Certified Financial Forensics

Richard L. Bufkin – Attorney, CPA , MBA, CFF

For more than 30 years, Dallas business lawyer, Dick Bufkin, has provided legal representation primarily in financially oriented matters.  This representation includes business litigation and arbitration, as well as divorce cases in which one or more financial issues are paramount (e.g. valuation and division of closely held businesses, personal goodwill, etc.).  During recent years, trial work in the bankruptcy courts as well as “business deals gone bad” have predominated his docket.

Most cases come to him, directly or indirectly, because of his business law experience and the knowledge and skills gained as a certified public accountant.  This specialized knowledge and skill has proven instrumental in his grasp of the financial issues and his handling of them during the course of the litigation.

Dick also continues to regularly handle business formation and transactional work as well as tax and non-tax estate planning.

New AICPA Certification and Consulting/Testifying Expert Emphasis

In May 2008, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) authorized the creation of a new CPA specialty credential in forensic accounting. This new credential, Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), encompasses fundamental and specialized forensic accounting skills that CPA’s apply in a variety of areas, including:

  • bankruptcy and insolvency
  • computer forensics
  • economic damages
  • family law
  • financial statement misrepresentation
  • valuations

The AICPA has recently awarded Dick with this new and prestigious credential.  The primary reason for Dick’s qualification is that these are the very types of cases that have been his main focus over the last 20 years.

Dick is one of very few lawyers anywhere to hold this designation and is one of only about 245 Texas CPAs to hold the credential.

In addition to continuing his historic financially oriented practice, Dick has been called upon more and more frequently to serve as a consulting expert and/or testifying expert witness.  His 20 + years as a trial lawyer uniquely equips him to be an valuable member of other lawyers’ trial teams.  His experience as a trial lawyer is also invaluable in equipping him to give persuasive and understandable financial testimony.

Accordingly, Dick would be extremely interested in discussing with other lawyers what expert role he might play for them in the damage and other financial aspects of their cases.