aea
Misty Decker
Ms. Decker is a Principal at AEA Group, LLC and manages its Nashville office. For over ten years, her work has focused on assisting clients and counsel with complex financial, accounting, and damages matters, including fraud investigations, forensic accounting and valuation consulting services. She is skilled in and has provided consulting services, including both disputes and investigations, with issues involving business valuations, lost profits, insolvency, contracts, fiduciary duties, risk management, employment, investments, and white collar crime. She has reconstructed accounting records, traced the flow of cash and conducted forensic investigation to determine the source and uses of funds as well as indications of fraud. She has performed profitability analyses for start-up ventures in a wide variety of industries. She has experience in performing fraud risk assessments and developing anti-fraud programs. Ms. Decker advices client with operations from local to global in scale, and she has led assignments heard in Federal and State court venues, arbitrations, and assisted with mediations and settlements.
Ms. Decker has also developed an expertise in intellectual property issues involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, trade dress and copyrights. She has widespread industry knowledge that includes experience in insurance, banking, software and manufacturing, along with a myriad of others.
Ms. Decker has also assisted attorneys in disputes beyond the computation of damages and valuation. She has supported clients by assisting in the preparation of
discovery requests, reviewing produced documents to ensure compliance with associated requests, reviewing and assessing licensing agreements, assisting with deposition preparation for key expert and fact witnesses, preparing demonstrative exhibits, and assisting with development of settlement positions.
Prior to joining the firm, she was the Controller of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, Tennessee. In this capacity she was responsible for internal and external audits, maintaining banking relationships, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, budgeting, investments and pension plans. She is also a former senior assurance staff member of Rhea & Ivy PLC, now Dixon Hughes Goodman, where she was responsible for engagements in various industries including hospitality, real estate, and manufacturing.
Professional Certifications
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Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
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Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV)
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Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)
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Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
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Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
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Certified Licensing Professional (CLP)
Professional & Business Affiliations
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Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
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Member, Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants
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Member, Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants
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Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
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Member, The American Health Lawyers Association
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Member, Turnaround Management Association - Tennessee Chapter
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Member, Licensing Executives Society
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Associate Member, American Bar Association
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Member, DRI
Education
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Masters of Taxation, University of Mississippi
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Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting, University of Central Arkansas
Community & Civic Affiliations
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2015-2016 Finance Manager, The Junior League of Nashville
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2015 Graduate, Young Leaders Council
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2015-2016 Intern, YWCA Nashville Board of Directors
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2015-2016 Accounting Career Education Committee, Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants
Seminars & Lectures
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Lecturer on Entire Market Value Rule – 2014 Tennessee Intellectual Property Law Association Fall Symposium
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IP Damages Panel – 2014 and 2015 Atlanta Bar Association Intellectual Property Spring Symposium
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Lecturer, “10 Mistakes to Avoid When Cross Examining Experts” – 2014 Joint TN and AL Defense Lawyers Association Annual Meeting
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Lecturer on Top 10 Things to Know about Fraud – 2012 Cumberland Law School Continuing Education Seminar & Construction Financial Management Association
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Lecturer, “High Profile Frauds Exposed: The Common Success Attributes of Big Money Fraudsters and What Led to their Demise”, 2010 Cumberland Law School Continuing Legal Education Series