SCLC is a nationally recognized and published expert in administrative and investment issues related to trusts and qualified retirement plans. SCLC Principals provide litigation support and serve as expert witness for attorneys representing plaintiffs and defendants concerning allegations of fiduciary breach. We consult on issues ranging from the prudence and suitability of investment strategies to the relation between ERISA regulations and the investment process. SCLC analyzes investment and administrative cost structures, evaluates fund and manager performance, and provides a measure of damages. We advise on the merits and liabilities of differing case presentation strategies and provide attorneys with insight into standards of practice in the financial services professions.
Attorneys use our special expertise to determine whether fiduciary practices satisfied applicable standards, under three distinct areas of inquiry:
- The legal and regulatory environment applicable to the investment process;
- Modern Portfolio Theory as it is defined and interpreted by the academic community; and,
- The structure, delivery, and performance of financial services and investment products.
SCLC’s strong academic footing permits us to speak knowledgably on the principles and procedures set forth in the Prudent Investor Act. The firm’s principals fill a variety of teaching positions and adjunct professorships at various institutions. SCLC has supported litigation in cases involving State Street, First Union [1], Smith Barney, Merrill Lynch, Bank One, California Federal Savings & Loan, New York Life [2], Frank Russell Co., Bank of Oklahoma, U.S. Trust, Prudential Insurance and Ameritas Life.