A High-Stakes Divorce Demands a Lawyer Fluent in Valuation

In high-net-worth divorce cases and complex litigation, the law is only half the battle. The other half, often the more volatile half, is the numbers.

When a case involves business interests, executive compensation, or complex assets, there is a distinct advantage to having a divorce lawyer who doesn’t just hire financial experts but actually speaks their language. There is a profound difference between a litigator who reads a valuation report and one who can present it on direct examination or dismantle it on cross-examination.

Finding an attorney who is skilled in the courtroom and deeply respected by the CPA and business valuation (BV) community is rare. Aaron Bundy’s involvement at the 2025 AICPA Forensic & Valuation Services Conference highlights exactly why this dual expertise is indispensable for clients.

Bridging the Gap Between Law and Finance

In the heat of trial, or during a time-limited deposition, an attorney must be able to think like an accountant. They need to spot the extreme assumption in a discounted cash flow analysis or identify when a stock option valuation has been manipulated.

Aaron Bundy has established himself as exactly this type of double threat — a board-certified family law trial lawyer in Oklahoma who is invited to teach the experts.

A Demonstrated Commitment to Finance

Aaron Bundy has dedicated years to formal, rigorous financial education. His proficiency is built on a foundation of advanced, specialized training. He completed a year-long certificate program at Southern Methodist University designed for financial planners. He studied the holistic financial picture, from tax strategies, insurance, and retirement planning to risk management.

Aaron is a graduate of the premier litigation training ground for family lawyers. Specifically, he completed the Advanced Business Valuation seminar at the National Family Law Trial Institute, a rigorous program that teaches trial lawyers how to dissect valuation reports, challenge methodologies, and cross-examine financial experts under the scrutiny of seasoned judges and top-tier forensics.

Perhaps the most telling evidence of Aaron’s commitment to his craft is his extensive private library dedicated to valuation and finance. He has curated a collection of definitive, high-level texts that are typically found only in the offices of forensic accountants. This includes industry standards such as Shannon Pratt’s Valuing a Business and Jay Fishman’s alongside specialized texts The Executive Compensation Handbook by Kristi Anderson Wells and The Dark Side of Valuation by Aswath Damodaran.

Leading the Conversation at the 2025 AICPA Conference

This past October in Aurora, Colorado, Aaron Bundy was a featured speaker at the AICPA Forensic & Valuation Services Conference, the premier event for forensic and valuation professionals. He led two high-level technical sessions alongside top financial experts, including Karolina Calhoun of Mercer Capital.

1. Defending and Attacking “Extreme” Assumptions

In a session titled “Extreme BV Assumptions: How to Defend, How to Cross,” Aaron demonstrated the art of the cross-examination regarding aggressive business valuation positions.

Valuations often turn on specific components, such as aggressive growth projections, unusual discount rates, or overstated synergies. Aaron’s role was to demonstrate how to expose these flaws or, conversely, how to defend them when they are legitimate. This session was more than a lecture, as it included live demonstrations of direct and cross-examination techniques.

Why this matters: If your lawyer knows how to cross-examine a valuation expert on the nuances of a company specific risk premium, they can effectively neutralize an opposing expert’s inflated (or deflated) numbers, potentially saving millions. While the lawyer does not build the valuation model, they must be able to spot the cracks in it. Aaron’s education and experience enhanced his familiarity with valuation concepts, allowing him to effectively issue-spot when reviewing an expert’s report. He can identify when a company-specific risk premium is being used to artificially suppress value, or when a growth projection is mathematically inconsistent with historical data. This allows him to work more effectively with the experts, asking the right questions to refine their analysis and dismantle the other side’s tactics.

2. Decoding Complex Compensation and Benefits

Aaron also co-presented “Evaluating Compensation & Benefits for Divorce.” This session tackled the complexities of modern executive pay, including Stock Options, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and the implications of 83(b) elections.

Why this matters: Executive compensation is a minefield of “hybrid” property—assets that are partly marital and partly separate, or that blur the line between property to be divided and income for support. Failing to account for the tax timing differences between an RSU and a standard investment account could result in a settlement that looks equal on paper but leaves one spouse with a massive, immediate tax liability and the other with tax-free cash.

In complex compensation cases, the biggest risk is often a failure of communication. A lawyer who is fluent in these concepts can bridge the gap between the technical financial expert and the client. Aaron works jointly with valuation experts to educate the client on why a certain asset is valued the way it is, clearing up confusion that could otherwise stall negotiations. If the case does go to trial, he can present the expert’s testimony in clear, plain English that a judge can easily understand and adopt.

World-Class Advocacy, Rooted in Grit

When your financial future is on the line, you need more than just an attorney who knows the math. You need a board-certified trial advocate who commands the respect of the financial experts on the witness stand, the judges on the bench, and the legal community at large.

When your financial portfolio is not standard, your legal representation shouldn’t be either. Whether you are navigating the valuation of a closely held business, dissecting complex executive compensation packages, or facing a high-stakes custody dispute across state lines, you cannot afford a learning curve.

Secure the representation that the financial experts trust. Contact Bundy Law today to schedule a confidential consultation and ensure your case is managed with the rigorous scrutiny and world-class advocacy it demands.