Forensic Accounting & Litigation Support
Forensic accounting helps businesses, attorneys, insurance companies, and individuals investigate financial issues, quantify damages, resolve disputes, and support legal proceedings with objective financial analysis. Whether you need assistance investigating suspected fraud, calculating economic damages, supporting litigation, or resolving complex financial disputes, Packer Thomas delivers thorough analyses backed by decades of accounting experience.
Our professionals combine accounting expertise with investigative techniques and industry knowledge to provide clear, defensible financial findings that help clients make informed decisions and support their cases with confidence.
Investigate &
Uncover
We investigate financial irregularities, uncover fraud, and analyze complex financial data to get to the truth.
Analyze &
Quantify
We quantify damages, determine value, and perform in-depth financial analysis to support informed decisions.
Testify &
Support
We provide expert testimony and litigation support to help attorneys and clients present strong, credible cases.
Resolve &
Protect
We deliver objective answers that help resolve disputes, mitigate risk, and protect your business interests.
What Is Forensic Accounting?
Forensic accounting is the process of examining financial information to uncover fraud, quantify damages, resolve disputes, and provide independent financial analysis for legal proceedings. Forensic accountants analyze financial records, identify irregularities, evaluate supporting documentation, and communicate their findings in a clear, understandable manner for attorneys, courts, insurers, businesses, and individuals.
What Forensic Accounting Services Does Packer Thomas Provide?
Packer Thomas provides a wide range of forensic accounting and litigation support services for businesses, attorneys, insurers, and individuals. Our team applies financial expertise, investigative techniques, and industry knowledge to help clients resolve disputes, calculate damages, and uncover financial misconduct.
Fraud Investigations and Forensic Accounting
When financial irregularities or suspected fraud arise, a prompt and thorough investigation can help determine what occurred and quantify the financial impact. Our forensic accountants examine accounting records, transactions, supporting documentation, and other financial evidence to identify inconsistencies and provide objective findings.
Services include:
- Forensic accounting investigations
- Fraud auditing
- Financial record analysis
- Documentation of findings
- Litigation support related to fraud matters
Litigation Support and Expert Witness Services
Financial disputes often require experienced professionals who can explain complex financial issues in a clear, understandable manner. Packer Thomas assists attorneys and clients throughout the litigation process by preparing financial analyses, supporting legal strategies, and providing expert testimony when needed.
Services include:
- Expert testimony
- Depositions
- Economic damage analysis for businesses
- Lost profit studies
- Loss of earnings studies
Business Valuations for Legal Matters
Many legal disputes require an independent valuation of a business or ownership interest. Our team performs objective business valuations that support litigation, shareholder disputes, divorce proceedings, estate matters, and other legal engagements. Learn more about our Business Valuations services.
Insurance and Commercial Claims
Financial expertise is often essential when evaluating insurance claims and commercial disputes. We help quantify losses, evaluate financial documentation, and provide analyses that support negotiations, settlements, or litigation.
Services include:
- Insurance claims
- Construction contract claims
- Breach of contract claims
- Professional liability claims
Businesses in industries such as Construction and Manufacturing frequently rely on objective financial analyses when resolving complex claims.
Bankruptcy and Financial Disputes
Bankruptcy proceedings and other financial disputes often require detailed financial analysis and independent reporting. Our professionals evaluate financial records, identify key issues, and provide support that helps attorneys, trustees, business owners, and other stakeholders understand the financial facts surrounding a case.
Forensic Accounting Services at a Glance
Our forensic accounting professionals provide a broad range of services to help businesses, attorneys, insurers, and individuals investigate financial concerns, quantify damages, and resolve complex disputes. The table below provides a quick overview of our forensic accounting services, how we help, and the situations where each service is most commonly used.
| Forensic Accounting Service | How We Help | Common Situations | Typical Clients |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Forensic Accounting / Fraud Auditing |
Investigate financial records, identify irregularities, and document findings |
Suspected fraud, embezzlement, financial misconduct |
Businesses, attorneys, organizations |
|
Expert Testimony & Depositions |
Provide independent financial analysis and expert opinions for legal proceedings |
Litigation, mediation, arbitration |
Attorneys, courts, businesses |
|
Determine the value of a business or ownership interest |
Divorce, shareholder disputes, estate matters, litigation |
Business owners, attorneys |
|
|
Insurance Claims |
Analyze financial losses and support insurance claim documentation |
Property damage, business interruption, casualty losses |
Businesses, insurers, legal counsel |
|
Economic Damage Analysis |
Quantify financial damages related to legal disputes |
Commercial litigation, contract disputes |
Attorneys, businesses |
|
Lost Profit Studies |
Calculate lost profits using accepted financial methodologies |
Business interruption, breach of contract |
Businesses, attorneys |
|
Bankruptcy Proceedings |
Analyze financial information related to bankruptcy matters |
Insolvency, restructuring, bankruptcy litigation |
Businesses, trustees, attorneys |
|
Construction Contract Claims |
Evaluate financial impacts related to construction disputes |
Delays, cost overruns, payment disputes |
Contractors, owners, attorneys |
|
Breach of Contract Claims |
Measure financial damages resulting from contractual disputes |
Contract litigation |
Businesses, legal counsel |
|
Professional Liability Claims |
Analyze financial issues involving alleged professional negligence |
Liability and malpractice cases |
Attorneys, insurers |
|
Loss of Earnings Studies |
Calculate past and future lost earnings |
Personal injury, wrongful death, employment litigation |
Attorneys, individuals |
When Should You Hire a Forensic Accountant?
You should hire a forensic accountant when you need independent financial analysis to investigate fraud, quantify financial damages, support litigation, or resolve complex financial disputes. Early involvement often helps preserve evidence, clarify financial issues, and provide attorneys, business owners, and other stakeholders with reliable financial information before decisions are made.
Common situations where forensic accounting services may be beneficial include:
- Suspected employee fraud or embezzlement
- Shareholder or partnership disputes
- Breach of contract claims
- Construction contract disputes
- Insurance claims
- Bankruptcy proceedings
- Divorce and marital asset disputes
- Business interruption or lost profit claims
- Professional liability matters
- Litigation requiring expert financial testimony
Packer Thomas works with businesses across industries, including Medical Practices, Wholesale Distribution, Auto Dealerships, and Not-for-Profit Organizations, providing objective financial analyses tailored to each client’s unique circumstances.
Organizations lose an estimated 5% of revenue to fraud each year, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).
Small businesses continue to experience some of the highest median fraud losses of any organization size.
How Can Forensic Accounting Help Resolve Financial Disputes?
Forensic accounting helps resolve financial disputes by providing independent financial analyses supported by documentation, accepted accounting methodologies, and professional expertise. Our professionals work to identify relevant financial facts, quantify damages when appropriate, and communicate findings in a clear, understandable manner for attorneys, courts, insurers, business owners, and other stakeholders.
Whether the engagement involves investigating suspected fraud, calculating economic damages, analyzing lost profits, or supporting litigation, our team provides objective financial insights that help clients understand complex financial matters and move toward resolution.
Because many disputes involve multiple financial disciplines, clients often benefit from our integrated approach. Depending on the engagement, our forensic accounting professionals may work alongside our Accounting & Attest, Client Accounting Services, Tax Consulting, and Information Technology Consulting teams to provide comprehensive financial support. When engagements involve internal controls over financial reporting, we can also assist clients through our planned SOC reporting services, including SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 engagements.
Why Choose Packer Thomas for Forensic Accounting?
Forensic accounting requires more than technical accounting knowledge. It demands objectivity, attention to detail, sound investigative techniques, and the ability to clearly communicate financial findings in high-stakes situations.
Packer Thomas provides independent forensic accounting services backed by decades of experience serving businesses, attorneys, insurers, and individuals. Whether supporting litigation, investigating suspected fraud, calculating financial damages, or providing expert testimony, our professionals deliver thorough analyses that clients can rely on when important financial decisions are at stake.
Our Forensic Accounting and Litigation Team
Principal
Areas of Expertise:
- Audit
- Auto Dealerships
- Management Consulting
- Manufacturing
- Forensic Accounting
- Litigation Support
- Healthcare
Brian C. Commons, CPA, CFE
Principal & Tax Director
Areas of Expertise:
- Business Valuations
- Litigation Support
- Individual Income Tax Compliance & Planning
- Business Income Tax Compliance & Planning
Stephen F. Higgins, CPA, MT, CVA
Request Our Services
FAQ
About Packer Thomas
Packer Thomas is a full-service CPA and consulting firm serving businesses and individuals throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and beyond. Our experienced professionals provide Accounting Services, Tax Consulting, Business Valuations, Forensic Accounting, and IT Consulting services designed to help clients solve complex financial challenges and achieve long-term success.
With offices in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Packer Thomas proudly serves businesses and individuals with trusted tax planning, tax preparation, and consulting services.