Sharp, Rabinowitz take helm as co-leaders of Forensic, Advisory, Valuation Practice at Kaufman Rossin

Kaufman Rossin, the largest independent CPA and advisory firm in Florida and one of the top 100 firms in the U.S. announced principals Kara Stearns Sharp, CPA, CFF, CFE, CVA, and Adam Rabinowitz, CPA, CFF, CVA, CFE, as the new leaders of the firm’s forensic, advisory and valuation practice.

Long-time practice leader and principal Michael P. Elkin, CPA, CFF, ABV, CFE, will continue to serve firm clients, doubling down on litigation cases, as he shifts his focus to developing the next generation of testifying experts and continuing to expand the practice. Under his leadership, the litigation consulting department grew from five professionals to 45 dedicated team members to meet the needs of attorneys and clients seeking forensic and valuation services.

“It brings me great joy to usher in Kara and Adam as the next generation of leaders,” said Elkin. “This move provides the firm and our clients with strong practice leadership from two professional experts whose technical talents and client relationship DNA are balanced with innovative thinking and proven people-development skills,” said Elkin.

Sharp has more than 25 years of experience in the accounting industry. She specializes in investigative and forensic accounting, due diligence, and business advisory services. She provides attorneys with forensic and litigation support services, including lost profit analysis, forensic investigations, financial statement misstatement, discovery and other damage analysis. Sharp also advises clients on due diligence and offers post-acquisition assistance and consultations to remedy accounting issues. She has testified as an expert witness in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, and the Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County and Lee County, Florida.

Rabinowitz has more than 15 years of experience providing expert witness and litigation consulting services related to economic damages, business valuation, and fraud investigation. He supports attorneys by applying his expertise in analyzing and organizing complex data, crafting supportable economic damage models, and clearly communicating findings to the triers of fact. His work covers a comprehensive range of damage theories, including lost profits, diminished and lost business value and unjust enrichment, as applied to breach of contract, intellectual property infringement, fraud, corporate dissolution and dissenting shareholder related disputes.

“For 60 years, Kaufman Rossin has put our people first, which includes developing the next generation of leaders and creating opportunities for advancement for all employees,” said CEO Blain Heckaman, CPA. “This leadership transition is a great example of how our professionals can build their careers here, backed by guidance, support and resources to help them succeed as they grow within the firm. Congrats to Kara and Adam on achieving this milestone, and thank you to Mike for setting a stellar example of what it means to be a leader.”