SEDA Experts Expands its Global Custody Expert Witness Practice

New York, NY, April 11, 2023 – SEDA Experts LLC, a leading expert witness firm providing world-class financial expert witness services, announced today that Robert Almanas joined the firm as Managing Director and Expert Witness.

“We are delighted to welcome Robert to SEDA Experts,” said Peter Selman, Managing Partner of SEDA Experts. “His experience as an expert witness in transaction banking, custody and various post-trade functions is highly additive to our clients.”

In a 35-year career in financial services, Robert Almanas has held a variety of management positions in firms representing the various transaction banking and post-trade functions associated with cross-border financial activity:  global custody, correspondent banking, contract administration, asset management administration, local market custody, and market infrastructure.

In his most recent role Mr. Almanas was a Managing Director at SIX SIS AG (“SIS”) in Zurich, Switzerland. SIS operates as the post-trade securities services component of the Swiss market infrastructure.  He was responsible for network management and the international custody business, which had a client base of Swiss banks, foreign banks located predominantly in the European Union, investment banks, and prime brokers.

Prior to joining SIS, Mr. Almanas was employed by State Street Bank and Trust. He was responsible for non-U.S. operations which included securities processing, network management, subcustodian compliance, local U.K. custody, and market information. Mr. Almanas served as a Managing Director for Harvard Management Company from 1989 to 1995. He was responsible for developing a middle and back office for international investment portfolios for Harvard Management. He served as Vice President for Global Custody Product Management at Irving Trust from 1987 to 1989 and was tasked with creating an independent Global Custody product for the bank. He began his career in 1981 with Citibank where he was part of the initial team that established the Global Custody product being offered by Citibank from the United States. Robert has been quoted in industry publications including the Global Custodian, FinOps, Best Execution, and Banking Technology.  He has published articles on Collateral Management, T2S, Operating Efficiency, and Risk Management.  He was named a Global Custody Legend by Global Custody Magazine in 2013 – an honor given to men and women who have distinguished themselves in the post-trade industry. He has also participated in and held thought leadership roles in industry associations, most notably the Association of Global Custodians (“AGC”) and the International Securities Services Association (“ISSA”).

About SEDA Experts LLC

SEDA is a leading expert witness firm specializing in financial services. We support international law firms by offering the highest level of expertise across the financial industry and providing access to the most influential financial services industry leaders. We provide superior independent advice, data analytics, valuation, and elite expert reports and testimony services to law firms, regulators, and leading financial institutions.

Tags: Contract Administration, Global Custody, Local Market Custody, Asset Management Administration, Correspondent Banking, Market Infrastructure