Cryptocurrency (Crypto) - Digital Currency Expert Witnesses: 7

Dr. Pavithra Kumar has over 16 years of experience in Economic Consulting and specializes in the application of economic and financial theory to questions arising in business disputes, securities / derivatives, transfer pricing and corporate finance litigation. She has expertise in damages quantification spanning a variety of contexts and industries, business valuation (including startups and companies across several niche industries), securities and structured finance litigation. Dr. Kumar is proficient in the use of sophisticated statistical modeling and econometric techniques, including event studies, analysis of options, swaps and other complex structured products.

Litigation Support - Dr. Kumar has been engaged several times as a testifying expert in securities, valuation and damages-related matters, and as consulting expert in a wider range of litigation including tax and transfer pricing, financial antitrust, statistical sampling and wage and hour-related suits. She has issued expert reports and participated in several intensive expert witness testimony training courses (including one-on-one deposition and trial coaching).

Areas of Expertise:

Dr. Kumar’s work has contributed to several high-profile wins, including a multibillion-dollar hotel acquisition dispute in which she led teams supporting academic experts in their assessments of the post-transaction performance of the acquired hotels and the resultant decline in value. In other matters, she has led teams in the preparation of economic, financial, and statistical analyses through all stages of the litigation process.

In previous consulting roles, Dr. Kumar led cross-office teams in cases spanning securities class action, transfer pricing, M&A and business valuation-related matters, damages estimation in a variety of contexts, including trademark infringement, securities class actions and private equity disputes, and ERISA suits. She has supported industry experts in fields including sports and entertainment and fiduciary process, and academic experts in areas including corporate governance, assessment of inter-company transactions, class certification and market efficiency, securities lending, banking and solvency.

Dr. Richard D. Bateson: Expert in Quantitative Finance, AI, and Complex Financial Markets

Dr. Richard D. Bateson is a preeminent authority on quantitative finance, artificial intelligence (AI), and systematic trading. With a unique career spanning senior hedge fund leadership and a foundational doctorate in Physics from Cambridge, he provides expert witness testimony on technically complex financial disputes.

Core Expert Specialisms:

• AI & Systematic Trading: Proprietary technology, strategy development, and performance of algorithmic and machine learning systems. Dr. Bateson provides forensic analysis of proprietary algorithms and source code to compare and evaluate investment strategies.
• Hedge Fund & Investment Management: Governance, trading practices, valuation, and institutional standards of care.
• Financial Derivatives & Structured Products: Pricing, risk management, and market practice across asset classes.
• Complex Market Misconduct: Analysis of practices in algorithmic trading, alternative data usage, and market manipulation. 

Expert Witness Experience:

Instructed as an expert since 2017 on landmark UK and US cases, including:

• Bridgewater Associates v. Tekmerion (proprietary technology misappropriation).
• The UK's first major AI/machine learning case (The Lawyer's Top 20 Cases of 2020).
• Further instructions on hedge fund IP, valuation, and shareholder disputes.

Professional Background:

Founder & CEO of Bateson Asset Management (FCA-regulated AIFM). Former Head of the $5bn AHL Dimension fund (Man Group), Managing Director at RBC, and CEO of $2bn hedge fund MGIM. Holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Cambridge University.
 
Publications & Authority:

Author of "Quantitative Hedge Funds" (World Scientific, 2022) and the best-selling textbook "Financial Derivative Investments" (Imperial College Press, 2011). Also authored over 25 peer-reviewed papers in top physics journals during his prior research career.

Dr. Bateson is currently preparing an updated edition of "Quantitative Hedge Funds" and is under commission to author a new book on bonds and bond markets, further extending his published authority in finance. 

J. Mason Bump is a Cryptocurrency Fraud and Blockchain Architecture Expert. An early adopter of decentralized technologies, he has extensive business acumen and deep knowledge of blockchain technology, tokenomics, and public policy. He holds a JD and MBA along with multiple certifications on protocols and cryptocurrency digital fraud / forensic investigation.

Mason achieved success as a general practitioner with exposure to entity structuring and formation, contract drafting, land disputes, litigation, trial, and appellate work. In his appellate.practiced his arguments were heard and accepted by the Iowa Supreme Court.  

More recently, Mason's been employed by a blockchain startup as a Protocol Specialist and Governance Expert (previously Protocol Analyst), where he provides high-level insight into the architecture, the mechanics and economics of tokenomics, and parameters of dozens of blockchain networks the company supports. This company maintains its status as a "Unicorn" staking firm with a valuation in excess of $1 billion. Blockchain Expert Consulting is a separate entity from this company.

Litigation Support - Mason is a Certified Cryptocurrency Forensic Investigator, and Certified by the Blockchain Council as both a Blockchain and Law Professional and as a Certified Blockchain Expert. In his role as an expert witness, he assists with the development of litigation and trial strategy regardless of the stage of the case. His  communication style allows for simple, fact-based explanations for the team, opposing counsel,  judges, and juries.

Areas of Expertise:

"In the landmark case of Hoop v. Doe,  the Chief Judge of the US District Court for the Southern District of Iowa approved alternate service of process on the defendants' wallet address using an NFT. The Court found that service provided in this manner was "reasonably calculated to reach" the defendants since all other methods of providing service were inadequate. This resulted in the Court entering a permanent injunction against disposition of the assets at issue, freezing them at the exchange level and preventing them from being disposed of on any exchange that performs KYC on its customers. It is my hope that many more such cases will be brought, and justice will become more prevalent on the blockchain." - J. Mason Bump

View Blockchain Expert Consulting's Business Profile.

Mitch Jackson is a master communicator, lawyer and private mediator with over three decades of experience in the private sector. He's personally tried more than 70 trials and has a consistent track record of obtaining and negotiating numerous million-dollar verdicts and settlements, Mitch brings a massive amount of expertise to every case and matter he handles. He's served as a Judge Pro Tem with the Orange County Superior Court and fees mediator with the Orange County Bar Association.

Mitch’s accolades speak volumes: he’s an “AV” rated lawyer, the highest independent peer honor for ability and ethics by Martindale-Hubbell. He’s also been named California Litigation Lawyer of the Year in 2013 and Orange County Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2009.

When he's not in the courtroom or successfully mediating a resolution to a dispute, Mitch is on the move—traveling, speaking at conferences, and sharing insights through his blog and books. He’s written and co-written several notable works, including:

"AI in Law- Revolutionizing Your Legal Practice with Innovative Strategies and Tools" (click to read)

"Mastering The Art of Negotiation- Insider Secrets for Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, and Professionals"

"The Mediator's Handbook: Turning Conflict into Collaboration"

"From Courtroom to Boardroom: A Trial Lawyer's Guide to Winning Negotiations!"

"How to Create AI, Web3, and Metaverse Branding and Licensing Opportunities"

"The Web3, Metaverse, and AI Handbook"

"From AI to Blockchain: 14 Technology Trends Every Lawyer Must Know!"

"The Ultimate Guide to Social Media for Business Owners, Professionals, and Entrepreneurs"

Mitch’s influence extends beyond the legal field. He’s twice graced the stage at the Tony Robbins Business Mastery Event, captivating audiences of thousands. As a consulting expert in Sue Scheff’s "Shame Nation" and a contributing author to California’s Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) in "Effective Introduction of Evidence in California - Chapter 54 Electronic and Social Media Evidence," Mitch is a sought-after thought leader.

Stay connected with Mitch on Linkedin and explore more of his work at his blog mitchjackson.com

Braden M. Perry specializes in complex Financial Regulation, Enforcement, and Compliance Matters involving Commodities, Futures, Derivatives, and Securities. He is skilled in distilling highly technical and complex subject matter into clear, logical, and accessible analysis for fact finders, regulators, and courts. He excels at explaining financial and regulatory frameworks, tracing monetary flows, and articulating institutional practices in ways that are both understandable and persuasive.

Litigation Support - Mr. Perry works with attorneys, law firms, and regulatory professionals seeking a knowledgeable and credible expert in financial regulation, enforcement, and compliance. Ideal clients are those involved in complex litigation, arbitration, or investigations requiring clear, fact-based analysis of commodities, futures, derivatives, securities, or emerging technology issues. He particularly enjoys collaborating with counsel who value strategic insight, responsiveness, and the ability to translate highly technical matters into persuasive, understandable evidence for fact finders.

Mr. Perry brings a unique perspective as a former CFTC trial attorney and Chief Compliance Officer of a global financial institution, bridging regulatory enforcement, institutional compliance, and litigation strategy.

Areas of Expertise:

• CFTC, SEC, FINRA, NFA, CFPB, FTC Investigations
• Standards of Care for Broker - Dealers
• CTAs
• FCMs
• Internal and Regulatory Compliance Programs
• Nationally recognized for work in Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, AI, and Cybersecurity

View Braden M. Perry's Consulting Profile.

“We settled the case...for $5 million. Your report played a huge role in that.  Thank you for everything!”  Nick H. 

Beth A. Mohr, CFE, FSA, CFCS, CAMS, CCCI, MPA, PI, is a Police Practices expert with over 30 years of sworn and non-sworn investigative experience.  Ms. Mohr has testified as an expert in numerous state and federal court proceedings, depositions, and administrative hearings in federal and state courts, including New Mexico, Ohio, Illinois, Arizona, California, and Washington State.  Ms. Mohr has testified on a variety of subjects, including police procedures, police misconduct, white-collar crime, and fraud examinations.  Her expertise has been verified by the courts via a Daubert challenge, in which Ms. Mohr was found to be qualified as an expert in police practices generally, and well as the specific areas of interviewing, interrogation, false and recanted confessions, cognitive bias, investigations and investigative failures, vice, and human trafficking.  Ms. Mohr is neutral, fair, and her opinions are rooted in provable facts, as well as academic literature, where appropriate.  She strives to balance her cases between defense and plaintiff-sided cases, and also provides habeas consulting services.  

Ms. Mohr is credentialed as a Nationally Certified Law Enforcement Instructor by the IADLEST, and is one of fewer than 150 individuals who have been nationally certified as an expert law enforcement instructor.  She is a Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Force Science Analyst (FSA) Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Financial Crimes Specialist (CFCS) and a Certified Cyber Crimes Investigator (CCCI).  She is also a Private Investigator (PI) licensed in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California.  

Areas of Expertise:

• Police Practices and allegation of Police Misconduct
• Excessive Force, Deadly Force & Use-of-Force
• Taser, ECWs, and other uses of force intended to be less-lethal
• Interviewing, Interrogations & False and Recanted Confessions
• Police Ethics & Ethical Failures
• Cognitive Bias, Confirmation Bias
• Investigative Failures
• False Arrest
• Failure to Train, Failure to Supervise, Monell Claims
• Evidence Handling
• Police Policy, SOPs
• Habeas Consulting, including death penalty cases
• Vice & Human Trafficking
• Sexual Assault
• Fraud & White-Collar Cases
• Retaliation & Qui Tam
• Workplace Violence & Sexual Harassment
• Private Investigations & PI Failures

During her career with the San Diego Police Department, Ms. Mohr was awarded three Commanding Officer’s Citations, which were the highest awards offered by the San Diego Police Department for investigative acumen at the time.  After retiring from the San Diego Police Department, she conducted death penalty mitigation investigations and other complex felony investigations, including homicide and white-collar cases, for the Whatcom County, Washington, Public Defender’s Office.  This includes conducting investigations of allegations of police misconduct for the City of Albuquerque Independent Review Office. Ms. Mohr recently chaired the City of Albuquerque’s Police Oversight Board, a civilian board that was created as part of the US Department of Justice’s Consent Decree with the City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Police Department.

Ms. Mohr has published a chapter entitled “Skepticism”, in the newly-released book The Art of Investigation Revisited, as well as having penned articles for bar journals and other peer-reviewed publications.  Ms. Mohr has taught courses on law enforcement topics, including interviewing techniques, investigative ethics, evidence collection, financial and fraud investigations, and many other topics. Her ethics courses, investigative courses, and fraud courses are certified for law enforcement credit.

Max Holmes has over 40 years of experience in Finance as a portfolio manager, research analyst, board member, lawyer, NYU Professor and expert witness.

Mr. Homes has been an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the Stern Graduate School of Business at New York University, teaching “Bankruptcy and Reorganization” since 1993.  He has been the Chief Investment Officer / Lead Portfolio Manager for two large hedge funds ($2.7 billion and $5.4 billion of peak AUM) as well as an insurance company portfolio and a mutual fund portfolio.

 The funds invested in credit, capital structure arbitrage, distressed debt, rescue finance, direct lending, specialty finance, event stocks and special situations securities, including long and short positions. The funds invested across the capital structure: bank debt, DIP loans, second lien debt, secured and unsecured bonds, floating rate and fixed rate notes, trade claims, preferred stock, common stock, put and call options and credit default swaps (CDS). Investments were in a variety of businesses, public and private, including startups, venture capital, infrastructure, leveraged buyouts, private equity, turnarounds, restructurings, bankruptcies and liquidations. Direct lending was conducted through a Business Development Company (BDC) ($1 billion assets under management). Mr. Holmes has analyzing thousands of companies and investment opportunities over his career.

Areas of Expertise:

Mr. Holmes has been the Chair and CEO of a life, health and annuity insurer and reinsurer and has been an independent director of a large bitcoin mining company. He worked in investment banking, research, trading and capital markets at Drexel Burnham Lambert, Salomon Brothers, NatWest Markets and Royal Bank of Canada. Since 2015, Max Holmes has been a Senior Advisor to American Industrial Partners LLC, a private equity firm with $16 billion of AUM.