SEDA Digest: Looking Back at 2025, Silver’s Strategic Moment, SEDA Expert Supports Settlement in Major Australian Bank Bond Case, and New Asset & Portfolio Management Experts

SEDA Experts
4 days ago
4 min read

December 2025

Welcome to the monthly digest from SEDA Experts — your premier source for elite expert witnesses specializing in financial services. Below, you’ll find a message from leadership, exclusive insights from our firm leaders, the latest news on our experts, and introductions to the newest additions to our ever growing roster of accomplished practitioners.

Looking Back at 2025: A Year of Growth and Collaboration

We are pleased to take this moment to reflect on a year defined by meaningful progress, strengthened relationships, and continued collaboration with our clients and colleagues. Your trust has guided our growth, shaped our priorities, and inspired us to consistently elevate the quality of our work.

This year marked a significant milestone with our expansion into the Australian expert witness market, reinforcing our global reach and our commitment to supporting clients involved in complex, cross-border matters. Our presence in Australia offers clients direct access to a highly diverse team with deep expertise across the financial sector, enhancing the support we provide both locally and around the world.

We were proud to welcome an exceptional group of experts whose leadership and insights further strengthen our capabilities in Asset Management, High-Yield and Distressed Credit, Bankruptcy and Restructuring, and Risk Management. Their contributions ensure that our clients continue to receive the specialized knowledge and analytical depth required in a rapidly evolving environment.

In alignment with our mission, we also launched our International Tax, Accounting and Transactions Practice, broadening our premier expertise into cross-border taxation, complex M&A matters, and financial reporting. This expansion highlights our dedication to guiding clients through the intricate financial and regulatory challenges that accompany global operations.

Our ongoing involvement in key industry events, including New York Arbitration Week 2025, the Public Interest Law Center’s Annual Celebration, and the ALM New York Legal Awards, provided valuable opportunities to engage with the broader legal and business communities we proudly serve.

None of these achievements would have been possible without our remarkable team. Their talent, commitment and professionalism remain at the core of our success. Every case, client engagement and milestone reflects their hard work and passion.

As we prepare for the year ahead, we remain deeply committed to being a trusted partner, delivering expertise, integrity and thoughtful guidance in every engagement. We look forward to new opportunities, continued collaboration and shared accomplishments.

We extend our warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

From the Managing Partners,

Damiano Colnago, Peter Selman and Sergio C. Godinho

INSIGHTS

Silver’s Time Has Come

With nearly two decades of experience in gold-mining equity research and investment strategy, Trey Reik gives an update on silver markets and examines the factors now coming together to push silver into a new phase of growth.

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CASE UPDATES

SEDA Capital Markets Expert Supports Settlement in the Prosecution of a Major Australian Bank Around Government Bond Issuance

SEDA Expert Mark McKendry was retained to provide expert opinion on managing large interest-rate risk positions in a high-profile Australian banking case.

Learn more

EXPERTS IN THE NEWS

Gary DeWaal, speaking on the 50 Cent Dollar podcast, discussed his career in derivatives, his experience in crypto markets, and the evolution of predictive markets.

Dr. Willem H. Buiter, in his article for Project Syndicate titled "Is Bessent Right About the Fed?", discussed monetary-policy missteps by major central banks and the importance of preserving central-bank independence.

Kathryn Porter, took part in the Wind Debate session at The Spectator Energy Summit, which brought together voices from industry, politics, and the media to discuss energy independence, costs, and policy alignment.

Craig Coben, in one of his latest Financial Times columns, examined the finance world’s fixation on “the Number,” exploring how insecurity, volatility, and lifestyle inflation shape the illusion of financial security.

Dawn Stump testified before the House Agriculture Committee on the importance of reauthorizing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, highlighting its role in overseeing U.S. derivatives markets.

Avinash Persaud, speaking at COP30 on behalf of the IDB, outlined new initiatives to scale development and resilience financing, including ReInvest+, Colabora Capital, EcoInvest, and the expanded Amazonia Forever program.

Mitchell Gordon spoke at New York Arbitration Week 2025, joining the panel “The experts’ expert approach” to discuss effective strategies for engaging, briefing, and collaborating with experts.

NEW HIRES

SEDA continues to expand its Asset Management and Portfolio Management practice. We are excited to introduce:

Ankur Keswani, former Head of Corporate Credit at Serengeti Asset Management, is a seasoned credit investor and portfolio manager with over twenty years of experience in high yield and distressed credit, special situations, bankruptcy and restructurings, and post-reorganization equity investing.

Andrew Connell is a seasoned expert in asset management, strategic advice for investors, outcome-based investment strategies, as well as UK pensions and the investment industry. He has three decades of experience spanning accounting, investment management, and institutional consulting.

George Lucaci is an expert in asset-gathering across the fund management industry including alternative investments. He presently serves as Global Head of Distribution for FolioBeyond having previously held leadership roles in the hedge fund and private equity industry after a long career in investment banking.

Fred Brettschneider is a securitized products and asset-backed finance executive with over 30 years of experience at leading banks and asset managers. He brings deep expertise in fixed income and securitized instruments, having led global ABS trading, syndicate, and equity/debt markets functions at major financial institutions.