Family Law Business Valuation

Court-Ready Business Valuation Reports for Family Law and Divorce Matters

Andrew Firth has undertaken forensic accounting matters for more than 25 years and family law and court-appointed business valuations for more than 15 years. During this time, he has been involved in thousands of disputes and has given expert evidence in Court on approximately 27 occasions.

Having been exposed to a wide range of businesses, disputes, legal practitioners and valuation experts, Andrew’s approach has refined over time. He adopts a data-driven and evidence-based methodology, drawing upon extensive proprietary information sources, valuation databases, academic literature, case law and professional standards to ensure each valuation is technically sound, transparent and defensible.

We provide valuation evidence that assists parties, lawyers and the Court to resolve financial disputes efficiently and fairly.

Our Core Values

Transparency
Where possible, we provide an upfront fixed-price quotation for each valuation engagement, with clear scope and deliverables.

Independence
We carefully avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest. In Single Joint Expert engagements, we strictly comply with Family Law Rules and Court practice directions, ensuring independence and impartiality at all times.

Technical Rigour
Our valuations are grounded in recognised valuation methodologies and supported by reference to accounting standards, valuation standards, academic texts and relevant case law. Each opinion is reasoned, explained and evidence-based.

Single Joint Expert vs Shadow Expert
We accept appointment as Single Joint Expert in accordance with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Rules and, where applicable, the Family Court Rules (WA). Our overriding duty is to the Court. Reports are prepared independently, with transparent assumptions and clear reasoning, suitable for negotiation, mediation or court hearing.

We also act as shadow or adversarial valuation experts, providing independent review and critique of opposing valuation reports, testing methodology and assumptions, and preparing responsive expert evidence.

Who This Service Is For

Our family law business valuation services are designed for parties and practitioners who require clear, independent and court-ready valuation evidence in property settlement matters.

Family Lawyers

We work closely with family law practitioners requiring reliable valuation evidence for negotiation, mediation or contested hearings. We act as Single Joint Expert or shadow expert, and our reports are prepared in accordance with Court rules, APES 225 and International Valuation Standards.

Separating Parties

Where a business interest must be valued as part of a property settlement, we provide independent and impartial valuation reports suitable for use in negotiations or Court proceedings. We explain the valuation process in plain language and provide clear, reasoned conclusions to support informed settlement discussions.

Mediators and Arbitrators

We provide independent valuation evidence to assist mediators and arbitrators facilitating property settlements involving private companies, trusts, partnerships and related entities. Our reports are structured to clarify areas of agreement and isolate genuine valuation issues.

Typical Family Law Valuation Engagements

• Valuation of private companies, trusts, partnerships and other businesses (including the Identification and valuation of business goodwill)
• Review and critique of opposing valuation reports
• Preparation of expert evidence for Court
• Availability for expert conclaves and joint expert reports
• Attendance for cross-examination as expert witness
• Related forensic and quantification of loss / expert accounting services

In addition to family law valuations, we also undertake:

• Forensic accounting engagements
• Analysis of personal and business transactions
• Investigation of related-party loans and financial arrangements
• Tracing of financial transactions between bank accounts
• Forensic audit of business and personal expenditure
• Valuation of intellectual property (brands, trademarks, patents, websites, social media accounts and royalty income)
• Valuation of employee share options
• Forensic accounting in inheritance and estate disputes
• Expert reports in defamation and commercial proceedings
• Compulsory acquisition valuation assessments

Expert Witness Availability

Andrew Firth is available for cross-examination in family law, divorce and other proceedings. Expert witness attendance is typically charged on an hourly basis, with a minimum booking period and advance payment to secure Court availability. This includes preparation time, travel and attendance as an expert witness.

Compliance with Professional Standards and Court Rules

Depending on the nature of the engagement, our reports are prepared in accordance with:

• APES 215 – Forensic Accounting Services
• APES 225 – Valuation Services
• International Valuation Standards (IVS)
• Applicable Australian Accounting Standards
• Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2025
• Family Court Rules 2021 (Western Australia), where applicable

All reports are prepared with an overriding duty to the Court and in accordance with expert witness practice directions.

Andrew Firth – Expertise in Valuation and Forensic Accounting

Andrew began his career in 1998 with a Big 4 accounting firm in audit, before progressing into insolvency and forensic accounting. He later worked in forensic accounting and forensic data mining in the United Kingdom, including secondment to the UK Serious Fraud Office. After returning to Australia, he led large and complex forensic accounting and data analysis engagements before founding Rushmore Group in 2006.

He continues to focus on business valuation and forensic accounting engagements for family law, Court and commercial disputes throughout Australia.

Other Valuation Services

In addition to family law matters, we also provide:

• Business valuations for commercial, taxation and transaction purposes
• Valuations for restructuring and shareholder disputes
• Expert business valuations for commercial litigation
• Valuation of leasehold and trade-related property interests
• Valuation of intellectual property

Fixed Fee Valuation Pricing

Our business valuation reports are prepared per operating entity on a transparent basis:

• On a fixed price of $4,990 plus GST for internal, commercial & taxation purposes.
• On a fixed price of $7,990 plus GST for family law matters.
• From $13,990 plus GST for other Court matters.

If multiple entities are required to be valued, please contact us and we can prepare a bespoke quotation.

Further Information

If a business valuation is required for a family law, Court or other matter, please contact Rushmore Group to confirm:

• Availability
• Proposed scope of engagement
• Confirmation of cost and fee structure
• Expected timing (noting that most of our expert valuation engagements can be prepared in around 10 to 12 business days from receiving the source documentation)
• Nature and complexity of the matter

Contact Us

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 1800 454 622 or via email

or online enquiry: