Forensic Accounting, Valuation and Expert Witness Services

We provide independent advice and reports on a variety of unique assignments involving business valuation, forensic accounting investigations and economic loss and damage assessments. The depth of experience brought to the matters requiring these services has encompassed a wide variety of industries and an array of equity rights ranging from the straightforward to the complex.

Services at a glance

Business Valuations
We provide reliable valuations of privately owned businesses. This requires the valuation of intangible assets, such as commercial goodwill, trade marks or other intellectual property rights. These valuations can be relevant for litigated matters, CGT assessments or when the sale or acquisition of a business is being considered.

Equity Interests & Share Valuations
It is often the case that a valuation involves not only the core business but also the corporate group in which that business operates. This can involve the valuation of investment vehicles such as property-owning companies and superannuation funds. In such cases, the value of an owner’s interest in the group may need to have regard to the value of the equity interests held by other shareholders. Locus Valuations does not value real estate, chattels or share options and so we rely upon other experts to provide their opinions on such matters, where appropriate.

Forensic Investigations
These can involve a range of accounting and funding issues. Forensic investigations are often focussed on determining how much was earned over a period from a particular source and where the money went. In wills and probate matters, it is common to need to reconstruct financial statements of an estate to make a proper account of profits and distributions to the beneficiaries. Assignments may include funds tracing over extended periods and the analysis of anomalies or irregularities in accounting data. Where helpful, we present reconciliations, schedules or diagrams to make the flow of funds and conclusions easy to follow.

Economic Loss & Damage Assessments
These forensic assignments involve quantifying the financial harm suffered by the plaintiff as a result of a breach event, such as a breach of contract or loss of opportunity as a result of another party’s actions. These matters often involve financial modelling and scenario analysis and in such cases, it is key to understand the instructed assumptions underpinning the claim, the circumstances of the case and the principals of law likely to be argued. Our reports will highlight the key assumptions that underpin our conclusions and will provide sensitivity analysis on those variables that have a substantial contribution to our findings.

Tax Advisory
In any valuation, economic loss or damage assessment, it is necessary to make the appropriate allowances for tax. In some family law matters, either or both parties will request that additional calculations are provided to quantify the tax impact of hypothetical events e.g. the disposal of particular assets or business interests. While we are not tax specialists, Jen has had training and experience in the area of Australian taxation legislation throughout her professional career.

Types of Appointments

There are a number of different capacities in which we can be appointed in a litigated matter. These include:

Expert witness appointments, where we act as an independent expert witness for one party in the proceeding
Single expert witness appointments, where we act on behalf of two or more parties in the proceeding
Expert referee, where we are appointed by the Court to provide findings on specific questions
‘Shadow’ expert, where we can assist a party during their proceeding by providing advice to their legal team as the matter progresses and/or critiquing other expert’s reports. In this role, we are still bound by our professional codes of conduct to give independent advice

When you might need us

Family law proceedings, including Single Expert appointments
Shareholder disputes, including oppression of minority claims
Sale and purchase disputes
Share parcel value disputes
Commercial disputes
Compulsory acquisition impacts on businesses
Wills and probate matters requiring valuations or the reconstruction of financial statements
Criminal matters involving financial issues
Professional negligence cases

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Engagement Policy

For litigated matters, we accept engagements only where the party or parties are represented by a suitable lawyer. We do not accept instructions from self‑represented litigants. All enquiries and materials are treated confidentially.

What we need to get started

Letter of instruction that provides the nature of the proposed appointment, the names of the parties, the scope of the assignment, the valuation date (if applicable), timetable and any other important matters
For family law matters, the most recent fiscal year’s financial statements and tax returns for the parties and each entity to be valued
Contact details and any timetable or procedural directions

Ready to discuss your matter?

We welcome confidential enquiries from lawyers or business owners who are not in litigated proceedings. If the matter is a potential Single Expert witness appointment, please send us an email with the relevant information and copy in the counterparty.