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Rates Expert Witnesses

Litigation involving rates arises across a wide range of commercial and regulatory contexts, from disputes over interest rate calculations in lending agreements to utility rate-setting proceedings and disagreements over insurance ratemaking and reserving practices. Financial institutions, utilities, insurers, and their counterparties frequently disagree over how a rate, fee, or pricing structure was calculated, disclosed, or applied under a governing contract, statute, or regulatory framework. Disputes also arise in securities and fixed income matters, where the valuation of interest rate derivatives or mortgage-backed securities depends on the rate assumptions used. At the center of these disputes is typically a question of methodology: whether the rate applied or disclosed was calculated correctly and consistently with the applicable legal, regulatory, or contractual standard.

Rates experts help attorneys evaluate these disputes by examining the financial models, regulatory filings, or contractual disclosures underlying a challenged rate, fee, or valuation, comparing the methodology used against accepted practices in banking, actuarial science, or utility rate design. Their analysis can determine whether a lender's interest calculations complied with truth-in-lending requirements, whether a utility's cost-of-service study supported its proposed rates, or whether an insurer's ratemaking and reserving practices met actuarial and regulatory standards. This work supports damages calculations in lending and securities disputes and can substantiate or rebut claims in utility rate proceedings, giving attorneys a technical foundation for both prosecuting and defending rate-related claims.

Rates disputes can turn on actuarial methodology, financial engineering, or utility rate design depending on the industry involved, which makes matching an expert's specific background to the dispute especially important. Round Table Group's rates network includes actuarial and insurance professionals experienced in reserving and ratemaking, financial engineers who have valued mortgage-backed securities and interest rate derivatives, and utility rate specialists with extensive testimony experience in cost-of-service studies and rate design across electric, water, and wastewater utilities. Round Table Group has completed more than 75,000 expert searches for litigators, and we apply that experience to connect counsel with rates experts whose methodology holds up under regulatory and judicial scrutiny. Let us help you find the right rates 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 Rates expert witnesses for cases like:

01

Wholesale Power Rate Dispute.

An independent power producer sued a utility over the calculation of the as-available energy rate under their long-term power purchase agreement, alleging the utility had applied an outdated avoided-cost methodology that understated payments over several years. We identified experts with experience in utility ratemaking, avoided-cost methodology, and power purchase agreement rate compliance. The expert's recalculation using the contractually specified methodology found a consistent underpayment pattern, supporting a substantial recovery.
02

Interest Rate Swap Termination Dispute.

A commercial borrower sued its lender over the termination value calculated for an interest rate swap tied to a credit facility, alleging the bank had used a valuation methodology inconsistent with the swap agreement's specified calculation method. We identified experts with experience in interest rate derivatives valuation, swap termination methodology, and financial markets analysis. The expert's independent valuation using the contractually specified methodology found the bank had overstated the termination amount, supporting a substantial settlement.
03

Reinsurance Treaty Pricing Dispute.

A ceding insurer sued its reinsurer, alleging the reinsurer had applied a premium rate calculation inconsistent with the pricing methodology specified in their excess-of-loss treaty, resulting in significant overcharges over several renewal cycles. We identified experts with experience in reinsurance pricing methodology, actuarial rate-making, and treaty rate compliance analysis. The expert's recalculation using the treaty's specified rating formula confirmed a consistent overcharge pattern, supporting a substantial recovery.
04

Interconnection Cost Allocation Dispute.

Two utilities sharing a jointly built transmission interconnection facility disputed how ongoing operating and maintenance costs should be allocated between them under their joint ownership agreement's rate-sharing formula. We identified experts with experience in utility rate design, transmission cost allocation methodology, and joint facility ownership agreements. The expert's cost-allocation analysis found one utility had been billing costs outside the categories permitted under the agreement, supporting a favorable arbitration award.
05

LIBOR Transition Rate Dispute.

A borrower sued its lender after the credit agreement's fallback rate provisions were applied following LIBOR's cessation, alleging the lender had selected a replacement benchmark and spread adjustment inconsistent with the agreement's fallback language. We identified experts with experience in benchmark interest rate transition, credit agreement rate mechanics, and financial markets practices. The expert's analysis of the fallback provisions and market-standard transition protocols found the lender's chosen spread adjustment departed from the agreement's specified methodology, supporting a favorable verdict at trial.
06

MGA Rate Filing Dispute.

An insurer sued its managing general agent after discovering the MGA had been binding policies at rates that deviated from the insurer's filed and approved rate manual, exposing the insurer to regulatory risk and underpriced exposure. We identified experts with experience in insurance rate filing compliance, actuarial rate-making standards, and managing general agent oversight practices. The expert's policy-level rate audit found a substantial share of bound policies priced below the filed rate manual, supporting a substantial settlement.
07

Special Contract Rate Compliance Dispute.

A large industrial customer sued its electric utility, alleging the utility had failed to honor a negotiated special contract rate tied to the customer's load factor commitments, instead billing under a higher standard tariff rate. We identified experts with experience in utility rate schedules, industrial load analysis, and special contract rate compliance. The expert's load-data review confirmed the customer had met its contractual load factor thresholds, supporting a substantial settlement.
08

Rate Hedge Failure Dispute.

An investment fund sued its bank over a floating-rate hedging strategy that failed to protect a large loan portfolio from a sharp rate increase, alleging the bank had recommended a hedge structure that was unsuitable for the portfolio's actual rate exposure. We identified experts with experience in interest rate risk management, hedge structuring analysis, and financial markets practices. The expert's review of the hedge's structure found a mismatch between the hedge's notional profile and the portfolio's actual amortization schedule, supporting a substantial settlement.
09

Workers' Compensation Experience Rating Dispute.

A large self-insured employer sued its third-party claims administrator, alleging incorrect historical loss data reported to the rating bureau had inflated its experience modification factor, resulting in years of inflated premium payments to its excess insurer. We identified experts with experience in workers' compensation actuarial rate-making, experience modification methodology, and insurance loss data auditing. The expert's recalculation using corrected loss data confirmed a materially lower modification factor, supporting a substantial recovery.
10

Prudency Disallowance Cost Recovery.

A utility sued the EPC contractor that built a major generating facility to recover costs a regulatory commission had disallowed from the utility's rate base after finding the project's cost overruns imprudent. We identified experts with experience in utility rate base and prudency review standards, power plant construction cost analysis, and regulatory ratemaking practices. The expert's review of the disallowance order and underlying cost records traced the imprudently incurred costs to contractor scheduling failures, supporting an indemnification recovery of over $40 million.

Here are a few of our favorite Rates Expert Witnesses:

Ohio Rates, Management, Pricing Expert #908

I have 42 years of experience, and specialize in the field of actuarial science and insurance with specific knowledge in the areas of reserving, ratemaking and general management. I have published on such topics as pricing, reserving and pricing deregulation. I have testified 10 times on topics such as pricing, reserving and regulation.

 

Minnesota Valuation, Analysis, Rates Expert #11569

I have 18 years of experience, and specialize in the field of financial engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of valuation of mortgage backed securities, interest rate derivatives and counterparty credit risk. I have published on such topics as valuation of interest rate derivatives, mortgage backed securities and counterparty credit risk.

 

Connecticut Fixed Income, Rates, Trading Expert #12952

I have 40 years of experience and specialize in the field of United States capital markets, with specific knowledge of fixed income securities, mortgage-backed securities and equities. I have published on such topics as United States capital markets, mortgage-backed securities and portfolio strategy. I have testified 15 times on topics such as fixed income securities, mark-ups and mark-downs and mortgage-backed.

 

Utah Loan, Truth in Lending, Rates Expert #15880

I have 30 years of experience, and specialize in the field of mortgage business with specific knowledge in the areas of mortgage law, lending and real estate transactions. I have testified on mortgage lending, interest calculations and federal mortgage laws. I started a mortgage company 30 years ago and have had the same business partner the entire time.

 

Pennsylvania Sustainable Development, Rates Expert #24736

I have 40 years of experience and specialize in the field of local economic development with specific knowledge in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy economics, Brownfield’s and urban redevelopment and public utility rates and regulations. I have published on such topics as Brownfield’s insurance and contaminated land financing, local economic development policy and the economics of criminal corrections. I have testified 25 times on topics such as utility rates and policies toward ratepayers, Brownfield redevelopment and the costs and benefits of local economic development proposals. I have done extensive comparative work on how business and government policies that…

 

Your Case Deserves The Best Rates 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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New York Valuation, Analysis, Rates Expert #27891

I have 18 years of experience, and specialize in the field of financial engineering with specific knowledge in the areas of valuation of mortgage backed securities, interest rate derivatives and counterparty credit risk. I have published on such topics as valuation of interest rate derivatives, mortgage backed securities and counterparty credit risk.

 

California Distribution, Sales, Rates Expert #38598

I have 28 years of experience, and specialize in the field of industrial real estate with specific knowledge in the areas of tenant representation, landlord representaton and understanding market trends.

 

Massachusetts Power, Rates, Economics, Finance Expert #46688

I have 40 years of experience, and specialize in the field of utility management, finance, engineering and rates with specific knowledge in the areas of utility rate design, cost of service, capital improvement plans, asset appraisals and feasibility and due diligence studies. I have published on such topics as utility rate design, cost of service studies, management and performance audits of utilities and both privatization and municipalization of utility systems. I have testified 99 times on topics such as utility rates and cost of service analysis, component and total revenue requirements and both the planning for and implementation of capital…

 

Pennsylvania Rates, Risk, Risk Management Expert #46803

I have 30 years of experience, and specialize in the field of insurance with specific knowledge in the areas of ratings, strategy and risk management. I have published on such topics as strategy, ratings and risk management. I have testified on ratings, financial strategy and competition.

 

Virginia Water, Rates, Planning, Finance Expert #48235

I have 40 years of experience, and specialize in the field of water and wastewater utilities with specific knowledge in the areas of rates and finance, efficiency and management. I have published on such topics as benchmarking, rates and finance and customer service. I have testified 10 times on topics such as rates and finance, regulatory compliance and benchmarking and efficiency. I have been a consultant to utilities with a served population of more than half of the United States.

 

Put Our Rates 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 Rates Expert Witnesses:

A rates expert becomes relevant once a case turns on how a rate, fee, or pricing methodology was calculated or applied — for example, in a lending or truth-in-lending dispute, a utility rate proceeding, or an insurance ratemaking or reserving disagreement. These disputes typically require someone who can evaluate the underlying financial or actuarial methodology rather than simply the outcome.
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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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