Yesim C. Richardson

Senior Vice President

Contact

  • Boston

Education

    • Boston University, Ph.D.
    • Boston University, M.A.
    • Bogaziçi University, Istanbul, B.A.

Yesim Richardson specializes in applying economic and financial analysis to complex litigation involving securities, financial institutions, valuation, and real estate. Dr. Richardson has worked with clients in a variety of financial sectors as well as other industries, such as energy, telecommunications, high technology, and pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Richardson is the former president of Cornerstone Research. She serves on the firm’s board of directors; is chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council; and formerly led the financial institutions practice. In 2024, Consulting Magazine recognized Dr. Richardson for excellence in leadership, as well as outstanding innovation and mentoring among women in the consulting profession. Lexology Direct (formerly Who‘s Who Legal) has recognized her as a leading commercial litigation practitioner.

Financial institutions

Dr. Richardson has addressed numerous issues involving financial institutions:

  • Analyzed the relationship between economic developments, regulatory environment, and company performance, as well as the foreseeability of economic developments
  • Evaluated due diligence responsibilities and the security issuance process for public offerings and private placements
  • Determined the impact of “but-for” financial restatements on debt ratings, borrowing costs, and security issuance
  • Estimated damages to investors from the alleged nondisclosure of practices with respect to investments in subprime-related securities, leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds, rebalancing of client portfolios, mutual fund market timing, and bid rigging
  • Investigated fund investment strategies, portfolio performance and fees, as well as shareholder investment and redemption behavior
Securities

Dr. Richardson has addressed market efficiency, loss causation, liability, and damages in Section 10b-5, Section 11, and ERISA cases. Her analysis has involved equity, debt, and derivative instruments; allegations of accounting misstatements, fraudulent earnings guidance, fraudulent business practices, and options backdating; and companies with multiple business segments and/or international operations, including those with securities traded on multiple exchanges.

Real estate

Dr. Richardson has analyzed complex securitized real estate instruments, such as mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations; assessed the financial and economic effects of changes in real estate markets; evaluated the financing options available to a real estate partnership for developing a shopping center; and analyzed the duties and actions of general and limited partners under real estate partnership agreements.

Valuation

Dr. Richardson has conducted valuation analyses of hedge funds, high-technology companies (including start-up ventures), international companies, and real estate ventures in a range of contexts, including breach of contract, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, technology licensing, and employee compensation.

Prior to joining Cornerstone Research, Dr. Richardson taught economics at Boston University and at Bilkent University in Turkey.

Press Release

Lexology Index: Commercial Litigation – Expert Witnesses 2024

Press Release

Cornerstone Research President Recognized for Excellence in Leadership

Article

Yesim Richardson Interview with Consulting Magazine

Press Release

Yesim Richardson Recognized among 50 Women to Watch by Corporate Counsel Business Journal

Press Release

Inc. Magazine Names Cornerstone Research to Best Workplaces List 2022

Blog

The Importance of Values-based Leadership During Challenging Times

Article

Toward a More Expansive View of Mentoring

Press Release

Cornerstone Research Names Yesim C. Richardson President

  • “Expert Disclosures, Depositions and the Expert’s Perspective,” Expert Witness 2018, Practising Law Institute (PLI), 12 June 2018
  • Antitrust and Regulation in Financial Markets: Navigating New Challenges, Cornerstone Research and the NYU Pollack Center for Law & Business, 19 May 2016
  • “Issue Spotting: Updates on the Substantive Legal Developments Affecting Financial Services Attorneys in 2015 and Beyond,” Women Leaders in Financial Services Industry Law, 15 June 2015