Business Valuations, Forensics, and Litigation Services Conference Agenda

1-EthicsEthics and Client Engagements

• Understand what is required to meet AICPA professional standards.
• Determine how to comply with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct when accepting client engagements.
• Explore artificial intelligence (AI) and ethics-related issues.
• Learn the do’s and do not’s of what to include in your client engagement letters to lessen the probability of lawsuits against you or your firm.

1-EthicsEthics: This Is How to Lead by Example

• Identify seven ethical responsibilities.
• Define the six pillars of trust.
• Apply ethical principles to concerns.
• Identify how to prepare a leader for feedback.
• Take constructive actions to be a better example going forward.

1-OtherROI Pricing: Stop Discounting Your Fees

• Discover how to have meaningful conversations with prospects to understand the value of the problem to be solved.
• Learn how to value and price your services objectively and transparently.
• Understand how to use the provided frameworks to implement ROI pricing in your practice.
• Get a teaser for Burkert's session by reading his recent blog "Client ROI Is the Key to Your Pricing."

1-OtherWhy Hasn’t This Case Settled Yet? The Judges’ Perspectives on the Critical Role of the Financial Expert

• What if we focused as much attention on approaching legal disputes from the perspective of settlement as we do on preparing for deposition and trial?
• What if we could turn a “win or lose” case scenario into a “win-win”?
• What if we could refocus the litigants’ perspectives from “Battle” to “Resolution”?
• How much more valuable would our services be in the world of forensics and litigation?
• What do the judges have to say?

1-OtherForensics Breakout #1a: Independent Arbiter Matters – How to Navigate Clients through Post-Acquisition Disputes

• Understand purchase price adjustments, including working capital and earn-out adjustments.
• Identify common areas of dispute in working capital and earn-out adjustments.
• Understand the process of an independent arbiter in resolving working capital or earn-out adjustment disputes.
• Help their clients either as a consultant or an expert in navigating the dispute resolution process.

1-OtherValuation Breakout #1b: Using Transaction Databases to Value a Business

• The sources and types of data included in the various transaction databases (DealStats, BIZCOMPS, and ValuSource Market Comps).
• How to evaluate, interpret, and apply the database information, including strengths and weaknesses.
• How to select the proper level of reliability of this method.
• A detailed case study.

1-A&AForensics Breakout #2a: Lost Profits

• Receive an overview of lost profits damages and the considerations that should be employed by CPA experts in performing such analyses, including:
  • Assessment of the damage period 
  • Techniques for estimating lost revenues
  • Evaluation of incremental costs
  • Other relevant issues, including mitigation and time value of money

1-A&AValuation Breakout #2b: Valuations: Valuing Intangibles

• Receive an overview of commonly valued intangible assets in connection with tax matters, financial reporting, and transaction planning.
• Discuss the applicable valuation approaches and methods and walk through a case study related to tax planning and compliance.

1-A&AForensics Breakout #3a: Fraud Risk Factors and Investigation Techniques

• Receive an introduction to three types of fraud.
• Get an overview of fraud statistics, detection, and concealment.
• Discuss the global impacts and how to address these issues.

1-A&AValuation Breakout #3b: M&A - Succession Planning, Valuing Small Firms

1-A&AForensics Breakout #4a: Forensics - Advanced Issues in Personal Injury and Other Issues

• Learn the relevant case law and rules necessary in calculating losses in personal injury matters.
• Discover how requesting documents early in a case can make all the difference in your findings.
• Using internet searches and social media can provide valuable information and can be game changers.
• Making the appropriate adjustments and analyzing actual costs in life care plans can result in millions of dollars of differences with the amounts claimed.

1-A&AValuation Breakout #4b: Valuing a Business in Volatile Times

• Discuss the types of volatility that affect valuations prepared for your clients.
• Understand the impact of volatility on value.
• Examine where volatility comes into play in valuations.
• Discuss differing effects of volatility based on industry and stage of development.