News Category: News

Jeremy Newell Selected for AICPA’s 2022 Leadership Academy

StoneTurn is pleased to share that Manager Jeremy Newell was one of only 36 CPAs honored by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) as a member of the Leadership Academy’s 14th graduating class. Jeremy was selected based on his exceptional leadership skills and professional experience for the four-day Leadership Academy program, which will be held October 23-27.

At StoneTurn, Jeremy advises clients and counsel on forensic accounting, complex litigation, and compliance and monitoring matters. He has experience leading and performing forensic accounting investigations, assisting counsel and organizations with accounting and auditing matters, and performing assessments of internal controls and remediation initiatives. His experience also includes matters involving government agencies and regulators, such as the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as internal investigations involving businesses and not-for-profit entities in various industries. As StoneTurn continues to expand across the globe, Jeremy has taken an active role in mentoring up and coming professionals.

Jeremy is based in Boston, Massachusetts and is originally from Connecticut, where he worked as an Audit Senior in the external audit practice at a Big Four accounting firm. He graduated from the University of Connecticut with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting. He is a CPA, is Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

The AICPA Leadership Academy was designed to strengthen and expand the leadership skills of promising young professionals while they network with a peer group of talented and motivated CPAs. The Leadership Academy features career-development workshops and sessions with some of the accounting profession’s most prominent influencers. Participants were selected from public accounting firms of all sizes, business and industry, government, and consulting firms.

The 2022 Leadership Academy attendees were recommended by their employers, state CPA societies, and/or volunteer organizations. Candidates submitted resumes and a statement explaining how participating in the Leadership Academy would impact them personally and professionally.

To date, more than 445 CPAs have participated in the AICPA Leadership Academy, many of whom have gone on to take on leadership positions in their firms, businesses, and volunteer organizations.

For more information about the AICPA Leadership Academy, visit AICPA.org/Leadership.

StoneTurn Bolsters Global Investigations Team with Managing Director Jeremy Hirsch

StoneTurn, a leading global advisory firm, announced the continued expansion of its global investigations team with the addition of Managing Director Jeremy Hirsch, based in New York.

Jeremy has more than 15 years of experience assisting clients with business and strategic intelligence, litigation advisory, governance and investigations. He has a strong track record as a trusted adviser to clients in the financial services industry, including private equity, alternative asset management, pension funds and family offices, as well as Fortune 500 companies across various industries and law firms.

“StoneTurn is committed to providing our clients with deep investigative capabilities, and continuing to build our team is a critical component of that commitment,” said Brad Wilson, Managing Partner and CEO. “Bringing Jeremy on board is just the latest move to bolster our investigative team, from establishing our presence in Singapore, growing our practices in Brazil and the U.K., and enhancing our capabilities across North America, Europe and Africa. We continue to expand the breadth and depth of our expertise to best serve our clients and our people.”

Jeremy supports clients on complex matters across a broad range of issues including business intelligence, reputational due diligence, enterprise risk management, geopolitical risk, activist investor defense, ESG, investigations, asset tracing and litigation support. He has worked with various stakeholders including corporate intelligence and security leaders, deal teams, in-house counsel, law firms and strategic communications advisers.

StoneTurn was named Global Investigations Review’s 2021 Investigations Consultancy of the Year. Learn more about Jeremy Hirsch.

Kyla Curley Recognized as One of Massachusetts’ Women We Admire

StoneTurn, a leading global advisory firm, is proud to share Kyla Curley has been named as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders for Women We Admire for Massachusetts. According to Women We Admire, “This year’s awardees are key to the success and progress of their organizations. The diligence and commitment of these individuals is exemplified in their every commitment and does not go unnoticed. Their efforts have an immediate impact on the individuals and organizations they serve.”

The full list of honorees can be found on the Women We Admire website.

About Kyla Curley

Kyla Curley, a Partner with StoneTurn, has over 20 years of experience investigating and making sense of complex and sensitive issues involving financial fraud, misuse, and misappropriation, as well as analyzing the flow of funds and other transactional reviews for organizations, counsel, and other stakeholders.

In addition to her client work, Kyla formalized her mentorship of women into a firm-wide initiative in WE@ST (Women Empowered at StoneTurn). Through WE@ST, Kyla has not only expanded how the firm elevates women across offices, but she has also encouraged an environment where everyone can get involved.

Kyla’s professional experience includes investigations into the flow and usage of funds, and transaction lifecycle reviews of institutional and private investments, acquisitions, and other significant activity. Kyla is also experienced with cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology and transactions. She conducts reviews into digital asset lifecycles to assist investors, law enforcement professionals, or other stakeholders to identify and isolate digital assets, and to assist with recovery, when applicable.

As a forensic accountant and CPA, Kyla’s experience includes accounting investigations related to revenue recognition, bad debt and inventory reserves, financial statement, and public disclosures, and other issues related to the application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Kyla has also led engagements and consults with clients on complex business litigation matters, including lost profits and business interruption claims, purchase price disputes, construction claims, royalty audits, partnership equity allocations, and other special audits and investigations.

Kyla is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) by the AICPA, a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), and a Certified Cryptocurrency Forensic Investigator (CCFI).

StoneTurn’s Neil Ashton named as an Arbitration Expert Witness Thought Leader by Who’s Who Legal 2022

Neil Ashton, London based partner at global advisory firm StoneTurn, has again been named an Arbitration Expert Witness Thought Leader by Who’s Who Legal 2022.

Since 1996, Who’s Who Legal has identified the industry’s foremost practitioners based upon comprehensive, independent, global survey work. The 2022 research process reflects consultation with more than 50,000 lawyers, consultants and in-house counsel to gain an accurate picture of the legal market.

Who’s Who Legal respondents commented on Neil that:

• “Neil is extremely rigorous and thorough in his approach”.
• “I felt confident that he had considered all material facts and issues in our case”.
• “He is solution oriented, and not only good on paper as he can support his views under cross examination”.

Neil Ashton is a partner in StoneTurn’s London office and has approximately 25 years of experience working in practice, in industry and in expert witness and litigation support work. He is a chartered accountant and focuses on quantification of damages in complex business disputes. Neil is commonly involved in claims for breach of contract, post-acquisition disputes, contentious business valuations and also has significant experience in matters involving major business interruptions. He has given oral testimony on multiple occasions before arbitral panels and in Court on a variety of matters, including large-scale multi-$100m proceedings. He has been recognized in both 2021 and 2022 as a Thought Leader for Who’s Who Legal as well as a top expert witness.

Read the in-depth interview with Neil for Who’s Who Legal where he discusses the dynamics between arbitral tribunals and experts, the advantages of introducing experts early in disputes and his top tips on how to use an expert team effectively.

About our Litigation Advisory Team
StoneTurn’s Litigation Advisory team offers extensive expertise in quantum damages calculations, analysis and investigative expert witness services in complex international arbitrations and disputes. With the support of an extended, multidisciplinary global team, the firm’s litigation experts investigate and explain complex concepts, prepare detailed analyses, and develop clear and concise findings, which are presented in easy-to-understand reports and through testimony at hearings, trials and in arbitration settings worldwide.

Neil Ashton and David Stern, two London StoneTurn Partners, were named in 2022 as top expert witnesses by Who’s Who Legal Arbitration. David and Neil have consistently been recognized in Who’s Who Legal as experts in Arbitration Expert Witness with Neil being highlighted as a Thought Leader in 2021 and 2022. Both are named experts in Financial Advisory and Valuation Quantum of Damages with David being additionally recognized as a Commercial Litigation Expert Witness. In addition, Co-Chair Simon Platt was also recognized in the Who’s Who Legal: Investigations 2022 guide.

For the third consecutive year, StoneTurn has been included in the Chambers & Partners 2022 Litigation Support Guide. StoneTurn’s Litigation Advisory and Investigations practices in the UK were both recognized in the 2022 guide alongside three professionals: London-based Partners David Stern (Forensic Accountants, Band 2, UK-wide) and Sarah Keeling (Business Intelligence and Investigations, Band 4, UK-Wide), and New York-based Partner Snežana Gebauer (Business Intelligence and Investigations, Band 2, USA-Nationwide).

StoneTurn’s Litigation Advisory practice has also recently been recognized by Global Arbitration Review (GAR), where we ranked 19th in the Expert Witness Power Index of the GAR 100 (15th edition) 2022.

StoneTurn Ranks in Chambers’ 2022 Litigation Support Guide as a Leading Firm

  • Firm ranked in Forensic Accountants and Business Intelligence & Investigations, UK-wide
  • Three individuals ranked globally: David Stern and Sarah Keeling in the UK, Snežana Gebauer in the USA

For the third consecutive year, global advisory firm StoneTurn has been included in the Chambers & Partners 2022 Litigation Support Guide. StoneTurn’s Litigation Advisory and Investigations practices were recognized in the 2022 guide alongside three professionals: London-based Partners David Stern (Forensic Accountants, Band 2, UK-wide) and Sarah Keeling (Business Intelligence and Investigations, Band 4, UK-Wide), and New York-based Partner Snežana Gebauer (Business Intelligence and Investigations, Band 2, USA-Nationwide).

Widely recognized as an invaluable resource for lawyers, general counsels and private clients tackling complex disputes, Chambers Litigation Support researchers conducted hundreds of in-depth interviews with senior market figures – both practitioners and purchasers of litigation support services worldwide – in order to arrive at the 2022 rankings.

Select commentary from the Chambers Litigation Support 2022 Guide about StoneTurn includes:

  • “They go into so much detail. It made a big difference in the end result. I could see the benefit of all the extra steps taken.”
  • “They are very client-oriented. They anticipate and plan for what is going to be needed from them.”
  • “The firm is able to use multi-disciplinary skills to assist with internal and external investigations.”
  • “They are very efficient and effective in multiple jurisdictions globally.”

About David Stern

David was ranked Band 2 in Forensic Accountants. Chambers writes:

“David Stern is a partner at StoneTurn and a chartered accountant. He is vastly experienced in providing expert services in forensic accounting investigations and complex commercial litigation. He is a member of the Academy of Experts, a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and an accredited CEDR mediator. He is also a member of the Premier League Judicial Panel. A source says: “David is a very experienced and savvy testifying expert. He anticipates all the issues that will likely arise on cross-examination and deals with them before they become a problem.“

David has more than 25 years of experience acting as an expert in forensic accounting investigations and complex business litigation. He has given oral evidence under cross examination on over 30 separate occasions before arbitral tribunals under LCIA, ICC, UNCITRAL and ad hoc rules in Brussels, London, Lusaka, Miami and Paris, as well as before the UK courts. Clients and counsel alike turn to David for his expertise in the quantification of loss and valuation analysis as well as accounting expert witness work in contractual disputes, joint venture and shareholder disputes, post-acquisition claims, competition and antitrust work, civil fraud in domestic and off-shore matters and business interruption claims.

About Sarah Keeling

Sarah was ranked Band 4 in Business Intelligence & Investigations. Chambers writes:

“Sarah Keeling is “undoubtedly one of my ‘go-to’ points of contact when dealing with complex investigations, business intelligence and compliance matters,” says a client. Keeling is a partner in the firm and has significant experience and expertise in geopolitical risk and national security matters. “In one word, she is amazing,” says another interviewee; “she has an unparalleled depth of expertise in this industry and is strategically incisive and makes the most complex issues navigable.”

Sarah Keeling has more than three decades of experience in national security and geopolitical risk issues in the U.K. and overseas.  Clients turn to Sarah for advice on strategies for managing operational, reputational and investment risk, and security matters worldwide. As a former senior British government official, Sarah brings significant expertise conducting complex, multi-jurisdictional anti-bribery and corruption investigations, asset-tracing and recovery, and provides litigation support for international arbitration and disputes revolving around political, regulatory or integrity issues. In its inaugural year in 2019, the Tackling Economic Crime Awards (TECAs) recognized Sarah as an Outstanding Female Professional for her valuable, career-long contributions in tackling economic crime. Sarah was appointed as a Board Member in 2022.

About Snežana Gebauer

Snežana was ranked Band 2 in Business Intelligence & Investigations. Chambers writes:

“Snežana Gebauer of StoneTurn is regularly called upon to oversee complex cross-border investigations into corruption, fraud, embezzlement and misconduct for corporations, investment funds and government entities.”

Snežana Gebauer, a partner with StoneTurn, has 20 years of experience in managing complex international investigations for major law firms, Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies and sovereign nations. Leaders in business, finance, and government turn to Snežana for advice on risk management strategies, investigations, and compliance matters. Snežana is recognized for her deep investigative expertise globally and across every major business sector. She has conducted investigations in more than 65 countries and across a range of industries, including energy, mining, life sciences, crypto, technology, financial services, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

About our Teams

StoneTurn’s Litigation Advisory team offers extensive expertise in quantum damages calculations, analysis and investigative expert witness services in complex international arbitrations and disputes. With the support of an extended, multidisciplinary global team, the firm’s litigation experts investigate and explain complex concepts, prepare detailed analyses, and develop clear and concise findings, which are presented in easy-to-understand reports and through testimony at hearings, trials and in arbitration settings worldwide.  StoneTurn’s Litigation Advisory practice has also recently been recognized by the Global Arbitration Review (GAR), where we ranked 19th in the Expert Witness Power Index of the GAR 100 (15th edition) 2022. Two of our London Partners, David Stern and Neil Ashton, were again named in 2022 as top expert witnesses by Who’s Who Legal Arbitration. David and Neil have consistently been recognized in Who’s Who Legal as experts in Arbitration Expert Witness with Neil being highlighted as a Thought Leader. Both are named experts in Financial Advisory and Valuation Quantum of Damages with David being additionally recognized as a Commercial Litigation Expert Witness.

The firm’s Investigations Practice is a global multidisciplinary team of highly experienced forensic accountants, business intelligence and regional specialists, investigators, former law enforcement and senior government officials who support our clients on a range of critical challenges. These professionals work with clients to understand the context of the issue, the threat level and ideal outcome. In partnership with clients, StoneTurn professionals consider mitigation strategies, including remediation, intelligence-led investigations or data driven solutions, that address the underlying risk and compliance issues that typically lead to regulatory inquiries, investigations and business disputes. The approach is a bespoke multidisciplinary, pragmatic and proportionate one. StoneTurn’s Investigations team provides human intelligence and forensic insight into complex matters in opaque and regulatory challenging jurisdictions; broad in-house language capabilities; advanced forensic technology and data analytics tools; and a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory contexts in which they work. The firm delivers time-sensitive high-impact actionable intelligence and investigative reports to support client’s strategic decision making in high-stake challenges. In 2021, StoneTurn was named Investigation Consultancy of the Year by Global Investigations Review (GIR). StoneTurn was cited by GIR for its “strong reputation in the investigations market, an image that will only be enhanced by its impressive work supporting Volkswagen’s monitor Larry Thompson.” In addition,  Co-Chair Simon Platt was also recognized in the Who’s Who Legal: Investigations 2022 guide.

 

About StoneTurn

StoneTurn, a global advisory firm, assists companies, their counsel and government agencies on regulatory, risk and compliance issues, investigations and business disputes. We serve our clients from 15 global offices across five continents. To learn more, visit StoneTurn.com.

StoneTurn Promotes Three Global Professionals to Partner

Michael Costa, Piers de Wilde and Christopher Hoyle Admitted to Partnership

StoneTurn, a leading global advisory firm, announced the firm has elevated three professionals to Partner: Michael Costa in Chicago, Piers de Wilde in London and Christopher Hoyle in Boston.

“StoneTurn is committed to providing our team with an optimal platform for professional growth, and we are proud to see talented professionals like Michael, Piers and Chris develop along with the firm,” said Brad Wilson, Managing Partner and CEO. “Congratulations to our three newest Partners. We look forward to their continued efforts supporting our people-first culture and providing best-in-class advisory services to our global clients.”

Michael Costa has nearly 15 years of experience in data science and analytics with a focus on forensic investigations, compliance analytics and complex litigation consulting. He has deep experience with clients in the financial services, education, healthcare and telecommunications industries, as well as with public sector entities. Michael has provided data analytics expertise to clients on matters involving financial crime, remediation, monitorships, fraud investigations and valuation. He regularly advises corporations on complex problems leveraging their data to drive insights or enhancing their data strategy and internal use of data analytics. He also partners with law firms to help deliver efficient and effective solutions to their end clients facing data or technology issues. Michael joined StoneTurn in 2016 and regularly works with teams across the firm’s compliance, investigations, litigation advisory and cybersecurity practices to build solutions to serve clients’ evolving needs.

Piers de Wilde draws on more than 15 years of experience in business intelligence and investigations to assist clients in managing risk and resolving disputes through investigative research and human intelligence gathering. He focuses on pre-transactional due diligence, litigation advisory, specialist investigations and strategic intelligence. Working with deal teams, general counsel, law firms and strategic communications advisers, he has led activist investor defenses, anti-counterfeit investigations, asset traces and litigation support matters, cross-border M&A transactions, major fraud and corruption investigations including U.K. Bribery Act and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters, and supported clients’ strategic communications in complex disputes. Piers joined StoneTurn in 2019 and has worked with clients across financial services and private equity, consumer goods, energy, extractives, government, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications.

Christopher Hoyle has more than 15 years of professional experience as a forensic accountant and risk and remediation expert. He specializes in compliance, remediation, independent monitorships, forensic investigations and dispute consulting matters. Chris has extensive experience assisting companies, government agencies and regulators in assessing and remediating compliance programs, testing internal controls and advising clients on detecting and preventing financial crime. He also has significant experience supporting law firms with corporate investigations involving fraud and embezzlement, potential violations of the False Claims Act, improper accounting for government contracts and improper application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). He has supported counsel in complex litigation matters, providing deposition testimony, preparation of expert reports, pre-trial analysis and assisted counsel in deposition and testimony preparation.

Learn more about StoneTurn’s team of global experts.

StoneTurn Bolsters Its Capabilities in Brazil with Two New Managing Directors

StoneTurn, a leading global advisory firm, announced the hiring of Carlos Flávio Lopes and Ian Cook as Managing Directors in São Paulo, Brazil.  The new additions strengthen StoneTurn’s capabilities in risk advisory, investigations, business intelligence, compliance and monitoring.

The expansion of the São Paulo office reinforces StoneTurn’s commitment to servicing clients in Brazil and throughout Latin America, as well as around the globe, coming on the heels of opening the firm’s first Asia-based office in Singapore.

“StoneTurn assists clients with complex challenges that often transcend borders. To best meet our clients’ needs, it is essential to have local resources and intimate knowledge of critical markets. As the largest and most diversified economy in Latin America, Brazil is a critical market for StoneTurn and our clients,” said Brad Wilson, Managing Partner and CEO. “We are thrilled to welcome Ian Cook and Carlos Flávio Lopes to our team in São Paulo, and look forward to working with them supporting our clients on investigations, risk advisory, business intelligence, compliance and monitoring matters both in Brazil and across other jurisdictions.”

Since 2018, StoneTurn’s office in São Paulo has serviced Brazilian and foreign clients with corporate investigations, compliance and monitoring services. Under the leadership of partner Snežana Gebauer, StoneTurn continues to experience rapid expansion of its client base and increased demand for these solutions in Brazil and the broader region. The strategic addition of Ian and Carlos is a testament to StoneTurn’s continued commitment to providing exceptional services to our clients.

Learn more about Ian Cook and Carlos Flávio Lopes.

Who’s Who Legal: Investigations 2022 Recognizes StoneTurn Partner

StoneTurn is pleased to announce that Co-Chair Simon Platt has again been named to the Who’s Who Legal: Investigations 2022 guide.

According to Who’s Who Legal, the Investigations list honors “the most prominent forensic accountants and digital forensic experts for their work spanning e-discovery, asset tracing and corporate investigations.”

• About Simon Platt. Simon co-founded StoneTurn in 2004. He previously served as the firm’s Managing Partner until 2016, when he was appointed Chair and in 2022, Co-Chair alongside co-founder Christopher Martinez. Simon has led many accounting and financial disclosure-related investigations on behalf of Audit and Special Committees of Boards of Directors. He has also testified in Federal and State courts and at arbitrations, assisted in mediations and acted as an independent, neutral arbitrator in accounting-related matters. His engagements include numerous expert testimony and non-testifying consulting roles. Simon’s extensive background includes working with companies from large U.S. multinational corporations and foreign public companies to smaller, privately-held enterprises, across a wide range of industries.

Learn more about StoneTurn’s experts.

StoneTurn Assists Bracewell LLP in Obtaining $1.6 Billion Judgment for BMC Software

StoneTurn, a leading global advisory firm, assisted client BMC Software Inc. (outside counsel: Bracewell LLP) in obtaining a $1.6 billion judgment for breach of contract and fraud in the Southern District of Texas.

Alan Ratliff (CPA, MTA, JD), Partner in StoneTurn’s Houston office, testified in federal court on behalf of BMC Software Inc. As part of this engagement, Alan led a team of professionals, including StoneTurn Manager Annie Cooper (CPA), in developing the damages model that the Court adopted in awarding $717 million in lost license fee damages, and which the court doubled with punitive damages based on the defendant’s fraud. The Court also awarded $168 million in pre-judgment interest.

The final judgement can be accessed via the Southern District of Texas.

StoneTurn’s experts regularly work with clients and their counsel to analyze and explain complex concepts, prepare detailed analyses, and develop clear and concise findings, which are presented in reports and through testimony at depositions, trials and before other triers of fact. The firm’s experts bring decades of experience in business disputes, working to address the complex financial, accounting and economic-related issues in legal matters ranging from intellectual property disputes to international arbitration. StoneTurn provides consulting and expert witness services for disputes in federal, state, administrative and private tribunal proceedings.