Business Valuation Services for Attorneys

Professional business valuation reports for legal proceedings, transactions, and dispute resolution.

$68B

in business assets disputed annually

75%

of cases settle with valuation support

CVA

Certified Valuation Analyst

95%

client satisfaction rate

Understanding Business Valuation in Litigation

Standards of Value in Legal Contexts

Fair Market Value

Estate tax, gift tax, most federal matters

Fair Value

Shareholder disputes, dissenting rights (state-specific)

Investment Value

Specific buyer scenarios, synergy considerations

Intrinsic Value

Fundamental analysis for damages calculations

Common Valuation Disputes

  • Discount Rates

    Risk assessment and cost of capital disputes

  • Normalization Adjustments

    Owner compensation, personal expenses, one-time items

  • Marketability Discounts

    DLOM application and quantification debates

  • Control Premiums

    Minority vs. controlling interest valuations

Why Attorneys Choose DorisMorris

Professional Valuation Reports

Comprehensive, defensible valuations that attorneys can rely on for legal proceedings.

Clear Communication

Complex valuation concepts explained clearly in written reports for legal professionals.

Credentialed Professionals

ASA, CVA, and ABV certified professionals following NACVA standards.

Common Legal Matters We Support

  • Divorce and marital dissolution
  • Shareholder disputes and oppression
  • Economic damages and lost profits
  • Estate and trust litigation
  • Partnership dissolutions
  • Breach of contract damages

Professional Credentials & Experience

Professional Credentials

CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst)

NACVA certification with continuing education

ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser)

American Society of Appraisers designation

ABV (Accredited in Business Valuation)

AICPA specialty credential

Professional Experience

  • Extensive valuation experience across industries
  • 15+ years of valuation experience
  • Federal and state tax matters
  • Dispute resolution support
  • NACVA standards compliance

Areas of Expertise

  • • Manufacturing businesses
  • • Professional practices
  • • Technology companies
  • • Healthcare entities
  • • Real estate holdings
  • • Franchise operations
  • • Intellectual property
  • • Partnership interests
  • • Stock options

Professional Valuation Services

Valuation Reports

Comprehensive written reports that clearly communicate complex valuation issues for legal proceedings.

Report Critique

Review and critique opposing expert valuations to identify weaknesses and support cross-examination.

Settlement Support

Neutral valuations to facilitate mediation and settlement negotiations.

Valuation Report Process

1

Initial Assessment

Review case facts, legal issues, and valuation questions. Identify key documents and information needed.

Timeline: 1-2 days • Deliverable: Engagement letter and document request

2

Data Collection & Analysis

Analyze financial records, conduct research, and gather market data. Perform comprehensive valuation analysis.

Timeline: 2-4 weeks • Deliverable: Preliminary findings

3

Report Preparation

Prepare detailed valuation report with supporting exhibits, methodology explanations, and documentation.

Timeline: 1-2 weeks • Deliverable: Professional valuation report

4

Review & Consultation

Review report findings with counsel, answer questions, and provide clarification as needed.

Timeline: 1-2 days • Deliverable: Consultation and Q&A

Pricing and Engagement Terms

Fee Structure Options

Hourly Rates

$350-$500/hour depending on complexity

Fixed Fee Projects

$7,500-$50,000 based on scope

Retainer Arrangements

Monthly retainers for ongoing matters

Consultation

$250/hour for report review and Q&A

Typical Timelines

Preliminary Assessment2-3 days
Full Valuation Report3-4 weeks
Rebuttal Report1-2 weeks
Rush Service Available+50% fee

Note: We do not work on contingency. Retainers required for all new engagements. Travel expenses billed separately for on-site visits when required.

Practice Area Expertise

Family Law

Business valuations for equitable distribution in divorce proceedings.

  • • Marital vs. separate property analysis
  • • Professional practice valuations
  • • Income determination for support

Corporate Litigation

Valuations for business disputes and shareholder litigation.

  • • Minority shareholder oppression
  • • Dissenting shareholder rights
  • • Breach of fiduciary duty damages

Estate & Trust

Valuations for estate planning and trust administration disputes.

  • • Estate tax valuations
  • • Trust beneficiary disputes
  • • Fiduciary breach claims

Economic Damages

Quantification of economic losses and business damages.

  • • Lost profits calculations
  • • Business interruption losses
  • • Intellectual property damages

Frequently Asked Questions from Attorneys

What standards do you follow in your reports?

Our valuation reports follow established standards from NACVA, ASA, and AICPA. We use reliable data sources, apply accepted valuation techniques, and maintain thorough documentation to ensure our reports meet professional standards for legal proceedings.

How do you handle challenges to your valuation?

Our reports are thoroughly documented with detailed explanations of methodology, assumptions, and calculations. We provide comprehensive support for every conclusion, allowing attorneys to effectively address any challenges to our valuation findings.

Can you work with both plaintiff and defendant?

Yes, we maintain strict independence and objectivity. Our opinions are based solely on the facts and accepted valuation methodology, regardless of which party retains us. We maintain careful conflict checks.

What if the case settles before trial?

Settlement is common and our work often facilitates it. We bill only for work performed. Many attorneys use our preliminary findings to guide settlement negotiations. No cancellation fees apply unless testimony is scheduled.

How do you make complex valuations understandable?

We write our reports in clear, accessible language and avoid unnecessary jargon. We include visual aids, charts, and detailed explanations to help legal professionals understand and effectively use our valuation findings.

Do you handle small cases or only large disputes?

We handle cases of all sizes with scaled services. For smaller matters, we offer streamlined reports and limited scope engagements. Minimum engagement is typically $7,500, but we can discuss options for smaller cases.

Case Study: Complex Shareholder Dispute

Challenge

Minority shareholder oppression case involving a $50M manufacturing company. Opposing expert valued minority interest at $2M using inappropriate marketability discounts.

Approach

Applied fair value standard per state statute (no marketability discount). Identified hidden value in real estate and IP. Documented systematic financial oppression.

Outcome

Our comprehensive $8.5M valuation report was accepted by the court. The detailed documentation withstood scrutiny. Client received 4x opposing expert's value.

Key Success Factors

Thorough financial forensics

Clear demonstrative exhibits

Comprehensive documentation

Professional credibility

Why Legal Professionals Trust Us

Professional Experience

Extensive experience providing valuation reports for legal proceedings nationwide.

Defensible Methods

Rigorous valuation approaches that withstand opposing expert challenges.

Clear Reports

Well-documented analyses that are understandable to non-financial professionals.

Professional Valuation Reports for Your Cases

Partner with DorisMorris for credible, defensible business valuation reports that strengthen your legal position and support your client's interests.