2026 Forensic, Litigation & Valuation Services Conference -IN PERSON - BOTH DAYS

Derek Brondum, Kean Miller

My goal is to help clients reduce risk and maximize opportunities by providing thoughtful, strategic guidance on both tax and business matters. I work closely with each client to ensure they’re positioned for long-term success.
Derek Brondum advises individuals and businesses on federal, state, and local tax matters. His practice focuses on the tax aspects of business formation, mergers, acquisitions, business reorganizations, and dissolutions involving closely held companies. He also advises on estate and succession matters, particularly those involving the transfer of business interests from one generation to the next.
Derek also advises employers on employee benefit and compliance matters, including issues involving ERISA and related federal tax provisions. His work in this area often includes helping organizations to navigate complex regulatory requirements and to implement benefit structures that align with both operational goals and compliance obligations. Derek also represents employers whose benefits structures are under audit by the Department of Labor or the IRS.
In addition, Derek works with nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations on governance, compliance, and operational tax matters. He assists organizations in navigating federal and state regulatory requirements, maintaining tax-exempt status, and implementing sound governance practices.
Drawing on his experience as both an attorney and a Certified Public Accountant, Derek helps clients understand and comply with complex tax laws and regulations. When necessary, he also assists clients in resolving issues that arise in examinations by federal, state, and local taxing authorities.
Derek is an Adjunct Instructor of Accounting at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he teaches an online MBA course on the use of accounting information in business decision-making.
Prior to attending law school, Derek worked as a tax accountant at a public accounting firm and later served as an accountant for a nonprofit organization.

Riley Busenlener, Chaffe & Associates, Inc

Riley Busenlener is the Vice President of the Valuation Advisory group with over 15 years of experience in accounting, corporate finance, and business valuations.  He joined Chaffe & Associates, Inc. as a Financial Analyst Intern in 2001.  He rejoined the company in 2006.

Mr. Busenlener performs business research and valuations of privately held partnership, limited liability company, and corporate ownership interests.

Linda Clark, Kean Miller LLP

I am dedicated to ensuring that Kean Miller’s unique culture of collaboration, diversity of thought, and longevity of outstanding client outcomes permeate everything we do today and into the future. I focus on creative solutions and best practices by harnessing the collective excellence and unique skills of our stellar attorneys and professionals firmwide.“
Linda Perez Clark is an effective corporate and business law advisor who currently serves as Kean Miller’s Managing Partner. She brings more than 30 years of proven success and hands-on, practical experience to problem-solving and guiding large and small and privately and publicly held businesses through their commercial transactions and business operations challenges.
Appreciated inside and outside of the firm for her leadership by example, Linda brings an unwavering dedication and seemingly endless positivity to helping clients achieve their business objectives. She fosters strong client partnerships and ensures satisfaction through actionable, integrity-driven solutions while reflecting the firm’s reputation for delivering a deep bench of legal acumen, professionalism, and pragmatic, business-focus advice. She oversees the firm’s risk management, financial planning, and strategic business development objectives and is committed to preserving a supportive and inclusive culture.
In addition to her accomplishments as a veteran corporate and business law advisor, Managing Partner to the firm Linda founded and directed Kean Miller Connection, an annual law school preparatory program that supports underrepresented groups in the legal field.
Linda brings more than two decades of hands-on experience to her business and corporate transactional law practice. At the pinnacle of her career, Linda is that legal and business counselor and strategist who has proven, time and again, her ability to negotiate and close even the most complex client deals ranging in size and complexity from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars in value.
She practices primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisition and corporate governance, and also has considerable experience in sales, engineering, procurement, construction, and construction-related contracts for both onshore and offshore energy projects, various supply agreements for goods and services and commercial leases.
Linda’s practice also includes developing and negotiating company-wide standard forms and agreements, advising on entity structure and governance, and developing buy-sell and operating agreements among owners.
A consensus builder who serves as the catalyst for establishing the synergy needed to close complicated transactions and overcome obstacles to progress in real-time, Linda remains focused on safeguarding her client’s position when finding the middle ground - a paradigm that is important to closing deals on time and on budget.

James Koerber, Director, Consulting Services, EisnerAmper

James A. (Jim) Koerber, CPA/ABV/CFF, is a Director in the P&N Consulting Services Group. Prior to joining the firm, Jim was a shareholder and leader of a Hattiesburg-based valuation and litigation services practice.

With over 40 years of experience in public accounting, he has broad experience in tax, audit, and management advisory services. Jim focuses in the areas of business valuation services, lost profit analysis, personal injury/wrongful death calculations, shareholder disputes, marital dissolution, and wrongful termination/employment discrimination.

Jessica LeBlanc, Owner, Jessica D. LeBlanc, CPA, LLC

Jessica D. LeBlanc, CPA/CFF, RENE/ePro owns her own CPA Consulting Firm called Jessica D. LeBlanc, CPA, LLC in which she provides financial consulting and accounting services in the areas of business consulting, forensic accounting, litigation support services and outsourced accounting services. In addition to her Certified Public Accountant and Financial Forensics certification, she is a Louisiana licensed real estate broker and owner of her own real estate brokerage firm called CPA Realty, LLC, which specializes in residential and commercial real estate transactions and property management services. She has also received the National Association of Realtors’ certifications of Real Estate Negotiation Expert and e-Pro as well as has received the Commitment to Excellence Endorsement.  Jessica has over 25 years of experience in private industry and public accounting as well as over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry. She is also a licensed real estate broker in the States of Colorado, Mississippi and Pennsylvania.  Jessica earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans.  Active in the profession, she is a member of various organizations. 

Ralph Litolff Jr., Owner, RAL Forensics, LLC

Ralph A. Litolff, Jr. is the founder of RAL Forensics. He has over 21 years of experience in public accounting, including consulting engagements for a wide variety of closely-held and publicly-traded companies as well as government and nonprofit entities. He provides advisory services to business owners and attorneys in the areas of forensic accounting, business valuation, financial analyses, forecasts and projections, profitability improvement studies, business planning, internal control reviews, commercial litigation and bankruptcy and restructuring.

Ryan Luminais, Sher Garner Law Firm

Ryan is a member of the firm. He joined the firm in 2007 after practicing with the firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower, & Hewes, PLLC in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2002, He received his Bachelor's degree Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of New Orleans where he received honors for graduating with the highest GPA in his graduation class and was a Phi Beta Kappa member receiving the Phi Beta Kappa Club Award. In 2005, he received his Juris Doctorate and Bachelor of Civil Law degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University, where he was a recipient of the River Parish Claimants Scholarship and the Louisiana Board of Supervisors' Scholarship. Ryan was also named to the Chancellor's List while attending law school at Louisiana State University from 2003-2005.

Ryan is admitted to practice before all Louisiana and all Mississippi state and federal courts, in addition to the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ryan is a trial lawyer with extensive plaintiff and/or defense experience in the following areas: commercial and complex litigation; personal injury, including motor vehicle accidents; products liability; legal disputes involving trusts, successions, wills and estates; construction disputes; complex insurance defense; collection matters; real estate disputes; real estate brokerage disputes; real estate franchise disputes; real estate agent disputes; residential and commercial lease disputes; premises liability; contract disputes; professional malpractice and liability; medical malpractice and commercial transactions.

Ryan has been recognized for his legal achievements by the following publications: 2009, Future Star, Benchmark Magazine; 2011 Top Lawyers in Louisiana, New Orleans Magazine; 2012-2021 Best Lawyers in America; 2014-2020 Rising Star, Super Lawyers.

Jason MacMorran, National Practice Leader, FLVS Team, EisnerAmper

Jason MacMorran is a Partner in the firm's Financial Advisory Services Group with more than 25 years of experience. He specializes in business valuation, transaction advisory services and commercial litigation across a range of industries.
Jason provides valuation and transaction consulting services to individuals, growing companies and private equity, including financial due diligence and transaction support, financial reporting valuations, and tax valuations. He also serves clients and attorneys in complex valuation and economic damage matters, serving as a court appointed neutral, and providing testimony in a range of venues, including federal district court, federal bankruptcy court, state court, and international arbitration.
Jason has been an active member in the profession, having served nationally on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' (AICPA) Business Valuation Committee, and as faculty for both the AICPA's ABV Exam Review Course and Expert Witness Skills Workshop. He has also served on AICPA conference planning committees, various technical task forces, and he speaks nationally and locally on technical valuation and litigation topics. Jason was honored as the AICPA's 2014 Business Valuation Volunteer of the Year and was in the AICPA's inaugural Standing Ovation class for forensic accounting and business valuation professionals. Locally, Jason has served on the Society of Louisiana CPA's board of directors, was its 2019-2020 chair, and has served on its Forensic and Valuation Services Committee since 2009, chairing that committee in 2013 and 2014.
Prior to joining the firm, Jason was a Director and shareholder at Postlethwaite & Netterville, APAC (P&N), a leading full-service accounting and business advisory firm, where he led P&N's forensic, valuation, and transaction practice.

Andrew Mahtook, Kean Miller LLP

With a background in opening and running small businesses, I understand firsthand the challenges entrepreneurs face - and what it takes to build something that lasts. I use that experience to advise clients through every stage, from forming a new company and securing the licenses needed to operate, to negotiating leases and contracts, and ultimately guiding them through the sale or acquisition of a business. My goal is to take the legal burden off their plate and provide clear, practical support so they can stay focused on what they do best: running their business.
Andrew Mahtook is a transactional attorney who helps businesses at every stage navigate legal and strategic challenges with confidence. His practice focuses on business law, startup and small business representation, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial real estate.
Andrew regularly advises entrepreneurs, startups, and growing companies on entity formation, business licensing, and the legal steps required to launch and operate successfully. He assists clients with drafting and reviewing key contracts, including commercial leases, employment agreements, and customer and vendor agreements - providing practical, responsive guidance tailored to each client’s business goals.
Andrew also represents clients in mergers and acquisitions, advising both buyers and sellers in transactions involving closely held and privately owned businesses. He helps clients navigate the full deal process - from structuring terms to finalizing the transaction - while minimizing risk and keeping their goals front and center.
While in law school, Andrew completed a joint degree program with the A.B. Freeman School of Business where he earned his Master of Business Administration, concentrating in Finance. During this time, he completed two international consulting trips for clients in Faenza, Italy and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Andrew served as LSU Student Body President for the 2015-2016 academic year.

Sean McLaughlin, Kean Miller LLP

Sean is a litigator who advises clients across a broad spectrum of industries, including energy, maritime, commercial real estate, and tax. Sean partners with his clients by advising them on ways to proactively manage risk, resolve disputes, and, when needed, present their case to the fact-finder, judge or jury.
Litigator and first-chair trial counsel, Sean McLaughlin, has represented clients in bench and jury trials in various state courts, federal courts, tax courts, and administrative tribunals throughout the continental United States. He represents businesses, individuals, and other organizations in disputes involving breach of contract, commercial leases, tax controversies, high-exposure personal injury cases, and contractual indemnity/additional insured status. Sean has experience in every level of trial advocacy, including voir dire, opening and closing statements, cross-examination of witnesses, Daubert challenges, and evidentiary hearings.
Sean has resolved serious, high-stakes litigation and obtained favorable outcomes for clients not just at trial, but also on summary judgment and in mediation. He is valued for litigation and trial tactics that reflect his client’s goals and overarching dispute resolution strategy. He believes in keeping disputes professional at every turn to avoid the often expensive and unnecessary acrimony that goes with getting personal.
Skilled in evaluating claims from all points of view, Sean is candid and forthright with his clients about their chances of success and possible paths to resolution. Inside and outside of the courtroom, in briefings, and at trial with the jury, Sean’s approach to remaining impartial without compromising client positions is manifest in clear arguments that resonate with the fact finder and lead to satisfactory outcomes for his clients.
During law school, Sean clerked for the Louisiana Department of Justice and the Legislative Bureau of the Louisiana Senate. In addition, Sean externed with the Honorable Judge James J. Brady of the United States Middle District Court. This experience gave him first-hand exposure to the inner workings of the judicial process and how controversies and solutions are approached and analyzed from that distinct perspective, and this helped him hone his personal brand of client advocacy. At the onset of his career, this is where Sean learned to develop arguments based upon fact and the law rather than personal acrimony - all of which contribute to the credibility he has earned with judges and juries today.

Yigal Rechtman, Managing Partner, Rechtman Consulting, LLC

Yigal M. Rechtman, CPA, CFE, CITP, CISM, offers clients strategic advice in a wide array of areas requiring financial expertise. Since 1994, he has specialized in forensic accounting, litigation consulting, information systems consulting, auditing, and compliance services. He is also qualified as an expert witness in several jurisdictions.

His multi-disciplinary skills and knowledge enable him to analyze client problems with a broad lens to develop creative solutions that help protect their assets and improve their finances. He manages diverse engagements involving forensic accounting, fraud investigations, electronic discovery, litigation support, search for assets and income sources, damages calculations, auditing and attestation, operational and risks analysis, evaluation of internal controls, data mining, computerized information systems evaluation, and HIPAA, NYCRR 500, and U.S. Department of Labor Cybersecurity compliance.
Yigal has significant experience in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, real estate, construction, professional services, not-for-profit, technology, manufacturing and distribution, closely held companies, ERISA plans, and education.

Prior to starting Rechtman Consulting, he held varied positions including as a founding partner of a forensic accounting firm, IT Specialist, a Partner with a local CPA firm, and the Director of Forensic Accounting at two regional CPA firms, where he also managed financial and operational audits.
A frequent writer, Yigal has authored numerous articles on fraud, information technology, complex tax matters, and accounting, attest, and audit issues. He is also an active member of the editorial board of The CPA Journal.

He also enjoys educating others and regularly lectures at schools and other venues about technology assurance, forensic accounting and information systems. Yigal offers CLE and CPE courses to professionals as well as teaching students. He is a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University where he teaches advanced auditing, and was a professor at the Lubin School of Business, at the New York campus of Pace University, where he developed and taught courses on forensic accounting, auditing, and accounting information systems, at both the graduate and undergraduate programs. He was also an adjunct professor at Saint Peters University at the Guarini School of Business.

Charles Renwick, Managing Director, CMR Associates

Charles Renwick, CPA, is the Managing Director of CMR Associates, a tax and accounting firm where he's put AI to work across real client engagements — from document review to advisory. He speaks on practical, hands-on AI adoption for accountants who want results without the hype.

 

Michael Shard, Cert. Financial Crimes Investigator, St John the Baptist Sheriff's Office

Lt. Shard is the current Commander of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office Cyber/Financial Crimes and Digital Forensics Unit. Lt. Shard has been investigating financial and cyber crimes for over 15 years. Lt. Shard is an active member of the US Secret Service-LA Cyber Fraud Task Force, based in New Orleans for the past 10 years. Lt. Shard and his unit have been involved with investigating local and statewide fraud cases. Lt. Shard and his unit have actively contributed to state and Federal investigations that span the United States. Lt. Shard and his unit received the 2024 Case of the Year award from the Louisiana Forgery and Fraud Investigators Association for their efforts which helped secure the conviction of Romanian national(s) attributed to Point of Sale skimmer fraud with losses over $11 million USD. Lt. Shard holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Colorado State University and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Boston University with a concentration in Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Investigations. Lt. Shard also has active certifications as a Certified Financial Crimes Investigator from the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators and as a Cybercrimes Investigator and Examiner from the National White Collar Crime Center. Lt. Shard has been accepted and testified as an expert witness in the discipline of Digital Forensics.

Frank Tranchina, Tranchina Law Firm

Frank P. Tranchina, Jr., is the managing partner of Tranchina Law, L.L.C. He received his law degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1979. He is Board Certified in Family Law by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization and is also licensed in the State of California. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a past chairman of the Family Law sections of the Louisiana State and Jefferson Bar Associations as well as co-chair of the board certification committee for family law practitioners when first introduced to Louisiana. In addition, Mr. Tranchina has been a frequent lecturer at seminars and conferences throughout Louisiana. Since 1995, he has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America and has been identified in Who's Who in American Law since 2000. In 2007, he was inducted into the Academy of Court Appointed Masters. He has also been listed in Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine since its first publication in 2007 and in Northern California Super Lawyers magazine since 2015.

      Mr. Tranchina was appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to the Family Court Rules Committee selected to recommend uniform rules for Family and Domestic Relations Court across the State of Louisiana. He frequently acts as Special Master on complex community property cases and has been appointed by family court judges as an expert witness. In 2014, he was qualified in the Los Angeles Superior Court as an expert on Louisiana law and testified regarding the validity of a transsexual marriage that took place in Louisiana. In 2016, he was also qualified in the Circuit Court of Prince William County, State of Virginia, as an expert in Louisiana Community Property.

     Mr. Tranchina served as a member of the Marriage - Persons Committee for the Louisiana State Law Institute. Most recently, he has been inducted into the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He has also been named "2019 Lawyer of the Year in Family Law" by Best Lawyers in America. And just recently announced, Mr. Tranchina has added the accolade of receiving the "2024 Lawyer of the Year in Family Law" by Best Lawyers in America.

 Frank P. Tranchina, Jr., is the managing partner of Tranchina Law, L.L.C. He received his law degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1979. He is Board Certified in Family Law by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization and is also licensed in the State of California. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a past chairman of the Family Law sections of the Louisiana State and Jefferson Bar Associations as well as co-chair of the board certification committee for family law practitioners when first introduced to Louisiana. In addition, Mr. Tranchina has been a frequent lecturer at seminars and conferences throughout Louisiana. Since 1995, he has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America and has been identified in Who's Who in American Law since 2000. In 2007, he was inducted into the Academy of Court Appointed Masters. He has also been listed in Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine since its first publication in 2007 and in Northern California Super Lawyers magazine since 2015.

      Mr. Tranchina was appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court to the Family Court Rules Committee selected to recommend uniform rules for Family and Domestic Relations Court across the State of Louisiana. He frequently acts as Special Master on complex community property cases and has been appointed by family court judges as an expert witness. In 2014, he was qualified in the Los Angeles Superior Court as an expert on Louisiana law and testified regarding the validity of a transsexual marriage that took place in Louisiana. In 2016, he was also qualified in the Circuit Court of Prince William County, State of Virginia, as an expert in Louisiana Community Property.

     Mr. Tranchina served as a member of the Marriage - Persons Committee for the Louisiana State Law Institute. Most recently, he has been inducted into the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He has also been named "2019 Lawyer of the Year in Family Law" by Best Lawyers in America. And just recently announced, Mr. Tranchina has added the accolade of receiving the "2024 Lawyer of the Year in Family Law" by Best Lawyers in America.

Kevin Willis, Taylor and Willis CPAS and Advisors LLC

Kevin C. Willis, CPA, CGMA, is a partner in Taylor and Willis Attestation Services Section where he had been heavily involved in client accountings services, auditing, tax and consulting, and planning services since he and Roy O. Taylor, Jr. started the firm in 2008. Kevin began his career working for his father in 1991, providing many of these same services. He provides litigation support services, small business consulting services, accounting services, review services, and tax services to a variety of businesses, governmental entities, and individuals.

Litigation support services provided by Kevin include trial preparation for clients involving divorce, community property, and child support calculations. Kevin had provided testimony and been qualified as an expert witness in the 24th Judicial District of Louisiana.

Kevin hails from the great city of Kenner, LA, attended the University of Southwest Louisiana (ULL), and graduated from the University of New Orleans with degrees in Business Management and Accounting.