About Dunham & O'Keefe, LLC.

Dunham & O’Keefe, LLC (taxed as a partnership) was formed in 2015 with Randall Dunham and Laura O’Keefe as its members (partners). Although their partnership began in 2015, Dunham and O'Keefe have been working with each other since 1996. Both partners are CPAs (Certified Public Accountants), CFFs (Certified in Financial Forensics) and ABVs (Accredited in Business Valuation). Very few CPAs are also CFFs and ABVs; in fact, Dunham & O'Keefe, LLC, is the only firm in Maine or New Hampshire that has two professionals with these designations.

The firm's approach to each matter is unique in its emphasis on collaboration. Both partners of Dunham & O’Keefe are fully engaged on every assignment. Constant discussion and review among partners with regards to approach, documentation, and conclusions allows each report to be as flawless as possible. As a result, there is typically little pushback from opposing counsel prior to or at depositions or court testimony.

Most of the firm's cases are in New England, though Dunham and O'Keefe have worked with attorneys throughout the United States. The assignments that they work on are evenly split between plaintiff and defense parties. Economic analysis matters for which they have been retained include wrongful death, personal injury, lost profits, trademark infringement, and medical malpractice. Business valuations have been performed for estate tax, divorce, lost profits, and partner disagreements.

As an example of their work, Dunham & O’Keefe was hired on behalf of the defendant L.L. Bean in a lost profits case. Based on our detailed analysis, the plaintiff was awarded significantly less by the court than had been offered during pre-trial settlement discussions (no confidentiality has been breached as this is public record).

In another case, Dunham & O’Keefe was hired by the plaintiff in a lost profits case and determined that the loss was approximately 10 million dollars. The defendants (2) each hired nationally known experts that opined that the loss was -0-. The defendants then filed a Daubert motion to exclude Dunham & O’Keefe’s testimony, which failed. Subsequently, the parties settled for approximately 6 million dollars. The plaintiffs paid approximately $500,000 for their experts while the Dunham & O’Keefe fee was less than 10% of that.

In addition to significant experience in the matters discussed, both partners of Dunham & O’Keefe have educational backgrounds to bring to bear on these engagements. Ms. O’Keefe has a degree in Economics from Cornell University. Mr. Dunham has a degree in Business Administration from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a minor in Economics. Additionally, Mr. Dunham has a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine.

A certified public accountant (CPA) is a designation given by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to individuals that pass the Uniform CPA Examination and meet the education and experience requirements. The CPA designation helps enforce professional standards in the accounting industry. As previously stated, both Dunham and O'Keefe have attained CPA certifications.

The AICPA established the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) credential in 2008 for CPAs who specialize in forensic accounting. Both partners of Dunham & O’Keefe hold this credential. The CFF credential is granted exclusively to CPAs who demonstrate considerable expertise in forensic accounting through their knowledge, skills, and experience.

The CFF encompasses fundamental and specialized forensic accounting skills that CPA practitioners apply in a variety of service areas, including family law, valuations, financial statement misrepresentation, and economic damages calculations.

Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) is a credential given to accountants who possess a considerable level of knowledge in valuation and the professional standards that surround it. Both partners of Dunham & O’Keefe hold this credential. It is granted through the administration and successful passing of a two-part exam and by obtaining relevant work experience. Generally, individuals carrying the ABV designation are CPAs who specialize in calculating the value of a business through various modes of analysis. The requirements are rigorous but help to strengthen the quality of the designation and signal to employers a professional’s commitment to the field of valuation.