J.S. Held

A global consulting firm that combines technical, scientific, financial, and strategic expertise to advise clients seeking to realize value and mitigate risk.

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

A school district and steel contractor became involved in a complex dispute during the construction of a new high school campus, with both parties asserting claims related to project delays, performance issues, and resulting financial damages. The litigation required a detailed evaluation of delay responsibility, schedule impacts, and the calculation of damages arising from the project.

Our technical and financial experts, led by surety expert Matt Joy, reviewed project schedules, contract requirements, procurement records, and project correspondence to evaluate the competing delay claims. The analysis identified significant deficiencies in the project's scheduling practices and determined that the available schedules could not reliably support allegations of delay against the steel contractor. Expert testimony helped demonstrate the limitations of the scheduling records, and the court ultimately rejected the school district's delay damage claims.

To learn more about the engagement, visit: https://t.co/hWIUhhWWBw

#FindYourExpert #ExpertWitness #ConstructionDisputes #Surety

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

The scale and complexity of construction projects often lead to litigation between parties when something goes wrong. These matters often come down to questions of whether a practitioner met the expected standard of care or not. But how is that standard defined, and how do courts determine whether a practitioner is at fault?

In this article, forensic engineer Ben Daee examines the definition and application of the standard of care in construction litigation, focusing on the responsibilities of construction professionals and relevant Canadian case law. He also explores the critical role expert witnesses serve in disputes and resulting litigation.

To learn more, visit: https://t.co/Hkej2T2ITk

#FindYourExpert #StandardOfCare #ConstructionDisputes #ConstructionLaw

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

The US wine industry is entering a structural reset. The next three to five years could bring managed contraction, accelerated rationalization, or a prolonged cycle of distress, creating difficult decisions for owners, operators, lenders, and investors.

In a two-part series, including an article in @WineBusiness, turnaround and restructuring expert Mike Bergthold explores potential industry scenarios and practical actions stakeholders can take to:

• Assess liquidity and working capital needs
• Optimize inventory and operations
• Evaluate vineyard, winery, and brand assets independently
• Align owners, lenders, and capital providers
• Prepare for stabilization, recapitalization, sale, restructuring, or wind-down scenarios

The goal is not to predict a single outcome, but to preserve flexibility and be prepared to act as conditions evolve.

To read the full series, visit:
• Part 1, "Beyond the Vine", on the J.S. Held website: https://t.co/ApFmU53CKF
• Part 2, "The Next Three to Five Years," on WineBusiness Monthly: https://t.co/Gg641S6tKQ

#FindYourExpert #WineIndustry #DistressedAssets #AssetValuation #BusinessRestructuring

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

Thousands of NFL fans see the game. Few see the numbers behind it.

A municipality needed an independent financial and operational analysis of a major NFL stadium to help evaluate a stadium lease dispute, assess the profitability of non-NFL events, understand rising public safety costs, and improve transparency around the stadium's management and performance.

J.S. Held forensic economics and valuation expert Timothy Gillihan provided independent financial and operational analyses of:
• Stadium lease economics
• Revenues and expenses
• Event profitability
• Revenue-sharing methodologies
• Public-safety expenditures

He also developed data-driven reporting tools and helped stakeholders interpret complex financial and operational data to evaluate stadium performance and inform long-term management decisions.

To learn more about the engagement, visit: https://t.co/zy3B6j0Bka

#FindYourExpert #ForensicEconomics #ValuationServices #FinancialAdvisory

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

Technical expertise only matters if a jury can understand it.

In this article, several senior testifying experts – John Peiserich, Allison Stock, Kelly Scribner Tuttle, Robert Rauschenberger, Daniel Schreiber, and Richard Stahl – share how they translate complex technical and scientific evidence without sacrificing rigor or talking down to the jury.

Their approaches, from applicable analogies to transparent discussion of uncertainty, show why depth and clarity work together to build credibility. Learn how expert witnesses can turn technical evidence into testimony that jurors can confidently assess.

To learn more, visit: https://t.co/uvtubbpCgr

#FindYourExpert #HeldTogether #ExpertWitness #LitigationStrategy #TechnicalExpertise

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

The Q3 release of the J.S. Held AI Disputes Monitor is now available. Through the third quarter of 2026, AI-related litigation continued to accelerate across industries, with disputes expanding beyond copyright and intellectual property into areas such as privacy, governance, automated decision-making, product liability, and AI safety.

The monitor now tracks 468 AI-related lawsuits globally, including 115 cases filed through September 30. Generative AI remains the dominant category, accounting for 61% of all tracked matters, while legal and intellectual property disputes continue to represent the largest share of litigation activity.

The dashboard also tracks:
• Global AI-related lawsuits
• AI-related lawsuits by region, state, jurisdiction, and application category
• Market segments for global AI-related lawsuits
• Representative technology applications and use cases

This quarter's findings highlight increased scrutiny of AI training data, voice, and biometric rights, AI-generated outputs, algorithmic decision-making, and emerging claims involving safety guardrails, governance, and AI-enabled consumer products.

To explore the full set of findings, download the latest edition of the J.S. Held AI Disputes Monitor here: https://t.co/52jqXWxPhh

#FindYourExpert #ArtificialIntellegence #AI #AIDisputes

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

We’re pleased to welcome Stephen Osuhor to our London team as Senior Managing Director in our global Construction Advisory practice.

For more than 30 years, Stephen has advised on complex construction and engineering disputes across the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. An industry leader in construction quantum, he delivers expertise in international arbitration, litigation, and adjudication proceedings involving major infrastructure, building, aviation, and energy projects.

Stephen's extensive international experience further strengthens our construction claims and dispute resolution capabilities, helping legal counsel, project owners, contractors, and developers resolve high-value disputes worldwide.

To learn more, visit: https://t.co/0mG8XEChYy

#FindYourExpert #HeldTogether #Construction #InternationalArbitration

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

A large water loss at a 73,000-square-foot commercial-industrial building in Canada caused widespread damage to critical areas, halting operations and threatening essential community services. The scale of the incident introduced complex insurance and restoration challenges, as well as a network of stakeholders, including adjusters, contractors, and consultants.

J.S. Held building consultant Kirk Reid helped lead mitigation and recovery efforts, assessing the extent of damage, analyzing repair costs, and providing clear documentation to support the claim process. He also developed strategic recovery plans for each stage of the restoration process and kept stakeholders engaged throughout the process.

As a result, we helped all parties move forward with confidence and enabled an effective, efficient recovery for the non-profit organization impacted by the loss.

To learn more, visit: https://t.co/fEHQgxAcGx

#FindYourExpert #PropertyLoss #PropertyDamage

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

As we celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks to our colleagues who continue to share their time, expertise, and care.

We are grateful for the support, collaboration, and sense of community that make J.S. Held a meaningful place to work.

Wishing you a bountiful, restful, and happy Thanksgiving.

#HeldTogether #Thanksgiving #GiveThanks

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

As lithium-ion batteries and battery energy storage systems (BESS) become increasingly common, understanding and managing the unique risks associated with these technologies is more important than ever.

Managing BESS fire risk requires attention throughout the system lifecycle, from design and installation to operation, maintenance, and emergency response. A multidisciplinary approach can help stakeholders better understand potential failure modes, limit consequences, and apply lessons learned from previous incidents.

For more information, contact Kevin Gawat [email protected].

#FindYourExpert #FirePreventionWeek #BatteryEnergyStorage #BESS #LithiumIonBatteries

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

In recognition of #WorldMentalHealthDay tomorrow and this year's theme, "Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change," we highlight the importance of supporting employee well-being.

The wellness program established by our team members in Latin America is a prime example of impact in action – the program provides resources and activities that support physical, emotional, social, and financial health.

Through partnerships, educational programs, mental health resources, and healthy lifestyle initiatives, team members have access to both in-person and virtual activities, creating flexible opportunities to learn, connect, and engage throughout the year.

We are proud to recognize our colleagues and wellness champions in Latin America and across our organization globally.

#FindYourExpert #HeldTogether #MentalHealthAwareness

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Forensic Accountants & Consultants, (FAC), expanding our resources and financial expertise for commercial and marital disputes.

Founded in 2013, FAC has established a strong reputation for forensic accounting, litigation consulting, marital disputes analysis, financial investigations, asset tracing, valuation, and expert witness testimony.

The Florida-based team is led by founder Monica Caswell, CPA, ABV, CFF, who has testified on more than 200 occasions in state courts and arbitration proceedings, including AAA, FINRA, and the ICC International Court of Arbitration.

The addition of FAC builds on recent acquisitions of Shechter & Everett, CMM, and Luttrell Wegis to further strengthen our ability to evaluate financial claims, investigate complex matters, quantify damages, value assets, and resolve disputes across the US.

To learn more about the value our combined platform creates for clients and counsel, view the press release: https://t.co/v2inobxyqt

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

Matt Wunderink shares insights on evaluating water intrusion events, contamination concerns, and remediation decisions from his recent session, “When Water Wins: Navigating Flood Claims, Contamination, and Clean-Up.”

Drawing on practical examples and industry guidance, he highlights how technical observations, documentation, and informed decision-making can support defensible outcomes throughout the claims and remediation process.

View the carousel below for key takeaways from the discussion.

To learn more about our industrial hygiene and environmental claims services, visit: https://t.co/IR7mUQooWb

#FindYourExpert #WaterDamage #IndustrialHygiene #PropertyClaims

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

We are honored that our work on the Century Mining recovery and restart effort has earned @TMAGlobal's 2026 Mid-Size Company Turnaround and Transaction of the Year Award.

This recognition reflects the value of combining financial and technical expertise to help clients and their counsel address complex, high-stakes challenges and deliver successful outcomes.

Led by Senior Managing Director Mark Welch, with support from Santino Morena and Nick Jones, our team played a key role in navigating a highly complex restructuring and operational recovery effort.
Following a devastating mine fire and operational shutdown, the effort helped secure significant new capital, preserve approximately 500 jobs, achieve full recoveries for creditors, and reopen the mine ahead of schedule.

Learn more about this award-winning engagement and the expertise behind it: https://t.co/UAeNqpROpM

#FindYourExpert #HeldTogether

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

A multi-phase project experienced flooding that affected portions of a live campus, including occupied and staging areas, as well as active construction zones. The claim included repairs to completed work and owner-furnished equipment, as well as replacement of stored materials.

Construction claims expert Diane Zimmer was engaged to review the builder’s risk cost claim. Through the document review process, she determined that several project phases had achieved substantial completion, received certificates of occupancy, and were occupied by the owner prior to the loss. Diane brought this to the carrier's attention and questioned whether the builder’s risk policy covered previously completed phases. The carrier confirmed that only phases actively under construction were covered by the policy.

With this clarification, Diane separated the claimed costs by project phase and determined that the only covered portion of the claim consisted of stored materials intended to be installed for an active project phase. Those costs fell below the policy deductible.

To learn more about how our experts help clients navigate complex builder's risk and construction insurance claims, visit: https://t.co/mH2e8pm5rB

#FindYourExpert #ConstructionClaims #BuildersRisk

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

As we observe the Day of Truth and Reconciliation, we acknowledge the complex and difficult legacy of residential schools, recognizing that their impact extends far beyond education.

We honor the memory of the Indigenous children who never returned home and stand in solidarity with survivors and their communities.

#OrangeShirtDay #HeldTogether

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

We are pleased to welcome Denny Lee, Elaine White, and Tod Somerville as Senior Managing Directors in our Construction Advisory practice.

Based in Southern California, they bring 85+ years of combined industry experience supporting legal counsel, owners, contractors, and developers in complex construction projects, claims, and disputes.

Their collective expertise strengthens our global capabilities focused on helping clients and counsel assess project impacts, quantify damages, and address the financial, technical, and operational issues at the center of high-stakes construction disputes and international arbitration.

To learn more about the expertise and client value the team delivers:

• Denny Lee | https://t.co/0NHAnORFvZ
• Elaine White | https://t.co/1ed9k59vTH
• Tod Somerville | https://t.co/eqvGwyqLoB

#FindYourExpert #HeldTogether #Construction #ConstructionClaims #ConstructionDisputes

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

Learn more about our toxicology consulting services at: https://t.co/pr8IMW7ZJz

[J.S. Held @JS_Held]

A major oil and gas company faced a product liability lawsuit alleging that exposure to benzene in the company’s gasoline and other products caused an illness resulting in death. The plaintiff sought a total of $40 million: $30 million for wrongful death and an additional $10 million in punitive damages.

J.S. Held Chief Scientist Allison Stock, PhD, MPH, MS, was retained by the defense to testify. Defense counsel indicated that her testimony and toxicology expertise was "particularly effective" in addressing the plaintiff's claims of causation. Following her testimony, the jury rejected the plaintiff’s $40 million claim, finding that the company’s products were not defectively designed and that there was no failure to warn.

Learn more about our toxicology consulting services in matters involving public health, exposure, risk assessment, and characterization at the link in the comments below.

#FindYourExpert #ExpertTestimony #Toxicology