StoneTurn and Silverseal Selected by Oakland Police Department to Conduct an Independent Review of Personnel Practices

The “New Blue” Initiative is Designed to Bring Lasting and Measurable Change to Police Departments and Their Communities Across the U.S.

StoneTurn, a global advisory firm, and its partner organization Silverseal, an international security consultancy, have been selected by the City of Oakland, California, to conduct an objective, third-party review of the Oakland Police Department’s (OPD) promotion and hiring practices. The two firms have joined forces on a law enforcement compliance and community engagement initiative, The New Blue, which brings together a diverse and talented team of law enforcement, investigative, compliance, data analytics, and community engagement experts to help OPD both understand its current challenges and bring lasting and measurable changes that will benefit the Oakland community and OPD.

In August 2020, the City of Oakland Police Commission (the Commission) issued a Request for Proposal, seeking an independent third party to examine a subset of allegations raised by the Oakland Black Officers Association (OBOA) in its March 15, 2019 letter to the Commission. After a rigorous interview process, The New Blue team’s professionalism, diversity and multifaceted approach led to the selection.

“We appreciate the OPD’s efforts to address the concerns raised by the OBOA. Our independence and objective approach should give the OBOA, other members of the OPD, and citizens of Oakland, confidence we will prioritize transparency and results in an impartial reflection of our findings. We look forward to working with community representatives, local government personnel, and police department leadership to understand current practices and identify areas for potential improvement,” said Joshua Holzer, a StoneTurn Partner and former federal law enforcement official, who leads the engagement team. Joshua noted, “Our data analytics expertise will be critically important in identifying existing trends and will act as a roadmap for any required remediation.”

The New Blue team will review policies, procedures, and historic approaches and activities. Findings from community engagement, including surveys and focus group discussions, will help tailor and support recommendations. Upon completion of the review, The New Blue team will present its findings and recommendations to the Commission and the Oakland community.

“Assessing and helping to improve OPD’s hiring and promotion practices requires an evaluation of this community’s unique needs, risks, resources and culture,” said Patrick Timlin, Chief Executive Officer of Silverseal and former Deputy Commissioner of Operations for the New York City Police Department (NYPD). “I’m confident that this independent, transparent and objective review will help facilitate the collaborative and constructive conversations needed to achieve meaningful change, including bias-free practices within the police department.”

The New Blue team includes multidisciplinary experts in community policing, community empowerment, law enforcement procedures and management, police misconduct investigations and compliance controls, and data analytics. The team will help bring material improvements to OPD’s processes and procedures by leveraging over a century of combined law enforcement experience, at both the local and federal levels, and insights gained by providing guidance in the wake of crises such as the Crown Heights Riots; investigating allegations of abuse by law enforcement against suspected terrorist detainees; overseeing major operations and divisions of the NYPD; and conducting organizational analysis and delivering recommendations for improvements to police departments around the country.

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 offices across the U.S., U.K. and in Germany, Brazil and South Africa, assisted by a network of senior advisers around the world. To learn more, visit stoneturn-dev.bigdropinc.net.

About Silverseal

Silverseal, a global consultancy firm has expertise in organizational analysis, program design and training in law enforcement and security environments. The firm’s leadership consists of community-based law enforcement executives, and community engagement and empowerment specialists. The firm deploys operational protective services globally, technology solutions and conducts complex investigations.

Media Contact:

Cliff Maroney
Crenshaw Communications
cliff@crenshawcomm.com

Michele Edwards Recognized as a Global Leader in Consulting by Consulting Magazine

StoneTurn is pleased to announce that Partner Michele Edwards, former Chief of Staff and member of the senior leadership team on the VW monitorship, has been recognized as a 2021 Global Leader in Consulting. Each year, Consulting Magazine’s editorial committee works to identify and present awards to “…individuals who have displayed outstanding leadership qualities and exert extraordinary influence in their firms, for their clients and over the entire consulting profession.” The committee favors trusted, global advisers who can provide measurable metrics and have helped deliver quantifiable results.

Michele was selected in Consulting Magazine’s ‘Excellence in Execution’ category, in part, for her work overseeing the VW monitorship– one of the largest and most complex corporate compliance monitorships in history. Over the course of this high-profile, three-year effort, Michele advised the Monitor and Deputy Monitors, led the team, managed day-to-day operations and was also critical in ensuring VW met its commitments as part of a DOJ Plea Agreement and Civil Consent Decree. Her work ultimately impacted over 670,000 employees worldwide and included recommendations to enhance compliance culture and drive transformational change that resulted in 300+ new or revised internal regulations and policies.

“It took a phenomenal team effort on the VW monitorship to achieve our mandate, so collaboration was key,” Michele explained. “I am personally grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of and help lead this high-performing team and applaud the great work done by Mr. Larry Thompson and everyone at VW. This honor provides independent affirmation of my and StoneTurn’s deep dedication to our clients and serves as an acknowledgement of the shared values I try to live every day – empathy, a global mindset, hard work and diligence to achieve the best possible result for my clients.”

Simon Platt Again Recognized as Top Investigations Forensic Accountant by Who’s Who Legal

StoneTurn is pleased to share that Chairman and Co-Founder Simon Platt has again been recognized by Who’s Who Legal (WWL) – an independent research firm. For the third consecutive year, Simon has been cited among the top 173 forensic accountants operating in investigations proceedings as part of WWL’s Investigations 2021 – Forensic Accountants – Legal Marketplace Analysis.

Simon was chosen for “top-notch skills and experience of providing expert witness testimony in litigation and arbitration proceedings; advising on valuation issues; and conducting analyses in investigations across a wide variety of sectors and jurisdictions.”

Since 1996, Who’s Who Legal has identified the industry’s foremost practitioners based upon comprehensive, independent, global survey work. The 2021 research process was WWL’s most extensive ever and reflects tens of thousands of recommendations from clients and peers around the world with 95 countries listed.

Simon was previously named Global Leaders and Forensic Accounting Experts by WWL in 2020 and 2019.

Learn more: Who’s Who Legal

StoneTurn’s Jonny Frank Again Appointed to Law360’s Compliance Editorial Advisory Board

StoneTurn is pleased to share that Jonny Frank again been selected by Law360 for its Compliance Editorial Advisory Board. An expert in compliance monitorships and remediation, Jonny has served on Law360’s Compliance Board for the past two years, providing feedback on the publication’s compliance-focused coverage and also, helping to shape future coverage.

A former federal prosecutor, Jonny draws upon his significant 40-year career to investigate and remediate fraud and misconduct by and against Fortune 500 companies. He was selected to serve as the Department of Justice (DOJ)-appointed Independent Compliance and Business Ethics Monitor to Deutsche Bank, the DOJ-appointed Independent Auditor to a Top 5 automotive manufacturer, the SEC-approved Independent Consultant to a Big Three credit rating agency, remediation consultant to a Northern European bank, E&C adviser to the SEC-appointed Independent Consultant of a large public accounting firm, Forensic Adviser to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)-appointed Monitor of a Tier One automotive supplier and the DOJ-appointed Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Monitors of a $250 billion oil and gas conglomerate and $6 billion medical device manufacturer. Jonny was also the former Executive Deputy Monitor of Volkswagen AG.

Prior to joining StoneTurn in 2011, Jonny was a Partner at PwC, where he led more than 500 engagements and founded and led the firm’s global Fraud Risk & Controls practice. At PwC, Jonny pioneered the “scheme and scenario” antifraud risk assessment framework, subsequently embraced or endorsed by the SEC, COSO, AIPCA, and IIA. He also trained over 5,000 professionals worldwide in a forensic auditing and monitoring curriculum he developed. Earlier in his career, Jonny served as EDNY AUSA.

Learn more: https://www.law360.com

StoneTurn Announces Senior Promotions Across the Globe

StoneTurn, a global advisory firm that assists companies, their counsel and government agencies on regulatory, risk and compliance issues, investigations, and business disputes, today announced its all-female class of promotions. Sarah Keeling has been named as Partner in the U.K. and Kimberly Ratto has been promoted to Managing Director in the U.S.

“StoneTurn is extremely proud of the diversity and depth of expertise represented across our team of professionals,” said Christopher Martinez, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of StoneTurn. “Congratulations to my colleagues around the world on their well-deserved promotions. The recognition is a testament to their commitment to extraordinary client-focused efforts, leadership and dedication to our unique, people-first firm culture.”

Sarah Keeling, based in London, is former senior British government official with significant experience in national security and intelligence matters in the U.K. and overseas, as well as complex, multi-jurisdictional anti-bribery and corruption investigations, asset tracing and recovery. Sarah provides litigation support for international arbitration and disputes revolving around political, regulatory or integrity issues and assists companies, family offices and their counsel on operational, reputational and investment risk matters worldwide. Over the past three decades, Sarah has served as a trusted adviser to Board-level clients on their strategies in the Middle East, Iran and Sub-Saharan Africa. She also specializes in terrorist financing, piracy and maritime security issues and previously served as Lloyds of London’s senior adviser on piracy. Sarah also served as Chairman of the Risk & Security Management Forum (RSMF) in the U.K. and is a frequent coach and mentor for rising female executives worldwide.

In addition to the new Partner appointments, StoneTurn is pleased to announce the firm’s U.S. class of Managing Director promotes, including:

San Francisco
Kimberly Ratto, CFE

StoneTurn Supports Independent Investigation into the Financial Conduct Authority’s Regulation and Oversight of London Capital & Finance Plc.

StoneTurn Partner David Stern Instructed to Provide Independent Review of Financial Documentation in Landmark Case

StoneTurn, a global advisory firm that assists companies, their counsel and government agencies on regulatory, risk and compliance issues, investigations, and business disputes, today announced the conclusion of its work as part of the investigative team supporting the former Court of Appeal judge, the Rt. Hon. Dame Elizabeth Gloster DBE in her independent investigation into the Financial Conduct Authority’s regulation and oversight of London Capital & Finance Plc. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Serious Fraud Office are investigating the circumstances of the collapse of the financial services company, which impacted over 11,000 retail investors who had invested over £230m.

Chartered Accountant David Stern, a Partner in StoneTurn’s London office, was instructed to undertake an independent review of financial documentation of London Capital & Finance during its regulatory lifecycle, as was made available to the FCA.

His detailed findings can be found in Dame Elizabeth’s report, which was recently presented to Parliament and published by HM Treasury at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945247/Gloster_Report_FINAL.pdf along with the FCA’s response.

David was engaged by Dechert LLP’s London office and worked closely with the law firm’s Head of Disputes in London, Dorothy Cory-Wright and her colleagues John Bedford and Richard Frase, to carry out the investigation in support of Dame Gloster.

Neil Ashton and David Stern Again Named Among Who’s Who Legal’s Leading Arbitration 2021 Expert Witnesses

StoneTurn is pleased to announce that two of its London-based Partners, Neil Ashton and David Stern, have again been named as top expert witnesses by Who’s Who Legal (WWL) Arbitration 2021. According to WWL, Neil and David are among “the foremost arbitration expert witnesses around the world who stand out for their excellence providing testimony in complex proceedings.”

“David is very experienced and knows what is required of an expert. His work is balanced and considered.” Similarly, Who’s Who Legal respondents found Neil to be “highly user friendly, very thorough and diligent” and remarked that “In commercial court he withstood rigorous cross examination by opposing leading counsel.”

Click here to view the full WWL Arbitration 2021 rankings.

Luke Tenery Joins StoneTurn as a Partner

Global Advisory Firm Continues to Expand Risk Mitigation, Investigations and Technology Capabilities with Addition of Renowned Cybersecurity Expert

StoneTurn, a global advisory firm that assists companies, their counsel and government agencies on regulatory, risk and compliance issues, investigations, and business disputes, today announced that Luke Tenery, a leading cybersecurity adviser to multinational organizations, has joined the firm as a Partner in Chicago. A consulting industry veteran, Luke specializes in mitigating complex cybersecurity, data privacy and data protection risks.

“As the global pandemic exposes vulnerabilities in internal controls worldwide, we are pleased to expand StoneTurn’s already strong capabilities in risk mitigation, forensic technology and investigations with highly specialized cybersecurity expertise,” noted Christopher Martinez, StoneTurn’s Co-Founder and Managing Partner. “Luke’s proven experience assisting clients across the threat and risk continuum make him a valuable addition to the StoneTurn team. We look forward to leveraging his insights in both proactive and reactive client matters and having him lead a dedicated cybersecurity practice for our growing firm.”

Prior to joining StoneTurn, Luke founded the global cyber practice and led the cyber response, investigations, and intelligence practice of an international consulting firm, handling a range of active and emergent cybersecurity threats. Earlier in his career, Luke rose to Deputy Cyber Practice Leader over a 15-year tenure with a global risk management and investigations firm. He is a certified chief information security officer (C/CISO) and applies nearly 20 years of experience helping companies combat and remedy hacker intrusions.

“I am humbled to join StoneTurn’s deep and sophisticated team of professionals,” said Tenery. “Facing cyber risk in a strategic way is a constant challenge in today’s marketplace, as the constant evolution of technology and threats continues to have a significant impact on how business gets done. StoneTurn is well positioned to continue to assist organizations with their most critical risk and high impact issues, while maximizing the opportunities where cyber risk intersects with the business.”

As a StoneTurn Partner, Luke will work closely with organizations and their counsel to address the underlying security, threat and control issues that often lead to cyber incidents. He will assist clients in aligning robust information security risk management with high-impact initiatives, including remediation, M&A due diligence and integration, cyber cost analyses, digital transformation, and Secure Operations Center (SOC) and threat intelligence program management.

Annie Cooper Recognized With AICPA Standing Ovation

StoneTurn Senior Consultant Annie Cooper Acknowledged by The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) with Forensic and Valuation Services Standing Ovation

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has recognized Annie Cooper for her work to enhance the stature of the accounting profession as part of its 2020 Forensic and Valuation Services (FVS) Conference. Each year, the Standing Ovation Recognition Program honors CPAs for significant contributions in their areas of accounting specialty and in their communities.

In just four years as a CPA/ABV, Annie has accumulated an impressive array of experience from consulting in business valuation, litigation support, and both federal and state tax matters to advise a variety of clients, including high net worth individuals, estates and trusts, commercial and real estate, public- and privately-owned businesses.

Annie is also a volunteer at the non-profit organization The Beacon, which provides essential and next-step services to restore hope and help end homelessness in Houston.

Read the full press release.

TRACE and StoneTurn Announce Strategic Alliance

TRACE, a globally recognized business association dedicated to anti-bribery, compliance and good governance and leading provider of shared-cost third-party risk management solutions, and StoneTurn, a global advisory firm that assists companies, their counsel and government agencies on regulatory, risk and compliance issues, investigations and business disputes, today announced a strategic alliance to expand their services through mutual cooperation.

In collaboration with StoneTurn, TRACE will offer its members and clients advisory and investigative services that complement its membership and due diligence solutions to provide companies with a broader range of strategic compliance advisory services.

StoneTurn clients will have immediate and seamless access to the background screening due diligence services, risk management tools and cost-effective compliance training offered by TRACE.

“Through this new partnership, TRACE is pleased to supplement its widely respected due diligence and training offerings to members and clients with access to a trusted adviser for complex internal investigations, monitorships and other holistic compliance-related consulting services not offered by TRACE,” said TRACE President Alexandra Wrage.

Through this strategic alliance, TRACE and StoneTurn are able to provide companies with comprehensive investigative and compliance solutions and advisory services focused on reducing operational risk in a cost-effective manner.

To learn more about this alliance, please contact vdipalma@traceinternational.org or lcamerlengo@stoneturn.com.