| Commercial
fraud has evolved from simple arrangements such as skimming, kiting
and embezzlement techniques to complex schemes designed to defraud
even the most sophisticated investors and executives. Multi-jurisdictional
fraud has globalized these schemes, enhanced their complexity and
made them more difficult to detect. The increasingly complex nature
of these schemes demands that practitioners be well versed in both
the legal and financial dynamics of preventing, discovering, and
prosecuting these thefts. Once potential fraud is discovered or
threatened, victims often have little time to respond before the
assets are dissipated or transferred through a host of jurisdictions
and cooperating entities. Practitioners incapable of immediately
responding to these threats by quickly unraveling the fraud and
tracing the assets will recover little or nothing. Concepcion, Sexton, & Martinez has developed extensive expertise in preventing and
responding to these threats. Our lawyers are not only seasoned
legal professionals but are Certified Public Accountants, Certified
Fraud Examiners, and experienced international commercial litigators
well versed in fraud prevention and asset recovery.
Services
We Offer
Assessing
Risk and Damages Exposure
Performing Financial Analyses and Developing Damages Theories
Forensics and Fraud Examination
Commercial Fraud Prosecution
Asset Recovery
Design and implementation of internal control policies and procedures
to prevent and detect fraudulent activity
Design and implementation of forensic audits to discover fraudulent
activity
Experience in detecting cross border fraud and involvement in asset
recovery efforts abroad
Risk analysis review of operating agreements, contracts, and corporate
governance documents
Investigation of significant financial statement fraud and financial
statement restatement
Identification of risk analysis exposures and implementation of
prevention and detection techniques
Review of financial affidavits in divorce engagements for evidence
of asset concealment
Detection, tracing and recovery of fraudulent asset transfers involving
less than reasonably equivalent value
Analysis and detection of improper insolvency claims and valuations
in bankruptcy
Fraud
Prevention
The
key to minimizing the threat of fraud is to enable the institution
or entity to monitor and evaluate its resources and asset transfers
and allocations with minimal disruption to its daily operations
and as an integral part of its operating routine. This requires
the establishment of simple processes and procedures that deter
or dissuade the fraudster from proceeding while minimizing the
daily impacts to the employees and the organization. Concepcion, Sexton, & Martinez can assist an organization in evaluating operational
weaknesses and auditing these processes. Fraud or theft prevention
controls are typically developed as afterthoughts to the business
requirements, without first understanding the likely fraud exposures
and risk factors inherent to the business. This process of risk
assessment and internal control evaluation is essential to minimizing
these threats, both from within and outside of the organization.
Once the process of risk assessment is complete, Concepcion, Sexton, & Martinez can recommend the proper segregation of duties, authorization
and access controls, and establishment of additional vulnerability
controls throughout the organization. Our seasoned lawyers can
help companies implement cost effective routines that seek to
prevent as well as detect fraudulent behavior.
Forensic
Fraud Detection and Mitigation, Here and Abroad
Even
the best fraud techniques do not always prevent these thefts.
The complement to good fraud prevention is responsive fraud detection.
With minimal additional resources, superior fraud detection techniques
can be implemented to detect irregular activity. Our attorneys
are also seasoned financial professionals who understand these
techniques and can implement them as part of a comprehensive fraud
prevention program. Once the fraud is perpetrated, however, an
organization has little choice but to unravel the sometimes complex
and mysterious methods used to misappropriate assets. Our attorneys
understand complex business and operational cycles and processes
and are adept at tracing and following multi-jurisdictional asset
transfers throughout the world, but especially in South and Central
America. Our team of international litigators often works closely
with local foreign counsel to identify, locate, and seize the fruits
of these fraudulent schemes. Unlike domestic fraud, fraud involving
foreign entities or jurisdictions often involves unfamiliar laws
and institutions, cultural disparities, unique financial and legal
hurdles, and a sometimes-hostile reception to US jurisdictional
reach and fervor. Our attorneys and staff understand this, and
being completely fluent in both English and Spanish, understand
the legal and cultural implications of pursuing these thefts abroad.
Cross border fraud is perhaps the most daunting challenge to South
Florida’s continued international and global presence. Our
attorneys have represented foreign clients domestically and domestic
clients abroad, and have successfully partnered with foreign local
counsel to locate and prosecute fraudsters.
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