. Expert testimony and reports are supported by thorough and detailed research through case-specific analysis.

Bob is active in the following organizations:  Vice-Chairman - Master Registered Financial Consultants |  Mentorship and Practice Management Chair - Securities Experts Roundtable | Twin Cities Certified Fraud Examiners Association, Membership Chair - Minnesota State Bar Association ADR Section

Areas of Expertise:

• FINRA Expert Witness
• Securities Expert Witness
• FINRA Arbitration
• Breach of Fiduciary Duty
• Liability Expert
• Promissory Notes
• Securities Fraud Investigations
• Ponzi Schemes
• Options, Stocks & Bonds
• Due Diligence
• Professional Malpractice
• Economic Damages & Losses
• Employment Discrimination & Termination

Services:

• Litigation Consulting
• Unbiased Case Analysis
• Discovery Review & Recommendations
• Portfolio Risk Reports
• Securities Fraud Investigation
• Damage Calculations
• Expert Testimony

View Bob Lawson's Consulting Profile.

  

Brian H. Kelley is a seasoned Banking Executive, Lender, and Attorney with over 30 years of experience in lending, top management, and legal positions for both regional and larger commercial banks in California, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon. He has served as the CEO of three successful community banks and the head of a Multi-Billion Dollar lending group with a large international bank.

Litigation Support - Mr. Kelley provides expert testimony and litigation support to attorneys representing financial institutions, businesses, and individuals. His expert witness services include analysis of key issues, case strategy, depositions, opinions, and court testimony.

Mr. Kelley's expertise has been called upon in State, Federal, Bankruptcy, and Arbitration Courts, having testified on behalf of FDIC, major banks, and financial institutions. He is a qualified expert in eights states and the District of Columbia.

Areas of Expertise:

Consumer and Commercial Lending Loan Underwriting Bank Operations Bank Compliance Federal and State Regulation Credit and Collection Practices

Bank Governance Lender Liability Loan Policy and Guidelines Loan and Credit Review Loan Workout Loan Modification and HAMP Programs

Education / Training: BA and JD from Brigham Young University. Extensive professional course experience in loan underwriting, credit analysis, corporate finance, lending practices, etc.

Degrees / Certifications: Admitted to the California, Utah and Hawaii Bar Associations. Past Director of Western Independent Bankers, California Bankers, American Bankers Association and Mortgage Bankers of America.

View Brian Kelley's Consulting Profile.

Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP®, CRPC®, RICP®, CDFA™, Chief Executive Officer at Blue Ocean Global Wealth, is a Certified Financial Planning Expert with 18 years of experience. Prior to co-founding Blue Ocean Global Wealth, she was a Financial Advisor at Ameriprise Financial and an Analyst and Editor at Towa Securities in Tokyo, Japan. Ms. Cheng is a past spokesperson for the AARP Financial Freedom Campaign and a regular columnist for Investopedia & Kiplinger. She is a CFP® professional, a Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM, a Retirement Income Certified Professional® and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. As a Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) Ambassador, Ms. Cheng helps educate the public, policy makers, and media about the benefits of competent, ethical financial planning. She served on the Financial Planning Association (FPA) National Board of Directors from 2013 – 2015 and is a past president of the Financial Planning Association of the National Capital Area (FPA NCA). 

Marguerita Cheng CNBC Interview on Social Security 

Awards and Honors - Ms. Cheng is a recipient of the Ameriprise Financial Presidential Award for Quality of Advice and the prestigious Japanese Monbukagakusho Scholarship. In 2017, she was named the #3 Most Influential Financial Advisor in the Investopedia Top 100, a Woman to Watch by InvestmentNews, and a Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise (MBE®) by the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council (CRMSDC).

Litigation Support - Ms. Cheng serves as a Women’s Initiative (WIN) Advocate and subject matter expert for CFP Board, contributing to the development of examination questions for the CFP® Certification Examination. She also volunteers for CFP Board Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (DEC) hearings. Services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant include financial due diligence, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Litigation Expertise:

Financial Planning Issues Social Security Elder Financial Abuse

Financial Planner Standard of Care Financial Planner Code of Ethics Investor Rights

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.

John B. Schnure, President of Cambria Associates, has 40 years of experience in Banking, Bank Management, Lending, Loan Review Due Diligence, and Commercial Real Estate. He has worked with Cambria Associates for over 25 years and has worked with over 100 banks as clients over the years.

Background - Mr. Schnure holds an MBA from Columbia University with majors in International Business and Real Estate, and a BBA from University of Cincinnati with a major in Finance. He has post-graduate study at Dartmouth College and University of Virginia Business Schools. Mr. Schnure has been President and CEO of three Chicago area banks/thrifts, and prior to that was Vice President of The Northern Trust Company in commercial lending and management.

Litigation Support - John B. Schnure has successfully completed 15 expert witness engagements in the last 3 years in banking, lending, and/or real estate. The clients he represented prevailed in each case. His expertise is available to counsel representing both debtors and creditors.

Areas of Expertise:

Bank Fraud Banking Negligence Due Diligence Loan Policies Banking / Regulatory Practice Violations Underwriting Closings Servicing Loan Review / Administration Regulatory Repair

Role of Auditors Insider Transactions Workouts Bankruptcy Fiduciary Duties Landlord / Tenant Disputes Check Kiting Lender Liability Loan Document Compliance Commercial Real Estate Lending

View Cambria Associates' Consulting Profile.

Frank Carr has extensive background and experience as an Investment Industry Employment and Compensation Expert Witness, especially Investment Management Firms, Mutual Funds, Hedge Funds, Wealth Managers, and Broker Dealers. Mr. Carr is a former corporate banker, investment firm Chief Financial Officer and a 20 year veteran of executive search for the Investment Management industry. He has written articles for and has been frequently quoted by publications such as Bloomberg News, CNN Money, Fund Fire, Ignites, Absolute Return, Hedge Fund Alert, and Hedge Fund Manager Week. Prior to entering the executive search field, he was the Chief Financial Officer of a Connecticut-based hedge fund and Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA). Mr. Carr started his career in commercial bank lending, initially with Citigroup in their Wall Street Commodities division and later specialized in financing independent feature film producers, TV producers and television station owners on behalf of European American Bank in New York. Litigation Support - Frank Carr is an Investment Industry Employment and Compensation Expert Witness who has been retained by both plaintiffs and defendants for American Arbitration Association, JAMS and FINRA arbitration, mediation, and federal court litigation. Mr. Carr has over 30 years of experience in Financial Services, Investment Management, and Banking and his areas of coverage include Traditional and Alternative Investments – Equities, Fixed Income, Mutual Funds, Hedge Funds, Private Equity, and Managed Futures. Specialist in Wall Street Divorce. Areas of Expertise:

Executive Compensation Employment and Hiring Practices Wrongful Dismissal Lost Earnings FINRA Arbitration Employment Discrimination Compensation Consulting

Institutional Asset Management Mutual Funds Hedge Funds Private Equity Wealth Management Broker / Dealers Retail Financial Advisory Sales Process for Investment Products

Prior Expert Witness Assignments:

• Represented a hedge fund portfolio manager as an expert rebuttal witness in a high profile hedge fund employment/compensation lawsuit. Prepared a rebuttal opinion letter submitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
• Represented a $12 billion Texas-based SEC Registered Investment Adviser and leading global alternative credit manager in a JAMS arbitration regarding a terminated employee. Prepared a rebuttal expert witness report and provided live testimony at the JAMS arbitration hearing.
• Represented a financial advisor in a FINRA arbitration against one of the top 5 U.S. wealth management firms. The scope of the opinion included projected career advancement, compensation analysis and calculation of lost earnings.
• Represented a portfolio manager/ investment analyst in a wrongful termination action against one of the largest U.S. Broker Dealers with over $600 billion in assets. The scope of the opinion included projected career advancement and compensation analysis. Prepared an expert witness report and provided live testimony at the FINRA arbitration hearing.

Education - Mr. Carr is a graduate of Williams College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Economy. He completed the Management Training Program at Citigroup in New York, including courses in accounting, finance and capital markets. He has previously held FINRA licenses, Series 3, 6 and 63 and has completed Level I of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) program.

Jack G. Cohen has been involved in the Private Money Lending and  Real Estate Industry for over 30 years. He is currently the managing member and director of a private money real estate lending, real estate development, and investment property management company. He is also the San Fernando Realty Real Estate Investment director of the California Bureau of Real Estate. 

Mr. Cohen has experience with commercial, residential, and retail real estate, and construction lending.

Litigation Support: Mr. Cohen has been retained as an expert witness in Real Estate related cases over 50 times since 1990. He represents both Plaintiff and Defense and is experienced with complex cases. His services include thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Private Money Lending Credit File and Qualifications  Appraisals Evictions Foreclosures Industry Standards Title Reports Property Management

Tenant and Landlord Issues Brokers and Investor Relation Finance and Documentation Sales and Leasing Insurance Claims Loan Servicing Escrow

Jack G. Cohen has been involved in the Automobile Industry for over 30 years, wholesaling and retailing, and running several dealerships and franchises. Mr. Cohen has been retained as an expert witness over 50 times since 2015. His services are available to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant. He consults with attorneys, dealers, consumers, and insurance companies. 

Areas of Expertise:

Appraisals Industry Standards Dealer Fraud Vehicle Sales and Leasing Dealership Practices New and Used Auto Transactions

Auto Warranty Issues Finance Documentation and Analysis Lender - Dealer Relationships Wholesale and Retail Diminished Value Cases Automobile & Equipment Rentals

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 currently serving as Region 3 Governor for the American Society of Appraisers and is past President of the Houston Chapter for the ASA.

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.

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 banks, financial transactions and lending transactions.

Our founder, Danny F. Dukes, has spent over 30 years in the financial institutions and mortgage industry. Danny understands all aspects of mortgage and financial institution transactions including policies and best practices.

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 30 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

As Co-Author of Anatomy of Credit Scores and Founder / President of Easy Credit Relief, Inc., Doug Minor focuses on helping and teaching people how to understand the credit system. Showing them the best ways to use credit and maximize their score. Doug has been reviewing personal credit reports and financial profiles of individuals for more than 30 years. He has happily been quoted and interviewed for articles appearing in FoxBusiness.com, Yahoo! Finance, and Entrepreneur Magazine. During this time he has enjoyed answering thousands of questions regarding credit scores and the information contained in credit reports. Having a pragmatic disposition as well a broad base of experience in business he has the unique knowledge and academics to assess damages. He has performed training classes to audiences of all levels of sophistication including Professional Groups, Lenders, CEO’s, and Consumers. As a respected Expert in Credit Related Damages, Credit Reporting, and Scoring he serves as a litigation consultant / expert witness for those involved in credit reporting, credit scores and quantifing the associated damages.