IN IRENE'S WAKE,

YOUR FIRST PRIORITY is to get the business up and running and recover what's been lost. But you may find yourself on unfamiliar ground — not knowing where or how to file claims, maneuvering your way through bureaucracies, and facing delays you cannot afford.

Berdon specialists can help you cut through the process smoothly and quickly. With our expertise in hurricane relief, experience with the major insurance carriers, and thorough knowledge of the intricacies of claims filing, we can expedite your way to recovery.

WHY BERDON?

Leveraging Katrina Experience:  With roots in the South, we were deeply involved in guiding businesses and individuals through the claims filing process in the devastating wake of Hurricane Katrina. Unlike many firms in the Northeast, we come to the aftermath of Irene already knowing the ropes and shortcuts.

Broad Perspective — Taking In Both Sides:  We’ve worked for both claimants and insurance carriers and are thoroughly familiar with the points each side can raise — circumventing delays and potential roadblocks.

Speeding The Claim:  We’re experienced with all the major carriers and their different documentation requirements; and can find ways to process your claims quickly. Eliminating time-eating guesswork, we know what documents each carrier wants, how to file the claim, and where to obtain records you may not have access to.

Getting All You’re Entitled To:  With our firsthand knowledge of the many forms, rules, and available relief, we can alert you to claim opportunities you may not be aware of, helping you get the maximum return.

Expert Negotiators:  Working with claims adjusters for decades, we speak their language, understand their expectations, manage the give and take, and know what’s essential to making a strong case for your claim.

Preventing Claims Backfire:  A filed claim can be used as evidence in a court of law. We carefully scrutinize your claim prior to submission to highlight gray areas and suggest revisions to help protect your position.

Guiding You Through A Potential Minefield

As your advocates, here are just some of the ways we smooth your way ahead.

Filing Under The Right Policies:  Misfiled claims get swiftly denied. We review your general commercial policy and your flood policy to make sure you file under the correct one.

Establishing Your Credibility:  Any claim filing will be subject to challenges. We develop a compelling methodology for establishing business interruption losses and extra expenses — eliminating gray areas that trigger questions. And, as a third party and CPA firm, our analysis and corresponding claim presentation carry additional weight with insurance companies.

Determining Your Period Of Restoration:  Just how long will it take to get back to where you were and at what cost? This is often the subject of fierce debate. From analyzing direct physical damage to what it will take to rebuild, restore, and replace, we establish a reasonable period of time and support our arguments in negotiations.

Recreating What Was Lost:  Lost and damaged records are your responsibility. Berdon specialists reassemble the accounting and tax records necessary to present an accurate financial picture of your circumstances prior to your loss.

Finding An Appraiser:  Drawing from our network of contacts, we find an appraiser with subject matter experience relating to your business sector and particular issues.

Meeting Unique Policy Requirements:  Many businesses operate on a cash accounting basis while some policies require reporting on an accrual basis. As accountants, we help you meet these policy requirements — either working with your carrier to accept your cash accounting or converting to the accrual method.

Team Leader | Joseph B. Nelson, CPA, CFE, CFF, FCPA, CVA is a Berdon partner and head of the Insurance Claims Filing Team. His deep expertise encompasses damage calculations, lost profit and wage analyses, and forensic and fraud investigations. He consults on claims involving property loss, business interruption, and casualty and theft. In his 30+ year litigation career, Mr. Nelson has worked with prominent national and international law firms and insurance companies, representing clients across a diverse spectrum of sectors that include real estate, healthcare, intellectual property, and manufacturing.

BERDON LITIGATION AND BUSINESS VALUATION GROUP

We cut to the essence of what you need in a matter and know how to deliver it — leveraging our decades of experience working with individuals, businesses, and side-by-side with attorneys across the litigation arena. You have access to the layers of expertise that come from working closely with many of the nation’s most prominent law firms; multinational businesses; and the SEC, U.S. attorney’s office, and other government agencies. Our nationally recognized authorities, who have helped set the standards for the accounting profession, bring original thinking and well-reasoned insights to each matter.

ABOUT BERDON

Keeping to the highest standards and professionalism in everything we do — these have been the cornerstones of Berdon since our founding in 1917 and why we’re consistently ranked among the nation’s leading CPA and advisory firms. With our more than 400 professionals and staff, clients can access a comprehensive array of accounting, tax, financial, and management advisory services.

To learn more, contact Thalia Zetlin at tzetlin@berdonllp.com or 212.699.6708.

This communication is for general information purposes only. It is not intended as professional advice in connection with any specific circumstances. Any actions based on the content of this communication should only be undertaken after consulting your professional advisor.

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