Lester J. Schwartz is a Certified Public Accountant and accredited as a Board Certified Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Accounting with over thirty years as a forensic accountant providing expert testimony in court and arbitration proceedings. Marital dissolution cases included business and professional practice valuations, support issues and determination of income available for support,lifestyle analysis to determine spending patterns of petitioners and respondents,tax issues in regard to support and property settlement, tracing issues related to claims and reimbursements,as well as characterization and apportionment of community and separate property. Other specialties include forensic accounting related to business appraisal and valuation, business disputes, damage claims, economic losses, goodwill, going concern,and tax matters. He has been appointed by the courts as a special master or referee on various accounting, financial and tax matters.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Certified Public Accountant
Diplomat of American Board of Forensic Accounting
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
California Society of Certified Public Accountants
Litigation Services Consulting Committee of California CPA Society
Institute of Business Appraisers
Los Angeles Area Business Managers Discussion Group
Financial and Administrative Management Executives in Entertainment
AICPA Tax Division
AICPA Private Companies Practice Section
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Valueing Medical Practices
Financial Statements in Litigation
Tax Returns in Litigation
Forensic Accounting
Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: No
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: In excess of 100
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Accounting Malpractice
Business Appraisal
Bankruptcy
Business Valuations
Business Disputes
Economic Damages
Family Law
Goodwill
Insurance Claims
Lost Earnings & Profits
Projected Earnings
Solvency
Tax Related Transactions
Transaction Tracings
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: 50%
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: 50%
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: In excess of 50
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: September 2003
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: In excess of 100
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: In excess of 100
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: Over 30 years
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Expert testimony
Litigation consulting
Expert reports
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: Rate provided on request
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: Rate provided on request
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: Rate provided on request
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: Rate provided on request
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: Rate provided on request
