Douglas Wilson Companies Spring 2018 Newsletter

WHITE-COLLAR CRIME THRIVES ON A FROTHY ECONOMY
Problem Resolution & Fiduciary Services
Scams & frauds tend to flourish
during good times. Returns
flow in nicely, camouflaged by
overall economic prosperity,
soaring markets & record real
estate values. Red flags may go
unnoticed until it’s too late.
Since 1990, DWC has
untangled a number of frauds
and Ponzi schemes in its
White Collar Crime
Prosecutions
11,500
8,625
5,750
2,875
role as a court-appointed
Receiver. These crimes don’t
just hurt individuals, families
and businesses, but cause
great harm to the wealth and
resources of the nation.
As today’s frothy economy
starts to inevitably abate, DWC
is gearing up for an uptick in the
discovery of white-collar crime.
0 -1
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
*Shaded areas indicate recession
3%
2
1
0
Leading Index for the U.S.
Large-scale financial fraud
in health care is of particular
concern, with Medicare and
Medicaid malfeasance in
the crosshairs of federal
prosecutors. Likewise, we see
criminal justice resources
focusing on opioid fraud and
abuse detection.
Also emerging as a threat to
the integrity of the country’s
financial system is the illegal
manipulation of securities
markets. Some of the most
damaging cases involve a
scheme called “spoofing”: the
illegal practice of placing an
order for a futures contract
that the trader does not intend
to execute.
RECENTLY, THE DEPT.
OF JUSTICE CHARGED
EIGHT INDIVIDUAL FOR
MANIPULATING FUTURES
MARKETS AND BROUGHT THE
LARGEST FUTURES MARKET
CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT
ACTION IN HISTORY.
Earlier this year in San Diego,
Deputy Attorney General Rod
Rosenstein addressed the
American Bar Association’s
National Institute on White
Collar Crime who spoke on
such issues. DWC was honored
to attend as newly inducted
members of the National
Association of Federal Equity
Receivers (NAFER).
CONNECTING
DWC Team on the Move
FOCUS ON EXPANDING OUR ADVISORY SERVICES PLATFORM
Real Estate Advisory Services
DWC CEO Douglas P. Wilson
and President John L. Morrell
have been formally inducted
into the National Association
of Federal Equity Receivers
(NAFER), an elite organization
for receivers and legal counsel
dealing with remedies for
white-collar crime that are
subject to federal jurisdiction.
DWC Chief Operating Officer
Nicholas Wilson has been
appointed as a director of the
California Receivers Forum,
Los Angeles/Orange County
chapter.
DWC Senior Managing Director
Michele Vives was showcased
as one of the Most Influential
Female Professionals in
San Diego County by The
Daily Transcript, San Diego’s
weekday newspaper focused
on business and real estate
news since 1882.
With DWC’s long heritage
working on complex real
estate matters on a national
basis, the current focus to
expand our advisory services
platform is a natural evolution
for the firm. Our clients have
varied over the years and
have included family offices,
REITs, private foundations,
banks, special servicers and
private equity firms. Upon
historic review, we have found
that the following three areas
are at the center of most
assignments.
ENTITLEMENTS
The ability to navigate
the increasingly complex
process of securing and/or
preserving entitlements is the
foundation of any real estate
project. Great value is created
(especially in California) when
entitlements are approved
which is typically a long
process that combines the
ability to manage a process
that often involves a dozen
different city, county and
federal agencies. Additionally,
local planning groups are
often a key part of the
process as their support
helps on all levels from
staff support to political
endorsement.
MANY LOOK TO DWC AND OUR
INDUSTRY LEADING TEAM OF
EXPERTS TO PROVIDE VALUE
TO THEIR PROJECTS.
ENVIRONMENTAL
There are few projects that
do not have some form of
environmental issue. This
is particularly relevant on
urban properties that are in
the path of new development.
Our extensive experience
with coordinating the proper
professionals to evaluate
an environmental situation
and devise and monitor the
appropriate remediation plan
continues to be an active part
of our advisory services.
NAVIGATING AGENCIES
An active part of the majority
of our assignments has been
the ability to coordinate the
variety of governmental
agencies that are often
involved in our assignments.
Understanding how to deal
with the various agencies
requires the ability to respect
their process but to remain
focused on achieving the
desired end result.
For additional information
on DWC’s Advisory Services,
please contact Douglas Wilson
at (619) 641-1141 or
dwilson@douglaswilson.com.
SPRING 2018 | DOUGLAS WILSON COMPANIES