BDO Consulting Technology
Cite as 4 Litigation Commentary & Rev. 114 (June/July 2011)
BDO Consulting, a division of BDO USA, LLP, provides litigation, investigation, business restructuring and risk advisory services to clients in the United States and internationally. Our highly experienced and well-credentialed professionals leverage the global industry and accounting knowledge of the BDO international network, providing rapid, strategic advice to assist our clients.
BDO Consulting provides counsel for plaintiffs and defendants with a wide range of litigation support, dispute resolution and testifying services. In addition to conducting interviews and fraud investigations in support of litigation, our professionals have experience providing valuable insight and credible testimony in all phases of litigation from discovery through trial. We provide oral and written testimony as opinion and fact witnesses and also serve as independent arbitrators in alternative dispute resolution forums.
As a division of a national accounting firm, we have a depth of industry and technical resources and can therefore respond rapidly to our clients’ litigation needs. Many of our U.S. partners have provided testimony on damage claims, accounting practices, industry issues, bankruptcy-related matters, valuations, tax and other litigation.
BDO Data Analytics
In support of litigation, BDO Consulting’s Data Analysis practice helps counsel organize, standardize and analyze large-scale or complex data sets. We specialize in handling financial, transactional and operational data from multiple sources. Our seasoned professionals have experience in managing the complexities of data and draw upon diverse backgrounds that include information technology, business and accounting. BDO Consulting leverages a depth of technical resources to acquire data from various locations and then organize and summarize it, regardless of its format or the systems in which it is contained (large Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, legacy or home-grown). We use special analytical techniques and methods to enable our clients to transform data into meaningful, business-critical information. Our data analytics services include:
- Communicate with corporate IT professionals for efficient data extraction or receipt
- Extract data from various systems
- Assess data quality and standardization
- Verify data accuracy
- Identify and report data anomalies
- Identify deviations in data patterns
- Organize and summarize data sets
- Design custom-built applications enabling clients to enter data and generate reports
- Create and maintain detailed documentation of work performed
- Automate manual processes through application programming
- Utilize various software packages for data analysis including SQL Server and Oracle Databases, SQL Server Reporting Services, i2 Analyst Notebook, Monarch, IDEA, ACL, SharePoint, and Crystal Reports
Our data analysis professionals include certified IT professionals, database specialists, advanced programmers, certified computer forensics and e-discovery specialists, certified fraud examiners and certified public accountants. Collectively, our professionals are certified in over fifteen information technology, fraud and accounting disciplines and are proficient in more than ten programming languages, with certifications in over forty software programs.
The security and confidentiality of our clients’ data is of the utmost concern. Our professionals employ procedures and best practices to protect our clients’ proprietary and confidential information. We maintain two sets of the data we receive: a working copy and an original, so that original information can be preserved for future reference, if necessary. Our professionals use a variety of tools and programs to lock data in order to protect its integrity while conducting analyses or other procedures. Access to client information is limited to select, qualified professionals. Data is also protected through our secured storage networks and encrypted prior to transport for added security.
In addition to BDO Consulting’s Data Analysis services, we offer our clients a variety of related services that can assist organizations and institutions in responding to an investigation or litigation.
Computer Forensics and E-Discovery
Our Computer Forensics and E-Discovery practice assists organizations facing significant litigation, allegations of fraud or irregular activities and investigations of potential employee misconduct.
Our professionals secure and collect electronically stored information, prepare this information for review and analyze data and metadata. We present clients with a comprehensive understanding of transactions, communications or user activity, enabling them to respond thoroughly and appropriately in conducting investigations and addressing litigation.
Corporate Investigations
Our Corporate Investigations practice assists boards of directors, audit committees, independent directors, management and counsel in evaluating allegations of fraud or other wrongdoing involving employees, management or third parties. We combine investigative, accounting, financial, technology and industry resources to respond rapidly and thoroughly to suspected fraud, irregularities and workplace incidents.
Complex Damages Analysis
BDO Consulting provides complex damages analysis services to counsel and corporations involved in commercial litigation and disputes. Our professionals analyze large data sets and construct economic models to calculate, evaluate and defend a broad range of alleged losses, which frequently serve as the foundation of expert testimony in litigation
Kirstie Hackman
Litigation, Forensics, and Data Analytics
(p) 312-616-4638
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BDO
233 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60601
UNITED STATES
312-856-9100
www.bdo.com
