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Options Expert Witnesses

Options disputes arise wherever the pricing, trading, or disclosure of options contracts becomes contested between market participants, brokers, or issuers. Litigation frequently involves claims that an options position was improperly valued, mispriced, or executed in violation of applicable exchange rules or brokerage obligations. Disputes between employers and employees over the valuation and vesting of employee stock options can also generate significant commercial litigation, particularly in the context of compensation disputes or business transactions. Securities regulation and disclosure questions, including whether options-related risks were adequately disclosed to investors, frequently underlie claims brought by regulators or private litigants. At the center of most matters is whether an options position, valuation, or disclosure was handled consistent with accepted financial and regulatory standards.

An options expert helps counsel evaluate whether an options transaction, valuation, or disclosure met accepted financial and regulatory standards. In trading and brokerage disputes, experts can assess whether an options position was executed and priced consistent with market practice and applicable exchange rules. In compensation and employee stock option disputes, experts can apply recognized valuation methodologies to determine the fair value of an options grant at a given point in time. In securities disclosure matters, experts can address whether options-related risks were adequately explained to investors under applicable standards. This analysis gives litigators the financial grounding needed to argue valuation, execution, and disclosure questions credibly.

Because options expertise spans derivatives pricing, securities regulation, and compensation valuation, matching an expert's specific financial background to the case is essential. The options professionals Round Table Group can provide have worked as finance executives, securities professionals, risk managers, and financial mathematics academics, with experience spanning derivatives pricing, program trading, and securities regulation, and several have testified on matters involving options valuation and disclosure. We've completed more than 75,000 expert searches for litigators, and we apply that experience to match counsel with an options expert whose specific financial background fits the case. Let us help you find the right options expert for your case by calling us at (202) 908-4500.

Kinds of Cases We Work On

Round Table Group helps our clients find a wide variety of Options expert witnesses for cases like:

01

Market Maker's Quote Obligation Breach Disputed.

An options exchange sued a designated market maker after the firm's quoting algorithm widened its bid-ask spreads far beyond the exchange's continuous-quoting obligation during a volatile trading session, allegedly harming liquidity for a large share of listed contracts. We identified experts with experience in options market making, exchange quoting obligations, and algorithmic trading compliance. The algorithm defaulted to a fail-safe spread that violated the minimum quoting standard for roughly a third of the trading day, supporting a settlement with a multi-month enhanced monitoring period.
02

Stock Option Valuation Firm Faces Negligence Claim.

A private technology company sued the valuation firm it had retained to perform its annual 409A stock option valuation after an acquirer's due diligence team found the valuation had materially understated the fair market value of the underlying shares. We identified experts with experience in 409A valuation methodology, private company equity valuation, and marketability discount analysis. The firm had applied a marketability discount nearly twice the size supported by comparable transactions, anchoring the malpractice claim and a settlement covering the resulting employee tax exposure.
03

Land Option Timing Sparks Lawsuit.

A regional developer sued a landowner after the landowner refused to honor a purchase option on a large parcel, arguing the developer's exercise notice had been delivered after the option period lapsed. We identified experts with experience in real estate option contract interpretation, notice provision analysis, and course-of-dealing review. The parties had consistently treated postmark date as controlling under a similar clause in two prior amendments, supporting the developer's reading and a trial win.
04

Options Margin Calculation Dispute Hits Prime Broker.

A hedge fund sued its prime broker after the broker's margin methodology triggered a forced liquidation of a substantial share of the fund's options positions during a single volatile trading week. We identified experts with experience in options margin methodology, volatility surface modeling, and prime brokerage agreement compliance. The broker had substituted a more conservative volatility surface than required without the contractually obligated notice, supporting an arbitration award covering part of the forced-liquidation losses.
05

Buy-Sell Option Valuation Splits JV Partners.

Two partners in a real estate joint venture ended up in arbitration after one partner exercised a buy-sell option and the parties could not agree on the appraised value that would set the buyout price. We identified experts with experience in real estate appraisal methodology, joint venture valuation provisions, and buy-sell option pricing analysis. One appraisal had improperly applied a portfolio-level discount to an asset the agreement required to be valued standalone, shifting the arbitration panel's award closer to the other partner's position.
06

Acquisition Deal Unravels Over Option Valuation.

An acquiring company brought a post-closing indemnification claim against a target company's former shareholders after discovering that outstanding employee stock options had been valued using stale volatility inputs in the merger consideration calculation. We identified experts with experience in Black-Scholes option pricing, merger consideration valuation, and volatility input analysis. The volatility figure used predated a significant company event, understating the options' fair value by a meaningful margin, supporting a settlement adjusting the purchase price.
07

Commodity Options Exercise Dispute Roils Energy Deal.

Two energy trading companies disputed whether a counterparty had properly exercised a natural gas price option embedded in a multi-year supply agreement, with the seller arguing the exercise notice failed to meet the contract's specific formatting requirements. We identified experts with experience in commodity options contract administration, natural gas trading practice, and exercise notice standards. The notice conveyed every substantive term required and matched the format the parties had used without objection in two prior cycles, supporting the buyer's position in mediation.
08

Retail Chain's Lease Renewal Option Challenged.

A national retail tenant sued its landlord after the landlord refused to honor a lease renewal option covering a substantial share of the tenant's store locations, claiming the tenant had fallen out of compliance with a co-tenancy condition attached to the option. We identified experts with experience in retail lease co-tenancy analysis, shopping center occupancy auditing, and lease option compliance. Occupancy had remained above the required threshold once temporarily vacant spaces under active lease commitments were properly counted, supporting summary judgment enforcing the renewal option.
09

NAV Error Sparks Valuation Dispute.

A fund administrator was sued by an asset manager after a mispricing of the fund's options positions caused the fund's net asset value to be overstated for several consecutive reporting periods, prompting investor redemption claims. We identified experts with experience in options mark-to-market pricing, fund administration valuation practice, and pricing vendor data validation. The administrator had continued using a stale pricing source for an illiquid option series after the vendor flagged it as unreliable, supporting a settlement covering most of the redemption losses.
10

Option Pool Dilution Dispute Hits Startup.

An institutional investor sued a startup's board after a later financing round expanded the company's option pool in a way the investor argued was structured specifically to dilute its ownership stake ahead of the round, contrary to prior agreements. We identified experts with experience in equity compensation pool sizing, cap table structuring, and venture financing dilution analysis. The pool expansion was roughly double what industry benchmarks would support for the company's headcount and hiring plan, supporting a mediated cap table adjustment.

Here are a few of our favorite Options Expert Witnesses:

Nebraska Commodities, Futures, Options Expert #818

I have 35 years of experience, and specialize in the field of price risk management with specific knowledge in the areas of commodities trading, agricultural economics and options strategies. I have published on such topics as hedging strategies, price probability analysis and market outlook.

 

Colorado Stocks, Bonds, Options Expert #8259

I have 31 years of experience, and specialize in the field of securities fraud with specific knowledge in the areas of investments, stock markets and securities laws. I have published on such topics as securities regulations, securities arbitration and investors rights. I have testified over 550 times on topics such as investments, portfolio management and stock brokers. It is said, that I have been the expert witness in more cases where the claimant was awarded punitive damages than any other expert.

 

California Investments, Options, Ethics Expert #9421

I have 20 years of experience in the field of investments, with specific knowledge of hedge funds, stock selection, and portfolio management and option investment strategies. I have published on such topics as option investment strategies, hedged investment strategies, and damages calculation methodologies. I have testified on damages due to portfolio losses, management of an options arbitrage portfolio and standards of care.

 

Illinois Options, Liquidity Provider Expert #14957

I have 27 years of experience, and specialize in the field of options trading with specific knowledge in the areas of portfolio management, electronic trading and put call hedging. I have published on such topics as asset class selection, option trading and stock market supply and demand.

 

New Jersey Options, Simulation, Fair Value Expert #20640

I have 11 years of experience and specialize in the field of finance, with specific knowledge of valuation, options pricing and financial markets. I have published on such topics as capital budgeting and discount rates, real options and market efficiency.

 

Your Case Deserves The Best Options Expert Witnesses

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The right expert witnesses and consulting experts can make your case. That’s why we have spent so many hours over the past quarter century making sure our clients have just the right expert team — whether one expert or many, early-stage advice or expert reports and testimony. Across over 50,000 expert search assignments, we have honed a unique, customized approach to identifying, analyzing and connecting with expert talent so you can focus on winning your case.

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Indiana Portfolio Management, Options Expert #31802

I have 15 years of experience and specialize in the field of financial economics, with specific knowledge of investments, portfolio management and derivatives. I have published on such topics as investments, interest rate swaps, and finance and economics education.

 

New York Investments, Securities, Options Expert #31861

I have 20 years of experience, and specialize in the field of securities regulation with specific knowledge in the areas of program trading, derivatives and equities. I have published on such topics as markets, numerous reports on trading violations and referred B/D for disciiplinary action. I was an expert and participant in developing procedures and criteria that became the cornerstone of ISG, Intermarket Surveillance Group’s collaboration and cooperative agreements. This breadth of knowledge serves me well as a FINRA Arbitrator.

 

Florida Trading, Futures, Options Expert #43991

I have 30 years of experience, and specialize in the field of finance with specific knowledge in the areas of trading, derivatives and risk management. I have published on such topics as intraday behavior of options and futures, risk managment and hedging and portfolio management. I have overcome the wide difference between academic research and practical importance with my research, publications, and teaching. I research interesting issues in trading and investment decision making and then communicate those results so that non-academics can understand them. I believe in applying ideas rather then developing theoretical models. Specific areas of recent work include…

 

Wisconsin Arbitration, Options, Bonds Expert #50094

I have 25 years of experience, and specialize in the field of securities arbitration and litigation with specific knowledge in the areas of stocks, bonds, futures, options and raiding, and churning, suitability and damage calculation. I have published on such topics as investment research. I have testified 99 times on topics such as suitability, churning, options and raiding of employees.

 

New York Risk Management, Options, Future Expert #50248

I have 11 years of experience, and specialize in the field of trading with specific knowledge in the areas of equities, options and back office operations.

 

New York Options, Futures & Securities Expert #50967

I have 28 years of experience and specialize in the field of financial markets with specific knowledge in the areas of options (puts & calls), futures and securities. I have published on such topics as writing call options on convertible preferred securities, collar strategies to hedge high dividend paying stocks and option strategies for mergers and acquisitions.

 

Illinois Options, Risk Management Expert #51147

I have 20 years of experience, and specialize in the field of mathematical finance with specific knowledge in the areas of derivatives, exotic options and structured products. I have published on such topics as value at risk, credit derivatives and option pricing. I have testified on liquidity. The amazing places that I’ve been to all around the world and the fantastic people I’ve met there.

 

Put Our Options Expert Network to Work for You

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Our huge network of experts – eminent university professors and practitioners who have achieved renown as thought leaders in their fields – combined with unparalleled research capabilities puts the experts you need at your disposal when and where you need them.

If you’re a litigator or general counsel, we want to put this network to work for you and your clients. Let us know how we can help by calling us at (202) 908-4500 or filling out the form on this page. We’re so confident you’ll love what we do that unless you retain an expert we present there’s no charge!

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Questions Attorneys Ask About Options Expert Witnesses:

An options expert becomes valuable when a case involves claims that an options position was improperly valued, mispriced, or executed in violation of exchange rules or brokerage obligations. These experts are also useful in compensation disputes over the valuation and vesting of employee stock options, and in securities disclosure matters involving options-related risk. Engaging an expert early helps counsel frame discovery around the specific pricing, execution, or disclosure question at issue.
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Spend your time working with your experts, not searching for them! We're here to de-stress the process of having a great expert witness team so that it’s easy to have the right experts every time. We'll conduct a quick but thorough search and deliver a roster of top candidates for you to review. There's no charge for the custom search — you pay only the hourly rate if you retain one of our experts.

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Options Workshops

A few of the courses and workshops led by our Options experts:

  • A Module in Investment & Options Analysis
  • What Are The Advantages of Using Real Options For Capital Budgeting?

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