Commercial Property Partnership Dispute
The Challenge
Three partners couldn't agree on a buyout price for a downtown Vancouver property. One wanted out, the other two claimed he was overvaluing his stake. Lawyers were circling, and nobody trusted anyone's numbers.
Our Approach
Did a full independent valuation using comparable sales, income capitalization, and replacement cost methods. Reviewed all partnership agreements and capital contributions from day one. Found some undisclosed improvements that changed the equation.
The Outcome
All three parties accepted our valuation. Deal closed in 45 days without going to court. Saved them probably $150K in legal fees and maintained their business relationships.
Tech Startup Tax Optimization Strategy
The Challenge
Fast-growing SaaS company was bleeding cash on taxes. They were leaving SR&ED credits on the table, missed filing deadlines, and had no real tax strategy beyond "pay what CRA says." Revenue hit $8M but they were running lean.
Our Approach
Restructured their corporate setup to maximize R&D credits. Documented all eligible development activities they'd been ignoring. Set up proper expense tracking systems and implemented quarterly tax planning reviews instead of scrambling at year-end.
The Outcome
Recovered $340K in missed SR&ED credits from previous years. Reduced current year tax liability by 38%. They're now on track to actually use those savings for hiring instead of giving it all to the tax man.
Family Business Divorce Settlement
The Challenge
Messy divorce where one spouse owned 40% of a family restaurant group. Other side claimed the business was worth half what it actually was - classic undervaluation tactics. Needed expert testimony that'd hold up in court.
Our Approach
Analyzed five years of financials, found unreported cash income patterns. Compared against industry benchmarks - their "struggling" restaurants were actually doing 30% better than claimed. Prepared detailed valuation report and testified as expert witness.
The Outcome
Judge accepted our valuation. Client received $890K more in settlement than initial offer. Our testimony was cited specifically in the final ruling. No appeals filed - case closed.
Manufacturing Company Acquisition Due Diligence
The Challenge
Client wanted to acquire a metal fabrication shop for $3.5M. Seller's financials looked great, but our client had a gut feeling something wasn't right. Needed thorough due diligence before wiring that kind of money.
Our Approach
Deep dive into working capital, equipment condition, customer concentration, and accounts receivable aging. Found major red flags - two customers represented 70% of revenue, and both contracts were up for renewal in 6 months. Equipment maintenance was deferred. AR was way older than disclosed.
The Outcome
Renegotiated purchase price to $2.4M based on our findings. Structured deal with earnouts tied to customer retention. Client saved over $1M and got much better terms. Six months later, one of those big customers didn't renew - would've tanked the whole deal at original price.
Payroll Fraud in Healthcare Facility
The Challenge
Private care facility noticed payroll costs creeping up even though staff count stayed the same. HR manager seemed defensive whenever anyone asked questions. Owner suspected something but didn't want to accuse anyone without proof.
Our Approach
Quietly analyzed three years of payroll data, timesheet records, and bank deposits. Found ghost employees - people who'd quit or never existed getting regular paychecks. HR manager had access to everything and was depositing checks to accounts she controlled. Classic inside job.
The Outcome
Documented $425K in fraudulent payments over 28 months. Evidence package led to criminal charges and full confession. Insurance covered most of the loss. Helped implement segregation of duties and monthly reconciliation processes.
Complex Estate & Trust Administration
The Challenge
High-net-worth individual passed away with assets in three countries, multiple trusts, investment properties, and a business. Beneficiaries were fighting, executor was overwhelmed, and tax implications were a nightmare. Complete mess.
Our Approach
Worked directly with executor to inventory everything, coordinate with international tax specialists, and prepare proper estate accounting. Mediated beneficiary disputes with transparent reporting. Structured distributions to minimize tax impact across jurisdictions.
The Outcome
Estate settled in 14 months instead of the 3+ years similar cases usually take. Saved beneficiaries $520K in taxes through proper planning. Everyone got what they were entitled to, and the family actually still talks to each other.
Construction Company Risk Assessment
The Challenge
Growing construction firm was taking on bigger projects but had no formal risk management framework. Their insurance broker warned them they were exposed on several fronts. Needed to get their act together before something went sideways.
Our Approach
Conducted full financial risk assessment looking at cash flow, bonding capacity, project concentration, and subcontractor dependencies. Built risk matrix and prioritized exposures. Developed practical mitigation strategies they could actually implement without hiring 10 new people.
The Outcome
They implemented our recommendations over 6 months. When a major subcontractor went bankrupt mid-project, they had contingency plans ready and absorbed the hit without derailing the whole company. Would've been catastrophic before our work together.
Shareholder Oppression Claim
The Challenge
Minority shareholder claimed majority owners were draining company profits through excessive salaries and related-party transactions. Needed independent analysis to determine if the allegations held water or if this was just sour grapes.
Our Approach
Analyzed seven years of related-party transactions, executive compensation against industry standards, and dividend policies. Found some legitimate concerns - compensation was 40% above market, and several questionable consulting payments to majority shareholder's other companies.
The Outcome
Our report facilitated settlement negotiations. Majority owners bought out minority shareholder at fair value based on our analysis. Saved both sides probably $200K in legal costs and two years of fighting in court.
Think You've Got a Case We Should Know About?
Whether it's fraud that doesn't smell right, a valuation dispute, or you just need someone to make sense of complex financials - we've probably seen something similar. Let's talk about what's actually going on.
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