Richard F. Bero
CPA/ABV, CVA, CLP, CFF
The BERO Group

Rick Bero, is the founder and managing director of The BERO Group. He is the chair of their intellectual property practice and co-chair of the commercial litigation practice. Rick is a certified Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a certified valuation analyst (CAV). He received his BBA in Accounting and Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Rick provides accounting and financial consulting services and expert testimony pertaining to economic damages and valuation issues in a wide range of litigation matters with an emphasis on intellectual property and commercial litigation matters. Rick's experience spans more than 34 years and he has testified as an expert more than 160 times in trials, depositions, arbitrations, and other hearings. He has testified in federal courts across the country and has been named an expert in approximately 30 states.

Rick's experience spans a wide array of commercial litigation and bankruptcy matters. His commercial litigation experience includes breach of contract, tortious interference, fraud, false advertising, dealership disputes, lender liability, and other matters.

Rick's intellectual property valuation and damages qualification experience include utility and design patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade dress, and trade secrets. Rick has served as an expert in intellectual property litigations concerning a wide range of technologies including pharmaceutical, electronics, medical imaging, medical devices, construction and heavy equipment, automotive, consumer products, and many others.

The BERO Group was formerly part of Corporate Financial Advidsors LLC. A firm Rick co-founded in 1995. Prior to co-founding Corporate Financial Advisors LLC, Rick was the Wisconsin practice leader for Cooper's and Lybrand's National Litigation and Claims Service practice and an executive consultant with Peterson Consulting in Chicago and Milwaukee.


Rick has presented, instructed, and written articles on topics including intangible assets, intellectual property damages, working with experts, and various accounting issues. Rick wrote a chapter on patent infringement damages in The Comprehensive Guide to Lost Profits Damages for Experts and Attorneys and is the lead instructor of the intellectual property damages course for the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts and he is a former instructor for an international CPA review course.

Rick has been active in community affairs and in numerous professional organizations, including:

• Intellectual Property Owners Association (Damages Committee Member, 2004 – Present)
• National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (Intellectual Property Damages Instructor, 2005 – Present)
• Licensing Executive Society (co-chair of the Wisconsin chapter, 2006 – 2008)
• Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants (Board Member, 2000 – 2002)
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
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