The London appointment expands the firm’s capabilities in product safety, crisis management, materials science, risk assessment, and high-stakes failure analysis.

Secretariat is pleased to welcome Farah Ahmed, PhD, a leading product safety and crisis management expert, to our growing Engineering Sciences team in London. Bringing nearly two decades of experience, Dr. Ahmed helps clients around the world navigate complex regulatory matters, strengthen product safety and compliance, and address high‑stakes failures, recalls, and corrective actions that demand swift, strategic responses.

Dr. Ahmed has specialized expertise in root-cause analysis, risk assessment, material selection and analysis, fracture mechanics, multi‑scale failure assessment, and destructive and non‑destructive evaluation. Her work spans a wide range of industries, including consumer products, medical devices, manufacturing, electronics, batteries, pharmaceuticals, automotive systems, mining, aerospace, retail and hospitality, sports, medical forensics, food and beverage, and national space agencies.

Across these spaces, Dr. Ahmed advises C-suite leaders, investors, engineers, product design teams, manufacturers, and regulators. When failures occur at any stage of the product lifecycle—resulting in recalls, corrective measures, or heightened regulatory scrutiny—Dr. Ahmed’s capabilities help clients understand what failed and why, determine an appropriate response, and identify strategies to strengthen compliance and mitigate future risk.

“Product safety and regulatory challenges are growing more complex every year, and clients come to Secretariat’s experts for clear, grounded answers. Farah has an exceptional blend of unparalleled industry knowledge and practical communication that clients really value,” says Don Harvey, Managing Director at Secretariat. “She brings incredibly innovative, robust perspectives that strengthen our work and amplify our impact. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team.”

Dr. Ahmed is also recognized globally as a leading expert in X‑ray Computed Tomography, having completed her PhD under the mentorship of the technology’s inventor. She is the Founder and President of the Tomography for Scientific Advancement (ToScA) international society, where she regularly delivers keynotes, moderates sessions, and shapes program content that unites academic researchers, industrial practitioners, and instrumentation developers. She also holds leadership roles on national technical committees, including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).

Secretariat is proud to announce that Jimmy McCutcheon has been recognized in Consulting Magazine’s Rising Stars 2026 awards, earning recognition for excellence in Industry-Specialization.

The Rising Stars of the Profession awards recognize high-performing professionals aged 36 and under who are “shaking up the industry in impactful ways” and redefining the consulting profession through innovation, client impact, and leadership.

“We are delighted to see Jimmy recognized by Consulting Magazine,” said Eric Poer, leader of Secretariat’s Securities Practice. “I have experienced first-hand Jimmy’s deep industry expertise, commitment to client outcomes, and ability to translate complex challenges into practical solutions. This recognition reflects both his individual accomplishments and the strength of the team around him. We congratulate Jimmy on this well-deserved achievement.”

A Director in Secretariat’s Global Investigations & Disputes practice, Jimmy focuses on U.S. securities litigation and financial disputes. He is recognized for his ability to bridge litigation strategy and expert testimony, serving as a trusted advisor to counsel in high-stakes matters. He provides expert services, forensic accounting, and financial analysis in complex disputes and investigations, supporting matters involving due diligence, corporate governance, M&A, and banking, among others.

Congratulations to this year’s winners: 2026 Honorees: Consulting Rising Stars of the Profession 2026

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Secretariat is pleased to sponsor the 2026 ACEDS Artificial Intelligence Survey, now in its second year. This annual survey examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used across modern legal workflows as the industry moves beyond experimentation and into full operational adoption.

How is AI being used across your workflows today? What challenges or opportunities have emerged as adoption has expanded? We invite you to share your experience with its use in legal practice. Join the conversation as we uncover practical, real-world insights.

As AI becomes embedded across legal workflows, accountability and defensibility have taken on new importance. The 2026 survey focuses on how legal teams are deploying AI in real-world environments, how those tools are governed, and where challenges continue to limit effectiveness. As AI-generated work product increasingly appears in high-stakes matters, accuracy, defensibility, transparency, and accountability have become critical priorities.

Key Trends Shaping AI in Legal Practice in 2026

This year’s survey explores several developments shaping AI adoption across the legal industry, including:

• AI is operational, not experimental.
  Legal teams are embedding AI into existing platforms and workflows, making governance, integration, and output quality more important than tool selection.
• Defensibility now outweighs speed.
  Accuracy, privilege protection, auditability, and transparency are driving decisions as AI-generated work product increasingly appears in high-stakes matters.
• Education gaps are more visible—and riskier.
  Uneven understanding of AI across attorneys, legal ops, and eDiscovery teams continues to impact adoption quality and risk exposure.
• eDiscovery expertise is expanding beyond review.
  AI is pushing eDiscovery professionals into broader roles across investigations, analytics, and information governance, when organizations allow it.
• Clients are asking harder questions about AI.
  Clients now expect clear answers on how AI is used, governed, disclosed, and validated, raising the bar for transparency and policy alignment.

Why Participate in the 2026 AI Survey

Your participation ensures the survey reflects real-world experience, not marketing claims or theoretical use cases. Whether your organization is actively deploying AI, cautiously evaluating its use, or developing internal policies and governance frameworks, your insights help establish a credible industry benchmark.

The survey takes only a few minutes to complete, and the findings will help inform legal decision-making, technology investment, and best practices across the global legal community.

Thank you for contributing to the 2026 ACEDS Artificial Intelligence Survey.

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To read the Secretariat and ACEDS 2025 Artificial Intelligence Report, click here.

A Secretariat expert team, led by Dr. Richard Manning, provided key damages calculations and expert testimony in the precedent-setting Delaware Court of Chancery decision that secured an approximately $811 million award for Fortis Advisors, representative of Auris Health’s former stockholders, in a post-closing earnout dispute with Johnson & Johnson (J&J).

Selendy Gay retained Dr. Manning to serve as their damages expert in this high-stakes case, which centered on J&J’s alleged breach of its 2019 merger agreement to acquire Auris Health, Inc.—a deal that hinged on the development of Auris’ innovative robotic surgery technology. In his role as an expert witness for Fortis, Dr. Manning evaluated and put forth damages under several alternative legal theories.

Following a ten-day trial in September 2024, Vice Chancellor Lori W. Will of the Delaware Court of Chancery issued a decision that awarded more than $1 billion in damages for J&J’s breach of contract, breach of implied covenant, and fraud. The Court ruled that J&J had intentionally delayed achieving key milestones to avoid paying a significant earnout payment to Auris’ stockholders. Additionally, the Court found that J&J’s actions constituted fraud, particularly in undermining Auris’ progress on critical technologies essential to the deal.

The Court adopted Dr. Manning’s approach to damages in rendering its decision, noting they “can reasonably measure what Auris expected to gain using the probability-weighted milestone values assigned by the parties.”¹ Additionally, the Court determined the defense’s rebuttal expert’s points were not persuasive in critiquing Dr. Manning’s approach. The Chancery Court’s 2024 decision in full can be read here.

Following the Chancery Court’s decision, the case was brought before the Delaware Supreme Court on J&J’s appeal. On January 12, 2026, the Delaware Supreme Court issued an opinion that affirmed the judgment of the Chancery Court as to breach of contract and fraud, reversed as to the implied covenant, and remanded to the lower court for a recalculation of damages.² In their opinion, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the validity of Dr. Manning’s calculations, noting, “we also uphold the [Chancery Court’s] damages methodology.”³ The Delaware Supreme Court’s opinion can be read in full here.

On January 26, 2026, the Chancery Court delivered a final stipulated judgment of nearly $811 million in damages for J&J’s breach of contract and fraud, which constitutes the largest award in Delaware history in an earnout case.

“I am pleased to have been able to work with a talented team of colleagues at Secretariat on this complex and interesting matter,” notes Dr. Manning. “I am gratified that we were able to provide the economic analysis and testimony to help both the Delaware Chancery Court and the State Supreme court reach their determinations.”

The Secretariat team working on the engagement with Dr. Manning included Dr. Richard Brady, Dr. Kira Stearns, and Jacob Miller. Further details on the case were covered in a Selendy Gay news release.

1. Fortis Advisors LLC v. Johnson & Johnson, C.A. No. 2020‑0881‑LWW (Del. Ch. Sept. 4, 2024) ↩︎
2. Johnson & Johnson v. Fortis Advisors LLC, No. 490, 2024, 2026 WL 89452 (Del. Jan. 12, 2026) ↩︎
3. Johnson & Johnson v. Fortis Advisors LLC, p. 3 ↩︎

Ralph Stobwasser, Managing Director, comments for Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence on the decision by Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority to abolish Qualified Foreign Investor restrictions and swap-based access frameworks. The changes open the Tadawul to all categories of foreign investors effective February 1, 2026.

“These changes improve accountability in a very practical sense; a larger number of foreign investors increases the demand for timely disclosures, verifiable numbers and consistent governance practices.”

The article reports that the CMA implemented the changes as part of a phased liberalization process, replacing the QFI and swap-based regimes with a unified framework for direct foreign participation. Existing foreign ownership limits remain in place, with market access continuing through licensed Saudi intermediaries. The changes expand the investor pool and increase diversity in foreign ownership, while supporting AML and KYC controls, regulatory oversight, and increased market scrutiny as foreign participation grows.

Stobwasser said, “These changes improve accountability in a very practical sense; a larger number of foreign investors increases the demand for timely disclosures, verifiable numbers and consistent governance practices.”

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Tamika Tremaglio and Sonia Chase joined Emmy and Peabody Award-winning sports journalist Sarah Spain on her podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain, to discuss the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the WNBA and its players’ union after a third consecutive missed deadline. The pair examined the reasons why the two sides are at a standstill, possible paths forward, and what’s realistic to expect next. 

Listen to Tamika and Sonia on Good Game with Sarah Spain here.

We’re proud to announce that 12 Secretariat experts have been recognized in the Lexology Index 2025 Commercial Litigation report for their exceptional work supporting clients in some of the world’s most complex and high-stakes disputes. 

Secretariat also led the Global Elite Thought Leaders category among expert witness firms included in the report, with Howard Rosen and Alexander Demuth named among the best of the best worldwide. Secretariat was the only expert firm with multiple Global Elite Thought Leaders recognized. 

Secretariat’s continued inclusion in Lexology’s prestigious rankings reflects our firm’s depth of expertise, our world-class leadership, and the trust our clients place in us to deliver quality insights when it’s all on the line. 

Read the Lexology Index 2025 Commercial Litigation Report here, and review what clients and peers have to say about our experts below.  

Global Elite Thought Leaders 

• Howard Rosen (Canada) stands out for his top-tier work as a valuations and damages quantification expert across a wide range of industries, where he is praised for his ability to “cut through the issues.” Peers note that he “has been at the top of his game for many years.” 
• Alexander Demuth (Germany) is a highly skilled expert in cross-border litigation, with a wealth of experience in post-merger and commercial disputes. He provides “crystal clear and very convincing” testimony and is “the go-to for quantum determination,” according to sources. 

Thought Leaders 

• Mark Taylor (England) impresses sources with his vast experience providing expert testimony on damages and quantum claims in domestic and international litigation proceedings spanning the energy, shipping, and construction industries. 
• Mrinal Jain (India) is a highly regarded expert with extensive experience handling complex financial and valuation issues across an array of sectors, including energy, real estate, and manufacturing. 
• Carrie Distler (USA) earns widespread praise as an expert witness for her “excellent demeanor on the stand” as well as her “strong command of the details of the matters for which she testifies.” 

Recommended 

• Paul Roberts (Australia) is a first-rate expert witness, thanks to over three decades of experience handling complex contractual and commercial disputes, both domestically and abroad. 
• Travis Taylor (England) stands out for his top-tier expert analysis in high-value post-M&A and contractual disputes spanning a range of industries, including financial services and manufacturing of energy and natural resources. 
• Björn Brand (Germany) is regarded as “a highly motivated, competent and reliable expert with an outstanding ability to understand the details of a project.” Interviewees further praise “his meticulous review and assessment of facts and documents” and his proactive approach. 
• With over 30 years of experience, Gary Kleinrichert (USA) is a first-rate expert witness who specializes in assessing economic damages in complex investigations around the world. 
• Chris Milburn (Canada), Abigail Harris (England), Daniel Wang (Singapore) are also recognized in this category. 

Managing Director Bob Broxson provided expert reports, deposition, and trial testimony on behalf of Marathon Oil Company in a historic trial – the first held by the Texas Business Courts since their opening in September 2024. The landmark case stemmed from natural gas delivery interruptions during the 2021 Winter Storm Uri. 

Mr. Broxson was retained by Ahmad Zavitsanos & Mensing (AZA) to provide expert testimony on behalf of Marathon. He provided direct testimony that shaped the court’s understanding of natural gas industry practices during catastrophic events.  

The Texas Business Courts were established by the Texas Legislature in 2023 to serve as an efficient forum for resolving complex business disputes and commercial litigation within the state. This specialized court system has been officially operational since September 2024,¹ and this case, brought by Marathon before the 11^th Division, marked its first-ever trial verdict. 

In this matter, the Houston-based oil company argued that the rare, destructive weather caused by Winter Storm Uri prevented them from satisfying their natural gas delivery obligations to Mercuria Energy America and constituted a force majeure under their contract.  

Following a five-day bench trial, Business Court Judge Melissa Andrews ruled that Marathon was not liable for $26.5 million in damages related to failed natural gas deliveries during Winter Storm Uri, finding that the extreme weather constituted a valid force majeure. The court affirmed that the parties’ contract did not require Marathon to acquire replacement gas or buy back its delivery obligation from Mercuria before declaring a force majeure.² 

Mr. Broxson’s expertise, work, and testimony in this case, combined with other examples that include the $123.7M Koch Energy force majeure dispute, underscore the rigor of his analyses and the critical role expert testimony plays in high-stakes litigation. 

The Secretariat team supporting Mr. Broxson on this matter included Adam Housel. 

Law360 coverage of the matter is available here (subscription may be required). 

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1. https://texasbusinesscourts.com/faq/ ↩︎
2. Marathon Oil Company v. Mercuria Energy America LLC, No. 25-BC11A-0013, in the 11^th Division of the Texas Business Court. P. 23 ↩︎

Lexology Index has named 23 Secretariat experts to their Thought Leaders: Global Elite 2026 report. Secretariat’s included professionals are recognized as superlative practitioners across industries, lauded for their vast experience, leading industry knowledge, and the incredible impact they deliver for clients navigating the world’s most high-stakes matters.    

We’re thrilled to celebrate our recognition in Lexology once again, and look forward to continuing to offer industry-leading insights and client service on a global scale.  

See the full rankings here, and read what clients and peers have to say about our experts below.  

Arbitration 

• Howard Rosen (Canada) “brings an incredible bank of knowledge and experience to the table.” Clients note that he “has excellent abilities as a testifying expert and can prepare persuasive evidence in complex areas.” 
• Liam Holder (England) is regarded as “an excellent and very meticulous expert.” 
• Alexander Demuth (Germany) is lauded as the “the star expert when it comes to M&A-related quantum issues.” 
• Clients trust Mike Allen (Hong Kong) as “a smart, practical and overall wonderful expert.” 
• Chaitanya Arora (Singapore) is an “extremely persuasive financial and damages expert who knows how to explain complicated issues to non-experts.” 
• Lexology notes that Ian Greenhough (United Arab Emirates) is “one of the premier quantum professionals in the region.” 
• Mike Saulsbury (United Arab Emirates) “has exceptional collaboration skills and seamlessly integrates with legal teams to ensure clarity and cohesion throughout the case.” 
• Kiran P Sequeira (USA) is a well-regarded expert who is “very thorough and exercises sound judgment.” 
• John Lancaster (Singapore) is also included in this category. 

Commercial Litigation 

• Howard Rosen (Canada) “stands out for his top-tier work as a valuations and damages quantification expert across a wide range of industries.” He is praised for his ability to “cut through the issues” and has been “at the top of his game for many years.” 
• “Star expert” Alexander Demuth (Germany) is skilled in M&A-related quantum issues. Clients note that he can make complex things very easy to digest, is quick on his feet if challenged, and “has a strong understanding of the strategic implications of lines of questioning.” 

Construction – Quantum Delay & Technical 

• Robert Poole (Canada) is “incredibly responsive and diligent.” 
• Christopher Larkin (Canada), Liam Holder (England), George Taft (England), Mike Allen (Hong Kong), Mike Saulsbury (United Arab Emirates), Don Harvey (USA), Ted Scott (USA), Meera Wagman (USA), Paul Roberts (Australia) and John Lancaster (Singapore) are also included in this category. 

Construction – Quantum Delay & Technical – Under 45 

• Stuart Allan (United Arab Emirates) is included in this category. 

Construction – Under 45 – Expert Witnesses 

• Stuart Allan (United Arab Emirates) is included in this category. 

Construction 

• Christopher Larkin (Canada) is “hard-working, diligent and produces well-written and sourced reports.” 
• “Incredibly responsive” expert Robert Poole (Canada) is a “diligent,” trusted professional. 
• Liam Holder (England) is known as a “brilliant expert, a huge authority, and very reliable.” 
• “Seasoned quantum expert” George Taft (England) is “always [seeking] to do the best for his clients.” 
• Mike Allen (Hong Kong) is a “smart, practical and overall wonderful expert.” 
• Mike Saulsbury (United Arab Emirates) is lauded as “one of the best delay experts in the region.” 
• Don Harvey (USA) is “highly regarded for his work in complex construction disputes, providing top-tier analysis on delay, disruption and cost issues.” 
• Clients say Ted Scott (USA) “does excellent technical evaluations and is always well prepared.” 
• Meera Wagman (USA) is an “outstanding witness in terms of her composure and articulate presentation of her opinions.” 
• Paul Roberts (Australia) and John Lancaster (Singapore) are also included in this category. 

Energy 

• Bob Broxson (USA) is included in this category. 

Financial Advisory and Valuation – Quantum of Damages 

• Chris Milburn (Canada) is known to clients and peers as a “highly experienced expert.” 
• Howard Rosen (Canada) is regarded as “amongst the best in the industry and well-liked by clients,” thanks to his deep knowledge of business valuations and damages quantification in high-stakes international arbitrations. 
• Kiran P Sequeira (USA) is described as “simply the best in the industry,” with over 20 years of experience providing quantum analysis in international disputes. His ability to “anchor discussions on key points” makes him a highly regarded expert witness in complex cases. 

Forensic Accountants 

• Peter Resnick (USA) is included in this category. 

Tamika Tremaglio and Sonia Chase were featured in a recent Yahoo Sports article this week explaining what happens behind the scenes of negotiations for a new WNBA CBA. The two discussed why revenue sharing is the headliner of the talks, the challenges of the discussions go beyond sharing financials, and how negotiations have evolved over time, from Sonia’s experience with the first deal to today.

Read Tamika and Sonia’s full quotes in Yahoo Sports here.

11 Secretariat experts have been recognized in the 2026 Lexology Index Client Choice Report, earning accolades across four key categories: Arbitration, Construction, Investigations Digital Forensics, and Intellectual Property. 

The distinguished Client Choice Report celebrates outstanding professionals who consistently deliver exceptional client care and quality. Nominations come exclusively from clients and peers, underscoring the quality, professionalism, and uncompromising standards our experts uphold in the world’s most complex disputes. 

Read more here.

Highly Recommended 

Arbitration Expert Witnesses 

• Clients note that Drew Baiter’s “written work is thorough, persuasive and to the point.” 

• Harshal Doshi is recognized as having “a strong analytical mind and great presentation skills.” 

• Paul Marcus is regarded as “smart, responsive, practical, [with] tremendous integrity.” 

Construction Experts 

• Jonathan Brown is lauded as being “remarkably patient, clear and positive throughout the construction dispute.” 

• Georges Bader is a trusted expert, with one client noting, “George was exceptional in all facets.” 

• Jeffrey Wong “demonstrates a deep understanding of the subject matter and communicates his insights effectively, ensuring well-founded conclusions.” 

• John Lancaster is consistently seen as “one of the top delay experts in the Asia-Pacific region.” 

• Sources note that Ian Greenhough “is not only an absolute pleasure to work with but also has the technical skills to back up his strong reputation.” 

• Tom Gaines possesses an “impressive” ability to “fully digest and assess materials in a contentious context.” 

Investigations Digital Forensic Experts 

• Daniel Wang is recognized as a highly regarded expert in this category. 

Intellectual Property Experts 

• Clients say Matt Farber is “extremely well-known for his expertise in IP damages.” 

Managing Director Ryan Marsh, PhD provided an expert report and testimony in a high-stakes case involving real estate investment fraud. A Houston jury found in favor of the plaintiff, based in part on Dr. Marsh’s testimony.  

Dr. Marsh was retained by McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans to provide expert testimony and quantify damages on behalf of their client. The complex dispute centered around a real estate investment transaction in which the defendant, the general partner and attorney, was alleged to have defrauded the plaintiff. 

Dr. Marsh conducted rigorous analysis to assess the damages arising from defendant’s conduct and the at-issue real estate transaction. He issued an expert report in April 2024, testified at deposition in June 2024, and delivered trial testimony before a jury in the 295th District Court of Harris County, Texas in September 2025. At trial, Dr. Marsh delivered clear, compelling insights, offering a supported range of reasonable values that quantified the plaintiff’s losses and helped the jury better understand the financial impact of the defendant’s conduct. 

Following an intense eight-day trial in October 2025, the jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff on all six counts of fraud presented to them and delivered a $1.71 million verdict, within the range Dr. Marsh identified.