Joint Retention
Program

Business litigation often requires the retention of forensic accounting experts by both litigants in a dispute. Engel & Engel provides a specialized Joint Retention Program as an alternative to the typical litigation process as a way to resolve disputed financial issues and achieve settlement. Engel & Engel's Joint Retention Program is particularly beneficial in arbitration, mediation and litigation cases where the parties prefer a process that can help settle their differences in a cost-effective manner. Our Joint Retention Program is designed to equally address the financial concerns of both parties in a dispute, whereby the parties jointly retain Engel & Engel to conduct an objective and independent forensic accounting investigation.

In addition, Engel & Engel can serve as a referee in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure § 638 and § 639 and as a special master in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure § 845. Engel & Engel can also serve as a special master in accordance with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure § 53.

By employing Engel & Engel's Joint Retention Program, both parties can:

• Save on forensic accounting costs.
• Save on litigation costs.
• Efficiently obtain accounting and business records.
• Expedite resolution of financial issues.
• Eliminate discovery disputes and related discovery costs.
• Receive an independent and objective analysis on which both parties can rely.
• Eliminate unnecessary and duplicative forensic accounting analysis.
• Minimize or eliminate financial disputes between the parties.

Engel & Engel's Joint Retention Program is founded on the high standards of independence and impartiality coupled with over forty years of forensic experience. Engel & Engel's Joint Retention Program is a formal service offering with a uniquely designed process providing the parties with the following:

• Assurance that Engel & Engel is independent, objective, and neutral throughout the process, including a formal conflicts check and disclosure statement.
• A jointly agreed upon scope of the assignment.
• Discovery of the relevant accounting and business records.
• An objective financial analysis that includes the concerns of both parties.
• An objective and impartial report of findings.
• A process for both parties to challenge Engel & Engel's findings.

In connection with our Joint Retention Program, Engel & Engel has the expertise and experience in addressing complex business litigation issues including the following:

• Economic Damages
• Fraud Investigation
• Business Valuation
• Bankruptcy & Insolvency
• Intellectual Property (IP) Litigation
• Real Estate Litigation
• Construction Litigation
• Alter Ego
• Fraudulent Transfers
• Employment Litigation
• Business Interruption
• Personal Injury
• Accounting Malpractice
• Partnership/Shareholder Disputes
• Trust/Probate Litigation
• Defamation