Surgent's The Accountant as the Expert Witness

Overview

As litigation becomes more complex, attorneys are relying more on accountants to serve as consulting experts or expert witnesses at trial. Serving as an expert witness is not as difficult as you might expect. Accounting experts educate lawyers and jurors on issues such as valuation, tax liability, and forensics. Learn how accountants become expert witnesses, the role they play during pre-litigation through to trial, and the techniques experts employ to avoid challenges from opposing counsel.

Prerequisites

Experience with individual and business clients

Objectives

• Understand how to become qualified as an expert witness
• Learn skills that experts use during deposition and trial to support their conclusions
• Understand the litigation process and the role accountants play in moving a case forward through to trial

Highlights

• Becoming qualified as an expert witness
• Best practices for testifying at trial
• Understanding the different roles accountants can play in litigation
• Working with attorneys to prepare and present a case at trial
• The role of experts in commercial versus personal injury litigation
• Confidentiality orders
• Compensation for expert witnesses
• Preparing for and attending depositions
• Daubert challenges to experts
• Expert reports
• The role of experts in antitrust, securities litigation, and professional liability cases
• Credibility as a witness