CFE is One of America’s Premier Lawyers

Jeffrey W. Brend, J.D., CFE, is a forensic divorce attorney who has been featured in Fortune magazine, Newsweek, and on the Sky Radio Network as one of America’s Premier Lawyers.

May 2013

ACFE Member Profile

Jeffrey W. Brend, J.D., CFE, is a forensic divorce attorney who has been featured in Fortune magazine, Newsweek, and on the Sky Radio Network as one of America’s Premier Lawyers. Brend, a CFE since 2003, is also a fellow (and president-elect) of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is affiliated with the American Society of Appraisers.

Brend has been qualified as a financial expert to value businesses and complete forensic financial investigations throughout the Chicagoland area. In addition, he is frequently appointed by the court to represent children in contested custody and visitation cases. He is past chair of the Matrimonial Law Committee for the Chicago Bar Association.

Testifying as an expert, Brend finds each of his certifications lends credibility to his knowledge and standing in court. He said that in divorce proceedings, where large sums of money and assets might be hidden, being a CFE is especially advantageous.

“It’s a great credential on the witness stand when you are tracking money,” Brend said. “Being a CFE gives you a credential that will separate you from other testifying experts.”

Brend said that the commitment to gaining knowledge should be a continuous journey. Having a full and current understanding of the law, for example, is critical to success in the profession.

“There are a lot of laws that come into play in fraud and forensic accounting that you might not have been fully aware of,” Brend said.

Brend has spoken nationally to the ACFE, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), as well as throughout Illinois. He has written numerous articles about business valuation, forensic accounting and child custody issues along with the textbook Accounting for Divorce. He is routinely appointed by the courts to represent children in complex custody and visitation cases.

A partner at Levin & Brend, PC in Chicago, Brend is also an adjunct professor at Chicago-Kent Law School, past chair of the Matrimonial Law Committee for the Chicago Bar Association and Founder of the Cook County Court Facilitation Program.