An economic damages expert witness puts a defensible number on lost profits, lost earnings, and other financial harm in a dispute. The experts listed here cover forensic accounting and fraud examination, business valuation, economic damages and lost earnings, securities and financial-industry standards, federal and international tax, commercial real estate standard of care and valuation, utility rate economics, and the vocational and life-care-planning analysis that underpins personal-injury damages. Typical engagements include tracing funds, quantifying lost profits, valuing a closely held business in a shareholder or divorce matter, and projecting a plaintiff's lost earning capacity.
Rates cluster near the all-field figures. The Expert Institute's placement data reports economics at $323 per hour for review, $412 for deposition and $425 for trial, and appraisal and valuation at a flat $463 across all three phases. A 2026 compilation puts economic and financial experts at $425 for analysis and $525 for testimony, with forensic accountants in fraud matters at $500 to $700. The all-field average is $465 per hour (ExpertPages 2026). Vocational experts price lower, around $250 for review and $350 for testimony in the same compilation. Sources are in the 2026 fee guide.
Credentials to look for: CPA, CFE (certified fraud examiner), CFF, ABV or ASA for valuation, and Ph.D. economists for damages models.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do financial and economic damages experts testify on?
Financial expert witnesses put a defensible number on a dispute. The experts listed here cover forensic accounting and fraud examination, business valuation, economic damages and lost earnings, securities and financial-industry standards, federal and international tax, commercial real estate standard of care and valuation, utility rate economics, and the vocational and life-care-planning analysis that underpins personal-injury damages.
When should a litigator hire a financial or economic damages expert?
Typical engagements include tracing funds, quantifying lost profits, valuing a closely held business in a shareholder or divorce matter, and projecting a plaintiff's lost earning capacity.
Where is financial and economic damages fee data published?
Rates cluster near the all-field figures. The Expert Institute's placement data reports economics at $323 per hour for review, $412 for deposition and $425 for trial, and appraisal and valuation at a flat $463. A 2026 compilation puts economic and financial experts at $425 for analysis and $525 for testimony, with forensic accountants in fraud matters at $500 to $700. The all-field average is $465 per hour (ExpertPages 2026). Sources are in the 2026 fee guide.
What does an economic damages expert witness do?
An economic damages expert witness puts a defensible number on lost profits, lost earnings, and other financial harm. Engagements described on this page include quantifying lost profits, projecting a plaintiff's lost earning capacity, valuing a closely held business, and tracing funds.
How do lost profits differ from lost earnings?
This page lists them as different engagements. Quantifying lost profits sits with valuing a business. Projecting lost earnings is a plaintiff's lost earning capacity. An economic damages expert witness may be asked for either measure, or for both.
Where are economic damages expert witness fees and payment rules explained?
Hourly benchmarks for economics and valuation are summarized on this page, and the sources are in the 2026 fee guide. Who pays the expert, including deposition costs, is covered in who pays expert witness fees.