EMEA

Global Elite Thought Leaders

1. Philip Haberman – Haberman Ilett, London
2. Richard Boulton QC – Berkeley Research Group LLC, London
3. Mark Bezant – FTI Consulting, London
4. Boaz Moselle – Compass Lexecon, London
5. Roula Harfouche – Accuracy, London
6. Timothy Allen – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC, London
7. Chris Osborne – Osborne Partners, London
8. Carlos Lapuerta – The Brattle Group, London
9. Mike Pilgrem – FTI Consulting, London
10. Nicholas Good – KPMG Ltd, London
11. Frank Ilett – Haberman Ilett, London
12. Will Davies – Grant Thornton UK Ltd, London
13. Jean-Luc Guitera – KPMG SA, Paris

 

Leading Firms

 

FTI Consulting

Mark Bezant is a “brilliant” expert witness who is active in “lots of the highest-value work”. He is hailed as “a big name with a great reputation” and “a mainstay in London”.

Mike Pilgrem is a Global Elite Thought Leader and a “really solid” expert witness who is “a pleasure to deal with”. Peers are quick to highlight his “strength in the witness box” as a notable part of his practice.

John Ellison is heralded by peers for his “impressive judgement, experience, and confidence”. Clients applaud his “independence”, “unshakeable poise” and “real gravity before tribunals”, and compliment the“depth of his subject-matter knowledge and analytical acumen, which is second-to-none.”

Noel Matthews is commended by peers for his “highly incisive” approach. He has two decades’ experience as an expert witness on business valuations, quantification of lost profits and wasted costs.

Matthias Cazier-Darmois is hailed as a “rising star” and a “very good expert, particularly in gas pricing cases”. Commentators add that he is “very robust under cross-examination”.

Steve Harris is an “excellent” expert and forensic accountant, specialising in the quantification of economic loss, the valuation of companies and the resolution of complex accounting disputes.

 

Haberman Ilett

Philip Haberman is a “well-respected name in the market” who is hailed as “incredibly impressive, particularly at testifying”.

Frank Ilett is “a respected figure in the field” who comes in for high praise thanks to his deep expertise handling complex damages assessments in contentious proceedings.

Liz Perks is “rated very highly” by peers for her forensic accounting expertise. She has extensive experience in arbitration as an expert witness on quantum, accounting irregularity and valuation matters.

Valery Knyazev focuses on quantification of damages, business valuation and lost profits issues, and is considered "a very knowledgeable expert" who is "particularly strong in matters relating to Russia/ CIS disputes".

The “very impressive” Vikki Wall has more than two decades’ experience as a forensic accountant expert witness. She excels in quantum, lost profits claims and valuations.

Debbie Revill is an “extremely knowledgeable and hard-working” expert witness, according to peers. She has “solid expertise in forensic accountancy matters” and “communicates very well in tribunals”.

 

Berkeley Research Group

Richard Boulton QC is “in a class of his own”, compliment peers who consider him “a big player who is active on the highest-value matters”.

Daniel Ryan has over two decades’ experience in transactions, post-M&A and shareholder disputes. He is highly regarded by peers who note him as “really good on valuation and IP issues”.

Heiko Ziehms is a “very smart and professional” expert witness, according to peers. He has experience in commercial and investor arbitration and is commended by sources “especially for his post-M&A work”.

David Saunders is a prominent valuations and damages expert focusing on the oil and gas, and construction sectors among others. He also has impressive international experience as a testifying witness.

 

Accuracy

Roula Harfouche enjoys “a great reputation in the market” thanks to the impressive expert testimony she delivers in high-value international arbitration proceedings.

Hervé de Trogoff is an exceptionally highly regarded and active expert in construction disputes. He is renowned for his tremendous flair on major infrastructure projects and natural resources matters. Fellow experts praise him as "a great delay expert".

Giovanni Foti is highly respected by peers who say, “He immediately focuses on the true issues of the case and identifies the best methodology to handle them.”

Erik van Duijvenvoorde is highlighted by commentators for his “great energy and creativity”. He has over 25 years’ international experience in the assessment and quantification of damages.

Nicolas Barsalou stands out for his “expertise and credibility as an expert witness”. He has a strong background in corporate finance and accounting with extensive experience of valuation and damage assessment.

 

Compass Lexecon

Boaz Moselle is a “renowned” Global Elite Thought Leader and an “exceptionally good” practitioner who is hailed as an authority in gas arbitration matters. Peers recognise him as a “very smart guy” and a “standout” expert witness.

Neil Dryden is an “exceptional” and “robustly unpartisan” expert with pan-industry experience in damages, antitrust and competition matters. Peers admire his “measured, precise, and helpful” approach and his “unrivalled” ability to “clearly explain very complex theory”.

Julian Delamer specialises in damages, valuations and financial analysis. He is praised for “his ability to analyse and explain complex technical issues in layman terms”. Sources say: “He is always available and can work seamlessly in Spanish and English.”

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Timothy Allen is a Global Elite Thought Leader with a “great reputation”, according to peers. He has nearly three decades’ experience in valuations and the quantification of economic loss with remarkable expertise in cross-border disputes in the mining, telecoms and natural resources sectors.

Ermelinda Beqiraj is a “most impressive, thorough and diligent” practitioner in the field, according to sources who “would highly recommend her”. She has a notable specialism on matters relating to Central and Eastern Europe.

“Very good accounting expert” John Fisher specialises in the financial elements of commercial disputes and earns plaudits for his ability to “explain difficult concepts well”.

Sirshar Qureshi is a highly experienced expert in the fields of investigations and forensic accounting. Peers refer to him as "the go-to expert in the Czech Republic”.

 

The Brattle Group

Carlos Lapuerta is a Global Elite Thought Leader and a “great” expert witness. He is “highly recommended for cases in the energy sector” and he has exceptional experience across the coal, oil, gas and electricity industries.

Richard Caldwell is classed as a “really good” expert witness according to peers, one of whom describes him as “the best in the market”. He is well known for his expertise on economic and competition matters, as well as business valuation.

 

BDO

Gervase MacGregor is celebrated by clients for his “unfailingly thorough attention to detail, excellent preparation, and great ability to explain complex issues simply and clearly”. He is further lauded as “fantastically robust under cross-examination”.

Nick Andrews has over two decades’ experience as an expert accountant and business valuation specialist. Sources comment on his “careful and very good analysis”.

Alvarez & Marsal

Alexander Demuth is a Global Elite Thought Leader with excellent international experience, heralded by peers as “the best expert for post-M&A disputes in Germany today”. Sources say, “He is incredibly in-demand.”

Andrew Flower is one of the foremost names in the French market, as well as a versatile and active expert witness with over two decades’ experience across diverse sectors, including infrastructure, utilities, and aerospace and defence.

Luke Steadman is a high-profile forensic accountant with over two decades’ experience in the field. He is very active internationally on a range of valuation, quantum and accounting disputes.

 

AlixPartners

Kai Schumacher is hailed by peers as “very talented, quick thinkingand extremely likeable”, while clients remark that he is “one of the most well-rounded practitioners in the field” and the “best expert in Germany on quantum issues”.

Andrew Grantham has over 25 years’ experience as an expert witness on financial and accounting matters. He draws plaudits from clients for his “well-structured reports that are prepared far in advance of deadlines”.

Kathryn Britten has “vast experience in arbitration” and has “handled many complex matters, particularly involving allegations of professional negligence”, according to sources. She is further recommended as “tireless, thorough and highly-prepared”.

KPMG

Nicholas Good is praised by peers for “his skills in business valuation and damages analysis”. He is a diligent expert witness on matters of economic loss, and “particularly experienced in the energy sector”.

Jean-Luc Guitera possesses “a strong reputation” in the international arbitration market where “he is known for his deep technical knowledge and his creative approach to complex questions”.

 

Grant Thornton

Will Davies is a renowned and in-demand expert witness in complex, cross-border disputes, and has “a huge amount of experience of giving evidence”; as sources note, “This is very valuable as he does not get fazed by intensive questioning.”

Sandy Cowan is a “rising star” in the field with considerable experience in international arbitration as an expert witness. He is particularly strong on cross-border work in the energy sector.

 

Deloitte

Elizabeth Gutteridge has extensive experience in the quantification of damages and has appeared as a testifying expert witness in numerous fora. Peers note her “great reputation and very client-friendly approach”.

Philip Rees is a valuations specialist focusing on the assessment of damages. He has notable experience in the financial sector and is described by one peer as their "go-to expert when conflicted".

Anthony Charlton is an eminent expert in the assessment of economic loss, and has a wealth of experience in litigation, commercial arbitration and investor-state arbitration.

 

Other Leading Individuals

 

England

Chris Osborne from Osborne Partners is “a major player in the market”, hailed by peers as a “great” expert witness and a “long-established name in the field”. He is very active in commercial and investor-state arbitration, particularly in construction, petrochemicals, insurance and telecoms.

Richard Indge at EY receives widespread plaudits for his excellent work on valuation and damages quantification in arbitral proceedings, with exceptional experience in investment treaty arbitration, across sectors including oil and gas, commercial, and retail.

Dominic Wreford of Duff & Phelps is an experienced expert witness on loss, profits, valuations and post-M&A matters. He has broad industry expertise and, according to peers, “comes across very well in testimony”.

Tim Giles with Independent Economics & Finance is a leading damages expert, hailed by peers for his “great combination of skills and experience” and his very strong performances under cross-examination.

Ronnie Barnes from Cornerstone Research is a “highly professional and responsive” expert recognised for his “strong knowledge of valuation and financial products”.

Chudozie Okongwu at NERA Economic Consulting is viewed by sources as a “focused, eloquent and credible” expert. In his reports he is “timely and practical” and under cross-examination he is “one of the best experts around”.

David Barry from BlackRock has more than three decades’ experience in the construction, infrastructure and transport sectors. He is internationally renowned as a testifying witness on construction delay disputes.

Mark Taylor at Secretariat International is a “very good expert with a track-record of great results”, according to peers. Clients herald him as a “brilliant forensic accountant, able to analyse and pick apart a claim and articulate a very clear and reasoned approach to quantum”.

Will Inglis is an independent expert witness with four decades of international experience in the field. He is acclaimed as an “excellent” expert on quantification of loss, valuations and accounting matters.

Wendy MacLaughlin of gb2 is an in-demand expert witness and particularly active in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. She stands out for “the reliability in the delivery of her well-drafted reports” and her “clarity of reasoning”.

Spain

Fernando Cuñado at KPMG is “a leader in the profession and highly respected in the arbitration community”, according to interviewees. Peers describe him as “very experienced in all phases of arbitration, especially in the energy sector”, and conclude that he is “the expert you want to have”.
Pablo Bernad has a wealth of experience as an expert, report author and testifying witness on an impressive array of contentious economic and financial matters.

Switzerland

Geoffrey Senogles, at Senogles & Co, is a chartered accountant with three decades’ experience as an expert witness across many industries. Specialising in quantum issues, peers say he is “an excellent and safe choice as a forensic accounting expert”.

 

North America

Global Elite Thought Leaders

1. Manuel A Abdala - Compass Lexecon, Washington, DC
2. Howard Rosen - Secretariat International, Toronto
3. Santiago Dellepiane - Berkeley Research Group LLC, New York
4. Pablo T Spiller - Compass Lexecon, New York
5. James Searby – FTI Consulting, Washington, DC
6. Kiran P Sequeira – Versant Partners, Washington, DC
7. Pablo D López Zadicoff - Compass Lexecon, Washington, DC
8. Daniel Flores - Quadrant Economics LLC, Washington, DC
9. Carla Chavich - Compass Lexecon, Washington, DC
10. Greig Taylor - AlixPartners, New York

 

Leading Firms

 

Compass Lexecon

The “terrific” Manuel Abdala is this year’s most highly regarded expert witness in North America. He is an immensely experienced testifier in commercial and investor-state arbitrations globally, and is heralded as “a star” in damages, valuations and regulatory work.

Pablo Spiller is a Global Elite Thought Leader with a track record of significant appointments worldwide. He focuses on the assessment of damages, valuations and contractual interpretation, principally within the energy, telecoms and media sectors.

Pablo López Zadicoff is a valuations specialist who is “incredibly sharp, talented and thorough in his analysis”, able to deploy “spectacular testifying skills”. He has extensive experience of providing economic, financial and regulatory analysis internationally, particularly in emerging markets.

Carla Chavich is hailed as a “strikingly smart” and “quick-thinking” expert witness. Peers praise her as “especially well versed in the valuation of extractive industry assets”.

 

Secretariat International

Howard Rosen is a leading Canadian expert witness and a Global Elite Thought Leader. A renowned specialist on valuation and damages matters, interviewees describe him as “a terrific testifying witness with great ability on the stand”.

Don Harvey is “very well regarded” among market commentators who distinguish him as “one of the best for delay disputes”.

The “excellent” Chris Milburn is a highly qualified accountant and valuator with two decades’ experience gained in major cases worldwide. His industry specialisms include mining, natural resources and financial services.

 

Other Leading Individuals

 

Canada

Neal Mizrahi at FTI Consulting is a “very well known” expert witness who has broad international experience in commercial and investment arbitration. Peers describe him as a “smart, well-spoken, highly organised and tenacious expert”.

Dakus Gunn of Delta Consulting Group is a prominent specialist on delay, quantum and productivity matters. He is very active as a testifying witness in international arbitration, principally in construction, infrastructure and energy cases.

John Livengood at Ankura is a prolific figure in the field with over four decades’ experience in the construction industry. He has remarkable expertise in delays and costs disputes arising from major transport, infrastructure and energy projects.

USA

Santiago Dellepiane of Berkeley Research Group is effusively praised by clients as "the best in the market". He has a “sharp mind” and "ample experience on varied quantum issues", and his excellent communication skills make him a "go-to expert in the field".

Alexis Maniatis at the Brattle Group is a prominent quantum and damages specialist, and a real standout in the market. He has broad industry experience but is particularly strong in investor-state matters involving natural resources and energy.

Greig Taylor of AlixPartners is a Global Elite Thought Leader with “a great understanding of industry and client needs”, according to peers. Clients ,meanwhile, regard him as an “excellent communicator – both in writing and when testifying”, and say he “leaves no stone unturned”.

Daniel Flores with Quadrant Economics is widely considered an “outstanding” expert who conducts “superb work on quantum”. He is “a gifted speaker when providing expert testimony", able to explain "complex concepts with tremendous clarity”.
Ettore Comi specialises in the quantification of damages, with a focus on disputes arising in natural resources, energy, chemicals and transportation. Peers comment, “He is the real deal in quantum analysis – he will go far.”

James Searby with FTI Consulting is renowned by peers as a “straight-shooter”. Clients praise “his balanced views, quick wit, super presentation skills and credibility as an expert”.

Kiran Sequeira at Versant Partners is a “very smart” practitioner and “a superstar” who “will make plain any complex financial issue to any audience”.

Timothy Hart from Credibility International is a high-profile and “really effective expert, primarily for respondents”, according to peers. He has 35 years’ experience working on issues including damages, valuations, accounting and corruption.

Dean Graves with Alvarez & Marsal is held in high esteem by peers who note he is “very impressive” when it comes to providing expert testimony in high-value international arbitration proceedings.
Laura Hardin comes highly recommended by market sources who praise her “tenacious determination to uncover angles and work forensically through the detail”.

Jeffrey Fuchs of Delta Consulting Group has over 35 years of experience in construction, and is widely considered one of the foremost testifiers in the expert witness market. He is chiefly known for his work on damages and delay matters.

James Burrows of Charles River Associates is "a serious analyst" and highly experienced expert witness. He is renowned for his expertise on valuations, particularly in the natural resources sector.

Scott Gray at Ankura is “an excellent construction expert” with over 35 years’ experience focused on analysing damages and costs in major construction, infrastructure and government contracts disputes.

 

Latin America

 

Global Elite Thought Leaders

1. Sebastian Zuccon – Compass Lexecon, Buenos Aires

 

Leading Individuals

 

Argentina

Sebastian Zuccon at Compass Lexecon is a Global Elite Thought Leader renowned for his expertise in assessment of damages in treaty disputes. Sources describe him as “clear and precise when setting out his findings” as well as “highly experienced across a variety of industries”.
Marcelo Schoeters is a damages specialist with a strong background in the energy and electricity sectors. He has worked on numerous energy arbitration disputes internationally.

Daniela Bambaci of Berkeley Research Group is an “excellent” expert witness who is “very well versed in bilateral investment treaty matters”. Clients herald her as “a top-notch expert who produces high-quality work.”

Brazil

Cristiano de Sousa Zanetti from Cristiano Zanetti Advogados is a “remarkable scholar in civil law”, acclaimed as “one of the top legal experts active in the country”. He is renowned by sources for his “very clear and pragmatic views of complex cases”.

 

Asia-Pacific

 

Global Elite Thought Leaders

1. Jon Prudhoe - Ankura, Singapore
2. Neill Poole - Ankura, Hong Kong
3. Mustafa Hadi - Berkeley Research Group LLC, Hong Kong
4. James Nicholson – FTI Consulting, Singapore
5. Richard Hayler - Deloitte, Singapore
6. Garry Crossley - FTI Consulting, Singapore
7. Jonathan Ellis - Accuracy, Singapore

 

Leading Firms

 

FTI Consulting

James Nicholson is a Global Elite Thought Leader and an “outstanding” expert witness who specialises on the quantification of damages and the valuation of businesses, shares and assets.

Graham McNeill is commended as a “commercially sensitive expert who is very skilled in quantum”. He is “articulate, coming across well in the witness box” and, according to one client, the “first-choice expert”.

Garry Crossley has nearly three decades’ experience across the construction, infrastructure, oil and gas, and transport sectors, and in testifying in an arbitration setting. He is recognised in the construction field as a world-leading expert on delay issues.

Chaitanya Arora possesses “exceptional attention to detail”, also garnering plaudits for “approaching matters in a thorough and critical manner”. He specialises in valuation of businesses, assessment of damages, and lost profits across many industry sectors.

Montek Mayal is hailed as the “go-to expert for matters in India.” Clients applaud his “level of expertise and international exposure” stating, “He takes his reports very seriously, works very well under cross-examination, and can defend his work well.”

 

Other Leading Individuals

 

Australia

John McGuiness from McGrathNicol has “a long history of handling complex arbitrations”, according to peers. He is recommended for his “technical skills (particularly in valuation), his knowledge of his professional field and his integrity”.

Jonathan Humphrey at HKA is a leading Australian expert witness on quantum and damages issues, who is regularly appointed in arbitrations throughout EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

Hong Kong

Mustafa Hadi of Berkeley Research Group is a Global Elite Thought Leader and a “very active” expert who excels in valuation, damages and accounting matters. His peers "rate him highly", acclaiming him as "a go-to professional in the market".

Mike Allen at Secretariat International is heralded by commentators as a “focused, organised, responsive and very experienced quantum expert”. Clients are effusive of his testimony, highlighting his “composure in the witness box” and his “calm manner and particular skill in explaining complex issues in a way that is easy for clients and tribunals to understand”.

Neil Poole with Ankura is one of Asia’s best-known and highly regarded expert witnesses. He has top-notch international experience and a strong background in forensic accounting.

Colum Bancroft at AlixPartners is a "highly regarded" expert with over three decades’ experience in the forensic accounting field. He is a recognised specialist on corruption, fraud and complex commercial disputes.

Singapore

Jon Prudhoe with Ankura is a Global Elite Thought Leader and world-leading expert on quantum and delay issues with a sensational track-record of appointments in high-value construction, infrastructure, marine and natural resources disputes. One source calls him “my first preference for an expert”.

Jonathan Ellis at Accuracy is “a superior expert” who is held in high esteem by sources, one of whom says, “His judgement, experience and confidence have impressed me.”

Amit Garg with Secretariat International is a prominent figure in the field and the “standout delay expert in Singapore” according to peers. Commentators laud his “very analytical and sharp mind, calm demeanour and excellent technical expertise.”

Richard Hayler from Deloitte is a “talented and really smart” expert who is “very well respected in the market”. He is a noted specialist in complex valuation, accounting, and financial matters.

John Lancaster of Diales Expert Witness Services is an experienced and respected expert witness, particularly on quantum and delay issues in the construction sector. He is praised by peers for “taking a sensible and pragmatic view of the expert role”.