Legal 500 Recognition
J.S. Held Recognized as Leader in Legal 500 Disputes Services, Securing Tier 1 Rankings
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Global consulting firm J.S. Held has earned top-tier rankings in the inaugural Legal 500 Disputes Services Guide, scoring Tier 1 status in two categories: Asset Tracing & Recovery (Global) and Forensic Accounting (US). The firm also received a Tier 2 ranking for Business Intelligence & Investigations (UK), according to PR Newswire.
The Legal 500 Disputes Services Guide is the first directory of its kind. It ranks non-law firm experts — such as forensic accountants and private investigators — who play key roles in major litigation. The rankings are based on independent research and direct client feedback.
Tier 1 Wins Put J.S. Held Among Elite Global Firms
Tier 1 is the highest possible ranking in any Legal 500 category. By earning it in both global asset tracing and US forensic accounting, J.S. Held places itself alongside legacy rivals like Nardello & Co. and FTI Consulting, according to Street Insider. The firm now operates from more than 80 offices worldwide and fields over 500 experts in its Financial Advisory division.
CEO Lee Spirer said the firm was built for the "most consequential moments — when facts must be established and financial exposure must hold up under the most rigorous scrutiny." Legal 500 editors noted that J.S. Held is "regularly instructed by financial institutions, government bodies, and high-profile individuals," citing its "deep experience in disputes-focused investigations" as the key reason for the top ranking, per PR Newswire.
A 50-Year Journey From Property Claims to Global Disputes
J.S. Held was founded in 1974 by Jonathon Held as a property damage consulting firm. The shift toward litigation support began in earnest in 2015, when the firm took its first outside investment. That opened the door to a string of acquisitions, including IPFC Corp. in November 2021 for intellectual property valuations, and CMM, LLP in April 2026 for crypto asset tracing and high-net-worth family law disputes, according to Newswire.
In September 2025, the firm appointed Stephanie Giammarco — a 25-year forensic accounting veteran — as Senior Executive Vice President to lead the disputes division. She said the rankings validate the firm's push toward "technology-enabled professional services," using AI and advanced data analytics to support expert witness testimony.
Crypto Fraud and Cross-Border Asset Recovery Drive Growth
The Tier 1 ranking in global asset tracing puts J.S. Held at the center of a fast-growing field. Courts and governments increasingly need experts to chase assets hidden in offshore accounts or on blockchain networks. JP Brennan, the firm's Global Head of Crypto Investigations, leads that work from New York. Peter Pender-Cudlip, a 20-year veteran of international investigations, runs sovereign and commercial asset tracing from London, per PR Newswire UK.
The April 2026 acquisition of CMM, LLP — just weeks before the rankings dropped — signals that J.S. Held is betting big on digital asset litigation. Analysts expect the firm's Tier 1 forensic accounting status to make it a first-call choice for SEC and DOJ-related monitorships, where independent, court-credible analysis is critical.
Boutique Rivals Still Lead in UK Investigations Market
J.S. Held's Tier 2 ranking in UK Business Intelligence & Investigations shows one area where the firm still trails. Boutique firms like Nardello & Co. and Raedas hold Tier 1 spots there. Smaller rivals argue their tight, senior-led teams offer more discreet service than a large generalist firm can, according to Street Insider.
Spirer pushed back on that view. He argued that "siloed expertise" is a liability in complex modern litigation. J.S. Held's model — handling everything from construction failure reviews to crypto recovery under one roof — gives legal counsel a single, defensible source of analysis. Whether that argument wins more UK mandates will be a key test for the firm in the year ahead.
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