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MEMBER HIGHLIGHT - SER member Dr. Pavithra Kumar is co-hosting a new three-part webinar series on cryptocurrency litigation, titled Penny Wise and Crypto Foolish: Currencies and the Rise of Crypto-Litigation. Presented by Dr. Kumar and Dr. Timothy Weithers through Advanced Analytical Consulting Group (AACG), the series explores the rapidly evolving intersection of crypto, finance, and the law. The first session, "Which One of These Is Not Like the Others? A Primer on Cryptocurrency, Currency, and Money," airs Thursday, July 10 at 2:00 PM EDT. This initial session is designed to demystify the roles of currency, money, and cryptocurrency, and to lay the groundwork for understanding the regulatory and legal landscape driving crypto-related disputes. The series will continue with deep dives into crypto products, exchanges, government enforcement, and litigation trends ranging from fraud and misrepresentation to market manipulation and theft. Dr. Kumar is Principal at AACG and holds a PhD in Finance from the MIT Sloan School of Management. She specializes in applying economic and financial theory to complex litigation matters, including securities class actions, structured finance disputes, and valuation. Her expertise in statistical modeling, econometrics, and damages quantification positions her uniquely to unpack the evolving world of crypto through a litigation lens. Learn more about the webinar series here.

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT - SER member Mike Evans wrote an article for the American Bar Association (ABA) titled "The Compliance Expert Advantage: A New Field Of Expertise In Financial Litigation". He discusses the benefits of bringing on a compliance expert early in financial industry litigation where compliance, controls, governance, and supervisory oversight are at issue. Mike refers to Compliance Departments as the "controls-implementers and fraud-preventers", and explains that "[a]t trial, a compliance expert can aid judges and juries in understanding those regulatory and policy standards required to be implemented to protect consumers, investors, and other stakeholders". He further discusses four areas your compliance expert must know as well as how the expert can assist getting the best possible outcome. A former Global Head of Financial Markets Compliance, Mike is the founder of Vega Compliance, a consulting, regulatory support, and expert witness firm. The full article, published on April 21st, can be found on the ABA's website (subscription may apply), or a pdf version on the Vega Compliance website.

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT - SER member Hollie Mason was a guest speaker on season two of Securities Regulation and Enforcement Series, a Brief Encounters podcast produced by DC Bar Communities. The episode, titled "Harnessing AI: What Attorneys and Financial Industry Professionals Need to Know," discusses the foundational aspects of using artificial intelligence (AI), including definitions, use cases and examples in litigation. It encourages a "cautionary approach” by law firms, expert firms, and financial services industry firms due to the increasingly rapid changes of both the technology and the legal landscape. Hollie is a Managing Director at Secretariat Advisors, where she assists broker-dealers and other market participants as an expert witness and investigative consultant in complex litigation matters. The conversation is facilitated by A. Valerie Mirko, Partner at Armstrong Teasdale LLP and Leader of the firm’s Securities Regulation and Litigation Practice, and William Nelson, Director of Public Policy and Associate General Counsel at the Investment Adviser Association. The episode was released June 18, 2025 and can be found here.

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT - SER member Jeffrey Estella was featured in Traders Magazine's recent Flash Friday article, "The Future of Discretionary Trading in an Automated World," by Anna Lyudvig. The article examines how human discretion continues to play a critical role alongside algorithmic systems in today's trading landscape. Estella discussed how traders bring unique value in volatile markets, complex orders, and strategic transactions where machines fall short. He underscored the importance of intuition, communication, and adaptability, emphasizing that future success lies in striking the right balance between human insight and technological execution. Jeff provides independent consulting and advisory services, through Estella LLC, to the financial services and legal communities, leveraging his personal experience and industry expertise. The full article is available on the Traders Magazine website here.

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ROUNDTABLE NEWS - Today SER's Practice Management Committee (PMC) hosted the fourth event in a series of webcasts designed to assist members with running the business  side of being an expert witness. Whether a seasoned expert or just starting the journey, "The Expert’s Agreement: Writing Engagement Letters That Work” provided insights and practice tips to help members establish and maintain harmonious relationships with their clients while protecting their interests and managing legal risk. The panel shared their experiences navigating some of the "real-world” challenges that may arise during a case, including how engagement letters can help the expert manage difficult clients or unexpected developments. Specific suggestions were shared about the essential components of an engagement letter and how each relates to the work of an expert. PMC Chair Colleen Diles moderated the panel of SER members including Jeff Holik, Alan Bensoff and Richie Leisner. SER members will be able to access the recording in our Library once uploaded, along with presentaion materials. Keep abreast of upcoming events by visiting Our Upcoming Events calendar!

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