FTI Consulting Appoints Intellectual Property Damages Expert Shelly Irvine as a Senior Managing Director

Rhea-AI Summary

FTI Consulting (NYSE: FCN) appointed Shelly Irvine as Senior Managing Director in Dispute Advisory Services, Forensic and Litigation Consulting, effective Feb 3, 2026. Ms. Irvine brings nearly three decades of IP damages and expert‑witness experience across the US, Asia, UK and Europe, focusing on life sciences, telecom, software, clean energy and SEPs.

She rejoins from Ocean Tomo (part of J.S. Held) where she was Managing Director in Intellectual Property Disputes; she previously spent nearly two decades at FTI Consulting.

Positive

• Adds nearly 30 years of IP damages and expert‑witness experience
• Strengthens global IP litigation and SEP advisory capabilities across multiple industries

Negative

• None.

Market Reality Check

Price: $171.53 Vol: Volume 210,482 is close t...

normal vol

$171.53 Last Close

Volume Volume 210,482 is close to the 20-day average of 218,072, indicating typical trading activity ahead of this news. normal

Technical Price at 176.81 is trading above the 200-day MA of 166.34, reflecting a pre-existing upward trend.

Peers on Argus

FCN was up 1.23% with mixed peer moves: HURN, ICFI and CRAI showed gains, while ...

FCN was up 1.23% with mixed peer moves: HURN, ICFI and CRAI showed gains, while BAH and DGNX declined. The momentum scanner did not flag a coordinated sector move, suggesting this appointment headline was more company-specific than part of a broad consulting-sector rotation.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 21 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 21	Partnership designation	Positive	+1.6%	FTI Technology named first IAB Authorized Assessor for data privacy diligence.
Jan 20	Senior hire	Positive	-0.0%	Senior managing director added to lead economic consulting in Mexico City.
Jan 18	Senior hire	Positive	-0.0%	Private equity expert appointed senior managing director in Business Transformation.
Jan 13	Senior hire	Positive	-0.7%	Cybersecurity expert joined as senior managing director in Forensic and Litigation.
Jan 12	Senior hires	Positive	+0.7%	Two senior hires to expand transactions and activism communications capabilities.

Pattern Detected

Recent management and partnership announcements often led to modest, mixed price reactions, with both small gains and small declines following largely positive strategic news.

Recent Company History

Over the past months, FTI Consulting has frequently highlighted strategic hires and partnerships, including senior additions in cybersecurity, private equity, and economic consulting, plus the IAB Authorized Assessor designation. These events, dated between Jan 12–21, 2026, produced modest price moves ranging from slight gains to small declines. Today’s senior managing director appointment in IP damages fits this pattern of expanding specialized expertise across practices and geographies.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement adds an experienced IP damages expert as Senior Managing Director within FTI Consu...

Analysis

This announcement adds an experienced IP damages expert as Senior Managing Director within FTI Consulting’s Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment. It follows several recent senior hires and partnership initiatives during January 2026, reinforcing a strategy of deepening specialized advisory capabilities. Investors may watch how this bolsters cross-border dispute, licensing and IP strategy mandates, alongside broader trends from recent regulatory filings and ongoing capital return programs highlighted in earlier disclosures.

Key Terms

intellectual property, standard essential patents, arbitration proceedings

3 terms

intellectual property legal

"has nearly three decades of experience supporting clients with intellectual property"

Intellectual property are legal rights that protect creations of the mind—such as inventions, brand names, designs, software, or secret formulas—giving the owner control over who can use, copy or sell them. For investors, IP is like owning a blueprint or recipe: it can generate steady income through exclusive sales or licensing, boost a company’s competitive edge and valuation, and also create costs or risks if rights must be defended or challenged in court.

standard essential patents legal

"Global issues such as those related to Standard Essential Patents (“SEPs”) are a focus"

Standard essential patents are patents that cover technology deemed necessary to implement an industry technical standard — for example, the building blocks any device must use to follow the agreed rules for wireless communication. They matter to investors because owners of these patents can earn predictable licensing fees or face large legal and regulatory exposure; control or disputes over such patents can materially change a company’s revenue, costs and competitive position.

arbitration proceedings legal

"provided testimony in federal and state court and in arbitration proceedings on cases"

Arbitration proceedings are a private legal process where disputing parties present their case to one or more neutral arbitrators who act like a referee and issue a usually binding decision instead of going to court. For investors this matters because arbitration outcomes can require companies to pay damages, change business terms or face operational limits, affecting cash flow, risk exposure and the timing or tone of public disclosures.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the appointment of Shelly Irvine as a Senior Managing Director in the Dispute Advisory Services practice within the firm’s Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment.

Ms. Irvine, who is based in San Francisco, has nearly three decades of experience supporting clients with intellectual property (“IP”) matters. She has worked with clients across the United States, Asia, UK and continental Europe, both in a litigation support and testifying role as well as consulting on strategic IP issues, with a focus on life sciences, telecom, software and cloud computing, clean energy, and manufacturing.

Ms. Irvine has provided testimony in federal and state court and in arbitration proceedings on cases related to damages for patent, copyright and trademark infringement and trade secrets misappropriation. She brings decades of hands-on experience advising clients on a wide range of IP issues including valuation, licensing and IP strategy to her role as an expert witness. Global issues such as those related to Standard Essential Patents (“SEPs”) are a focus of her practice.

“We’ve seen the protection of IP become increasingly complex as businesses and transactions continue to expand across borders, wading into new regulatory territory,” said Ken Rugeti, Leader of the Dispute Advisory Services practice at FTI Consulting. “Shelly brings a global perspective that will help our clients navigate the evolving international standards for IP litigation and protection.”

Ms. Irvine rejoins FTI Consulting from Ocean Tomo, a part of J.S. Held serving as an advisory firm specializing in IP and intangible assets. While there, she served as a Managing Director in the Intellectual Property Disputes practice. Previously in her career, she spent nearly two decades at FTI Consulting, supporting clients with their IP needs.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Irvine said, “The extent of expertise and the span of capabilities at FTI Consulting, combined with a collaborative and connected culture, enables our firm to provide exceptional, cross-border value to our clients. I am thrilled to rejoin my colleagues as we guide organizations through their most complex challenges and opportunities.”

About FTI Consulting 
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a leading global expert firm for organizations facing crisis and transformation, with more than 8,100 employees located in 32 countries and territories as of September 30, 2025. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consulting’s services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalized and independently managed. The Company generated $3.70 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2024. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com. 

FTI Consulting, Inc.  
555 12^th Street NW  
Washington, DC 20004  
+1.202.312.9100 

Investor Contact:  
Mollie Hawkes 
+1.617.747.1791 
mollie.hawkes@fticonsulting.com 

Media Contact:  
Sam Ford 
+1.617.480.7402 
samantha.ford@fticonsulting.com

FAQ

Who is Shelly Irvine and what role did she take at FTI Consulting (FCN) on Feb 3, 2026?

Shelly Irvine was appointed Senior Managing Director in Dispute Advisory Services at FTI Consulting. According to the company, she will lead IP damages and expert‑witness work, leveraging nearly three decades of experience across litigation, arbitration, valuation and licensing in multiple global jurisdictions.

What expertise does Shelly Irvine bring to FTI Consulting (FCN) for intellectual property matters?

She brings nearly thirty years of IP damages, valuation, licensing and expert‑witness experience. According to the company, her practice covers patent, copyright, trademark, trade secrets, SEPs and cross‑border IP issues across life sciences, telecom, software and clean energy sectors.

Where was Shelly Irvine based and which regions has she worked in before joining FTI Consulting (FCN)?

Ms. Irvine is based in San Francisco and has worked across the US, Asia, the UK and continental Europe. According to the company, her experience includes litigation support, testifying roles and strategic IP consulting in multiple jurisdictions.

What was Shelly Irvine’s prior position before rejoining FTI Consulting (FCN)?

She served as Managing Director in the Intellectual Property Disputes practice at Ocean Tomo, part of J.S. Held. According to the company, she rejoined FTI after nearly two decades earlier service with the firm.

How might Shelly Irvine’s appointment affect FTI Consulting’s (FCN) dispute advisory capabilities?

Her appointment is likely to deepen IP damages and expert‑witness capacity within dispute advisory services. According to the company, her global perspective and SEP focus will support cross‑border litigation, valuation and licensing engagements for clients.