On March 26, 2025, the Appellate Division, Second Department issued its decision in Torkin v. Susac, a matrimonial case involving complex issues of equitable distribution, post-divorce maintenance, and the treatment of trust...
It’s 2024, and Bennifer is splitting up again, this time with real consequences. The divorce of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez has sparked quite a conversation in our office this morning, and although I don’t plan on...
Whether a company is being valued for a shareholder or an equitable distribution dispute, one of the most common normalization adjustments to a subject company’s income stream is owner compensation. Both the Court...
As the summer nears its conclusion, those individuals that previously applied for an extension to file their 2019 individual income tax returns are becoming increasingly aware of the impending October 15th deadline. Couples...
Are loans due to or due from shareholders a bona fide debt obligation, a form of equity capital, or a hybrid of the two? This distinction is relevant when valuing a business – particularly in a shareholder dispute or...
Recently, while testifying to the fair market value of a closely-held business, the attorney began off-scrip and asked, “Mr. Gottlieb, what is valuation?” He didn’t ask me to explain the genesis of the fair market value...
It seems like a lifetime ago that I sat down at my desk with a pile of folders ready to attack “tax season”. Perhaps it was. It’s been almost 30 years since I moved to be “exclusive” with business...
The hiring of a joint business valuation expert can often be useful. This strategy assumes that the parties will openly share information and act in good faith. But it may not be realistic in all situations, including...
Information presented on a company’s financial statements may not always be meaningful from a valuation perspective – even if it follows U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Whether financial...
You have just picked up a new case. Your client is a partner in a small or medium sized professional practice. Maybe it’s a medical practice, an accounting office or even a law firm. You were hired to serve as counsel in...