2025 Financial Forensics Year In Review

Written by: Megan Ramey, CPA, CFF, ABV, Chandler Hiller, CPA, ABV, and Rosita Gutierrez, CPA

Earlier this year, we took a look back at all the Business Valuation projects we tackled in 2025. This month, we’re focusing on our Financial Forensics work and the meaningful impact our team made throughout the year.

 At Cogence Group, we’re known for more than just number-crunching. We bring over 30 years of trial testimony experience across 200+ cases, along with integrity, expertise, and a genuine passion for the work we do. We translate complex financial details into clear, compelling findings that judges and juries can understand, making our insights a critical part of every case.

The following is a Financial Forensics recap of 2025 for our firm

2025 BY THE NUMBERS

Overall, our team handled 51 financial forensics matters in 2025.

Of these, members of the Cogence Group were engaged in 42 Financial Forensics matters that were in progress or settled during the year.

Out of the 51 Financial Forensic matters handed in 2025, Cogence Group team members provided expert testimony in 10 cases.

Notably, three different members of our team took the stand as expert witnesses, underscoring the depth of our Financial Forensics practice. With multiple professionals experienced in testifying, our team is well-positioned to support matters of all sizes, from more focused disputes to large and complex engagements, all while clearly communicating financial findings to the court.

PROJECT BREAKDOWN

Financial Forensic Highlights:

• Financial Forensic matters comprised 73% of our total 2024 services

• We provided the following types of Financial Forensic Services: Business Interruption Claims, Economic Damages, Forensic Accounting, Marital Dissolution, Shareholder Disputes, Trade Secrets & Intellectual Property, and Wrongful Termination, Personal Injury, and Wrongful Death

• We were jointly engaged by counsel for both parties as the business valuation expert in a contentious shareholder dispute involving a substance abuse treatment center. Transparent and equal access to our team during the valuation was key in facilitating progress towards a buyout

• We were hired by 30+ law firms in five different states

  • Including working with 5 out of the top 10 largest law firms in Portland

• The matters we worked on spanned the following 26 industries:

  • Agriculture (6%)

  • Assisted Living (2%)

  • Automotive (2%)

  • Cannabis (2%)

  • Construction (12%)

  • Energy (2%)

  • Engineering (2%)

  • Financial Services (15%)

  • Food & Beverage (4%)

  • Graphic Design (2%)

  • Healthcare (17%)

  • Human Resources (4%)

  • Insurance (2%)

  • Legal (2%)

  • Logistics (2%)

  • Manufacturing (2%)

  • Non-Profit (4%)

  • Oil & Gas (2%)

  • Public Safety Services (2%)

  • Public Sector (2%)

  • Real Estate (8%)

One of our projects required us to analyze the financial records and operations of multiple related farming entities, trace income, expenses, loans, and related-party transactions, and provide expert testimony supporting an adjusted net asset valuation of nearly $20 million.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026!

As we reflect on our achievements in 2025 and look ahead to the opportunities of 2026, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our clients and colleagues. Your trust and partnership have been essential to our continued success.