Category: Litigation Support

Once you get some legal experience under your belt, you may think about opening your own firm. Setting up and running a law practice can be a daunting prospect, but taking certain steps will help to ensure that your firm grows and remains profitable. Here are some guidelines to help accomplish the task successfully: Develop a strategy You really can’t proceed before you target a specific client base or market and decide how you plan to compete. This means knowing… Read more ›

If you’re operating a small construction firm, you may be working on a razor-thin margin to stay competitive. That means you can’t afford additional costs or drags on your time without being compensated. All too often, construction firms lose both time and money when they became embroiled in disputes over projects. Worse, a dispute could ultimately damage a firm’s reputation. Fortunately, however, there are several steps you can take that may help avoid potential disputes and quickly resolve any that… Read more ›

  Building maintenance is a critical process if you want your real estate to continue to function as intended, and to deliver an uninterrupted steady stream of revenues in the foreseeable future. A good maintenance program also helps you avoid certain lawsuits, for several reasons. First of all, a properly maintained building generally means the grounds are also well-kept and cleared of debris. Common areas are functioning as they should, and are free of unnecessary machinery and equipment. This translates… Read more ›

  While brand identity was once considered a viable marketing technique solely for product-based businesses, it has rapidly evolved to include service firms as well. And while many law firms were initially reluctant to jump on the bandwagon, today, branding has become a central concept of most managing partners’ marketing strategies. Here are four guidelines for developing a successful branding strategy that will best highlight the salient characteristics of your firm. 1. Communicate a Common Culture It is important for… Read more ›

Let’s say a partner in your law firm exits partway through the firm’s tax year. How are partnership tax items for that year allocated between the departing partner and the remaining partners? There is more than one way to handle this situation. In general, three methods are allowed for making such allocations. Here is a quick summary of how the three methods can work. 1. Proration Method This option is very simple, but it may not accurately reflect economic reality…. Read more ›

  Profitability, in a nutshell, is revenue minus expenses. But, as law firm leaders know, increasing profitability is much more complicated than that simple equation might imply. The economy, for example, can make it difficult for firms to simply raise rates as they have in the past. How do you solve this quandary? Go back to basics and revisit your firm’s economic drivers. Needs vs. Wants For many firms, the main driver of profitability is increased rates — and that… Read more ›

PDF Version: Jamie Siegal Joins Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell (CBM), Expanding the Firm’s Divorce Finance and Litigation Support Practice Jamie S. Siegal, CPA, CDFA®, has joined Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell (CBM) as a divorce financial and litigation support manager, expanding the firm’s divorce services practice. She joined CBM’s divorce division team of six professionals at the firm to help clients navigate the complexities of financial planning and decision-making during divorce. She has expertise working to deliver the most favorable outcomes… Read more ›

Jordan Egert, CPA, CFE, CDFA®, manager of litigation support and forensic services at Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell (CBM), graduated  from the Margaret DeBoe Leadership Program during a virtual recognition program on Thursday, June 4. The program, administered by the Greater Washington Society of CPAs, delivers an in-depth educational program for an annual cohort of rising accounting firm leaders to develop their communication, management, leadership and business development skills as a complement to their technical skills. Since 2016, GWSCPA has hosted… Read more ›

Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell’s Jordan Egert has recently been certified in the District of Columbia as a financial expert in the fields of forensic accounting, litigation support services, and family financial matters. Previously recognized as an expert in Maryland and Montgomery County, Jordan is continuing to fulfill and develop his role in the litigation process and industry at large. As senior litigation support manager, Jordan has been working in these fields for over 12 years, providing dedicated service to clients… Read more ›

Jane Ochsman Rowny, principal at Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell (CBM), will present to the Bar Association of Montgomery County’s Collaborative Law section on April 24, 2018 from 12 noon to 1 pm. The topic, the role of a financial neutral in family and civil collaborative cases, reflects’ CBM’s expertise in this area. CBM partners with attorneys, social workers, counselors and other industry professionals to facilitate the separation of couples while managing the legal, financial and emotional components of the dissolution… Read more ›