Litigation Support

Michael Goldman's Approach to Litigation Support:

The main difference between litigation support services and other accounting or consulting services is that litigation services involve an actual or potential dispute between two or more parties.  Michael Goldman brings over 30 years of professional experience as a manager, negotiator, forensic accountant, business valuator, restructuring consultant, and parent to his cases.  Most cases are ultimately settled once the facts are presented in a clear, calm, well-thought-out, and convincing manner that incorporates both side's perspectives.  This is achieved by:

• Fully understanding the theory of the case
• Determining what evidence, data and information is relevant, where it exists, how best to obtain it, and the cost / benefit ratio of using it.  This determination is case-specific and depends on the theory of the case, the parties involved, and other facts and circumstances.
• Applying knowledge, expertise, and experience in conducting interviews, reviewing data, analyzing information, making observations, and forming opinions.
• Document and present expert opinions and the underlying basis for forming those opinions.
• Assist the case attorneys with negotiation, deposition, and trial preparation
• Testifying if necessary.

In the minority of cases that are not able to settle, Michael Goldman is able to organize and understand the evidence required for discovery and trial, present it in a compelling expert report, and testify to the facts and his opinions in a manner that conveys the quality, relevance, and integrity of both the evidence and the manner in which it was analyzed.

Financial experts require the quantitative skills to undertake and perform the numerical analysis necessary to develop the technical evidence required in complex commercial or matrimonial cases.  They also require the understanding of human nature - how parties to the case are likely to have acted and what impact that has on the evidence, and how the parties are likely to respond to the presentation of the evidence.  The human elements are often as important as the numerical aspects of the case, if not more so.  Michael Goldman has the experience and ability to synthesize all of these factors into his case work.

A Leader in the Field:

Michael Goldman has been published in Aspen Law's Valuing Professional Practices and Licenses, the Illinois Divorce Digest, The Value Examiner, The Corporate Counselor, Westlaw's Strategic Alternatives for Distressed Businesses, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners' Fraud Casebook, and the American Bankruptcy Institute's Commercial Fraud Manual.  His articles have been used in national training courses and the graduate level course he teaches consistently earns high evaluations from students.

Michael Goldman has been a member of the Editorial Board of The Value Examiner since June, 2008.  In January 2012 he was appointed Chairman of the Editorial Board.  He is also a Leader on the American Bankruptcy Institute's Fraud Task Force.

Michael Goldman's Forensic Accounting, Insolvency, and Valuation Cases