About
Nicolas Barsalou is one of the founding partners of Accuracy. Before that, he was a Partner at Ernst & Young (ex Arthur Andersen), a firm he joined in 1998 after several years in two corporations, in which he acquired a broad range of financial and accounting skills.
With more than 30 years’ experience in corporate finance, Nicolas specialises in complex financial projects conducted in an international environment, whether in litigation or arbitration (including damage assessment and forensic accounting) as well as transaction advisory services (financial due diligence for mergers and acquisitions). He also performs valuation work on a regular basis.
With a truly international profile, Nicolas monitors a major part of Accuracy’s geographical expansion and has successfully led engagements on all continents.
Nicolas speaks French, English and Spanish.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree at HEC Paris (1989)
- DESCF (Master in accounting)
In-depth expertise
Nicolas Barsalou has significant experience in Construction, Telecom & Hi-Tech, Transport and Logistics, Manufacturing and Professional services. Furthermore, he leads Accuracy’s Real Estate practice.
Nicolas has been appointed many times as expert witness in high court litigations and international arbitrations, dealing with the investigation and quantification of damages resulting from post M&A, accounting, construction, investment, tax and commercial disputes. He has given oral evidence many times, both in English and French, in various jurisdictions. He is listed again in the 2019 Who’s Who Legal list of leading expert witnesses. WWL says: Nicolas Barsalou is described by commentators as “one of the best financial experts due to his precise analysis and cross-examination skills”.
Nicolas also performs transaction advisory services and valuations on a regular basis, mostly for large listed international corporations. He is Accuracy’s expert dedicated to complex accounting issues.
Example of engagements
Construction disputes
- SIAC – testified as expert witness – $330m – Railroad
Appointed to quantify the damages incurred in the construction of a metro - ICC London – testified as expert witness – $50m – Energy
Appointed to quantify the damages incurred because of significant overruns and delay in the construction of a Gas power plant - ICC Paris – testified as expert witness – €250m – Oil & Gas
Appointed in an international arbitration related to the financial consequences of delay and cost overruns in the construction of a major industrial facility, including lost production of the owner
Investment disputes
- ICSID – testified as expert witness – €300m – Real Estate
Appointed in a dispute related to the value of a real estate development contract in Turkey - ICSID – case pending – €40m – Renewable energy
Appointed in a dispute related to the financial consequences of a change in regulated tariffs in Spain
Post M&A disputes
- ICC Paris – testified as expert witness – €350m – Chemicals
Appointed in a post M&A dispute related to alleged fraud, deceit and misrepresentations - French courts – €200m – Manufacturing
Appointed in a post-M&A dispute related to alleged fraud, deceit and misrepresentations
Other disputes
- French courts – testified as expert witness – €300m – Real Estate
Appointed in a tax dispute related to the value of a real estate development company - US courts – over $1bn – Manufacturing
Appointed in order to assess the future cost of significant environmental damages