Areas of Expertise
- Forensic Accounting
- Litigation Support
- Economic Damages
- Economic Advisory
- Financial Analysis
Industries
- Manufacturing
- Telecommunications
- Biotech
- Pharmaceuticals
- Banking and financial services
- Automotive
- Construction
- Agriculture
Prominent Cases
- Retained as a damages expert in a breach of contract matter involving allegations of gross negligence in the installation of a piece of equipment designed to manufacture coated steel surfaces. The damages included claims for incremental costs and lost profits.
- Preparation of expert report rebutting Claimant's expert’s evaluation of damages in an ICC arbitration involving alleged breaches of a non-disclosure agreement related to the development of bendable
glass and associated patents. The claims involved calculations of lost profits and Wrotham Park negotiation damages. - Preparation of quantum analysis and damages portion of a collaborative expert report summarizing delay liability and damages in a dispute involving a multibillion-dollar stadium project. Created illustrative exhibits for mediation and provided expert evidence in the mediation.
- Preparation of expert reports for counsel representing a financial services provider alleging breaches of confidentiality and trade secret misappropriation by former employees in New York and Massachusetts. The damages involved calculations of lost profits, disgorgement, and defendants' compensation under New York's faithless servant doctrine.
- Creation of financial models and scenario analyses to assist the management team of a multinational pharmaceuticals manufacturer in determining whether to license certain patents related to their blockbuster RSV drug or to pursue litigation.
- Engaged in a multi-year consulting assignment supporting a testifying expert in a complex securities class action matter involving the conservatorships of the two largest purchasers of mortgages in the US during the Global Financial Crisis.
Designations
- CPA
- CFF
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- Engineer Intern (E.I.T.)
Education
- MBA, Georgia Tech, Scheller College of Business
- Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University
Experience
- 17 Years of Relevant Experience
Biography
Andy Ackel is a Managing Director with B. Riley Advisory Services, where he serves as a forensic accountant and economic damages expert based in Atlanta, GA. He has provided financial analyses, economic advisory, forensic accounting, and other litigation support services to clients and their counsel for over 17 years.
His work typically involves the evaluation of economic damages, preparation of expert reports, and expert witness testimony in a broad range of complex commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract, patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, insolvency, and fraud, as well as in construction disputes.
Andy has consulted with private and government clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, telecommunications, biotech, pharmaceuticals, banking and financial services, automotive, construction, and agriculture, among others. Andy has testified in deposition and at trial in federal and state courts, as well as in ADR venues such as mediation and arbitration.
Prior to joining B. Riley Advisory Services, Andy was a Director with Secretariat and worked in the Disputes and Investigations Practice at Navigant Consulting, Inc. Andy holds an MBA from Georgia Tech and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Georgia, with a certification in Financial Forensics.
Andy also holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University and has over three years of experience as a Product Engineer where he was responsible for designing, testing, and introducing various engineered products to US markets. Andy is recommended by Who's Who Legal as a global leader in the Commercial Litigation and Quantum of Damages categories and is "lauded by market sources as a 'very thorough, organized and knowledgeable' practitioner who 'excels at zeroing in on the important issues swiftly.'"
B. Riley Advisory Services works with lenders, law firms, private equity sponsors and companies of all types. Our Advisory Services are a unique mix of Valuation and Appraisal Services including asset-based lending (ABL) Valuations; Restructuring and Turnaround Management; Forensic Accounting and Litigation Support; Operations Management; Compliance, Risk & Resilience Services; and Transaction Support Services including Due Diligence and Quality of Earnings Reviews. B. Riley Advisory Services is the trade name for GlassRatner Advisory & Capital Group, LLC, Great American Group Advisory & Valuation Services, LLC, Great American Group Machinery & Equipment, LLC, and Great American Group Intellectual Property Advisors, LLC.