LLEG: http://laidlawenergy.com/Investors -
NEW 6/22/11 Laidlaw Energy engages Marcum, LLP as new auditor: http://www.marcumllp.com/
May 23, 2011 - Marcum LLP Recognized in National Ranking of SEC Audit Firms
Firm Added to ANR's Prestigious List of "Non-Big Four National Auditing Firms"
NEW YORK, May 23, 2011 -- Marcum LLP, one of the largest independent public accounting and advisory services firms in the nation, today announced that it has been added to the listing of "non-Big Four national auditing firms" by Accounting News Report's (ANR) Auditor Rankings, Marcum's first-ever addition to the prestigious national firm individual breakout group. ANR also publishes quarterly Auditor Change Rankings which evaluate the Big Four and the other seven national auditing firms based on their changes in auditing publicly-traded companies for the calendar year.
"The current era of increasing regulatory scrutiny has created an undeniable drive for auditor quality," said David Bukzin, Partner-in-Charge of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Assurance Practice at Marcum LLP. "Our inclusion by ANR among the nation's 'non-Big Four national auditing firms' is validation for what our clients have known all along: that Marcum's SEC assurance services are among the nation's best in terms of quality-of-service, efficiency, integrity and technical expertise."
The ranking is a direct reflection of the quality of Marcum's growing practice, the ninth largest SEC practice in the nation among the top 100 firms according to AuditAnalytics.com. During the first quarter 2011, Marcum won four new SEC client engagements.
"Marcum's inclusion among the top national auditing firms is a testament to the tremendous technical skill of our SEC practice as well as the dramatic growth taking place here at the firm," said Jeffrey M. Weiner, Managing Partner of Marcum LLP. "Within the past 36 months, we've executed on our strategic plan to grow from a regional firm to a national player. Today, we have one of the top ten largest SEC assurance practices in the U.S., which is aligned with our goal to be a true alternative to the Big Four."
Marcum's SEC assurance practice provides a variety of services to public companies, including:
* Annual Audits and Periodic Filing Requirements of theSecurities and Exchange Act of 1934
* Private Placement memorandums and offerings exempt fromregistration under Regulation D
* Quarterly Reviews in compliance withSAS100
* Mergers and acquisitions
* IPOs and Registration Statements of the Securities andExchange Act of 1933
* Reverse mergers and recapitalizations
* Investment Company Act of 1940Compliance
* Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs)
* Audit committee guidelines
* Going private transactions
* Tax planning and compliance
* Advising businesses on raising capital and securingfinancing
* International Tax and Transfer Pricing Advisory Services
* Internal audit function
* Systems Analysis and consulting
* Back office services
Marcum LLP is registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), complies with the quality control standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and adheres to a program that addresses independence, integrity, and objectivity; personnel management; acceptance and continuance of clients; engagement performance; and monitoring.
Marcum's review department serves as a technical resource for guidance with respect to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), SEC Compliance, and all other accounting and audit-related issues. Marcum is also reviewed tri-annually by a process called "Peer Review" to ensure it meets, adheres to, and is in compliance with the standards established by the SEC Practice Section of the AICPA.
In addition to performing audits on financial statements of its regular clients, Marcum performs specialty audits and offers a vast array of services to specialty industries.
The members of Marcum's SEC practice provide counsel on the complex rules associated with regulatory compliance and each receive ongoing education and training in SEC accounting and reporting issues.
ANR's Auditor Change Rankings are based on quarterly SEC auditor change data compiled by AuditAnalytics.com. Standings are determined by weighting net gains in market cap audited, net gains in revenue audited, net gains in assets audited, net SEC engagement wins, and net gains in audit fees. For the full ranking, visit http://accountingnewsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Q1-Audit-Rankings.pdf.
About Marcum LLP
Marcum LLP is one of the largest independent public accounting and advisory services firms in the nation. Ranked within the top 15 firms by Inside Public Accounting and Accounting Today, Marcum offers the resources of more than 1,100 professionals, including more than 150 partners, in 23 offices throughout New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Grand Cayman, China and Hong Kong. The Firm's presence runs deep with full service offices strategically located in major business markets. Marcum is a member of the Marcum Group, the gateway to a group of organizations that provide a variety of professional services including accounting and advisory, technology solutions, recruiting, and wealth management. These organizations include Marcum LLP; MarcumStonefield, a division of Marcum LLP; Marcum Technology LLC ; MarcumBuchanan Associates LLC; Marcum Search LLC; Marcum Financial Services LLC; Marcum Cronus Partners LLC; and Marcum Bernstein and Pinchuk LLP.
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