UK
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Forensic services
When financial disputes arise, expert analysis from experienced forensic accounting professionals can make all the difference to the result.
Whether you are a lawyer handling complex valuations during divorce, a business leader investigating internal fraud, a solicitor calculating personal injury losses or you run a company embroiled in a commercial dispute, we have the specialist expertise to support you.
How we can help you
From supporting long-established business ventures to lawyers working on behalf of individuals, our forensic accounting solutions cover a broad mix of UK and overseas clients.
Fraud and financial crime
Tailored investigations, forensic data collection and asset tracing can all help you respond to suspected fraud and get back what you’ve lost.
Commercial disputes and dispute resolution
Handle contract breaches, international arbitrations and professional negligence claims with confidence. Our services extend all the way to intellectual property and partnership disputes, plus business and share valuations.
Valuations in commercial disputes
Build your case in a commercial dispute with in-depth assessments of share capital, assets and potential damages. Whether valuing a business or assessing the impact of misstatements in financial statements, we can support you.
Private client disputes
We work closely with family lawyers, contentious trust lawyers and or probate lawyers on issues that arise in private client disputes, providing expert accountancy reports on behalf of claimants, defendants, or as a single joint expert.
Forensic technology and e-disclosure
Our digital forensic services can overcome e-disclosure challenges in legal cases, ensure evidence matches regulatory requirements and provide expert witnesses.
Why choose us for your forensic services?
Specialist expertise and a track record
You’ll benefit from the support of a knowledgeable, highly qualified team of forensic services experts with extensive experience of providing evidence in complex, high-value commercial disputes both in the UK and internationally.
The team includes accountants, valuation specialists, technology experts, fraud investigators and former police officers. It has carried out more than 200 investigations, spanning cases from false accounting, procurement fraud and theft to allegations of impropriety and treasury fraud.
Our highest-level partners and directors are always happy to get involved in the detail of cases.
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Global reach
As a founding member of CLA Global Limited, we can offer you an international service. CLA Global is a market-leading, mid-market international accounting network of independent firms serving clients in more than 100 countries, focusing on privately-owned international businesses and their owners.
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Fewer conflicts of interest
While we are a leading UK accountancy firm with a strong track record in key forensic services, the structure of our organisation results in fewer conflicts of interest than many of our competitors.
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Joined up, agile working
With an agile approach, our team can assist with cases of all sizes from large-scale corporate fraud to supporting lawyers with personal injury losses. And whether yours is a big or small case, we’ll use an end-to-end approach, guiding you from one step to the next and ensuring that no issue falls through the cracks.
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Assistance that won’t break the bank
We understand the need to control the costs of forensic services. Our approach is proportionate and flexible, allowing us to meet your needs without cost constraints. Our competitive rates keep forensic accounting affordable across the UK.
Get in touch
Please get in touch today to discuss your specific needs and find out more about our forensic services.
Frequently asked questions
What is forensic accounting?
Forensic accounting is a specialist accountancy field that focuses on dispute resolution, financial investigations and litigation support. Forensic accountants are expert accountants working on contentious matters that are likely to lead to legal proceedings. They analyse complex financial data to spot irregularities, assess losses and provide expert evidence and advice.
Many forensic accountants are also fraud investigators, supporting businesses to recover from instances of fraud.
How does digital forensics work?
Digital forensics works by identifying and analysing electronic data. When formatted correctly, this data can then be used to support legal cases in a court of law.
What is a forensic audit?
Forensic auditing is a specialist service offered by experienced accountancy practices. A forensic audit examines the records of a company or individual to identify evidence that could support a legal case. It may bring to light financial statement fraud, conflicts of interest or other suspected corruption.
Why would I need a forensic accountant?
Forensic accountants typically assist with historical events linked to a dispute or allegation of wrongdoing. Their forensic services can cover things like fraud, remedial accounting and asset valuations or lost earnings, for example in contractual disputes or divorce cases.
How can forensic accountancy help me?
Forensic accountants can provide a wide variety of services, such as:
- Preliminary case evaluation
- Provision of an independent expert report for use in court
- Assistance with complex financial disclosure requirements
- Quantifying various scenarios or issues for mediation
- Valuing a business, asset or shareholding under contentious circumstances
- Reviewing a business for fraudulent activity
- Quantifying lost earnings
- Performing wide-ranging analysis of financial data, such as asset tracing and account restatement
Who do forensic accountants work with?
Forensic accountants support a wide range of clients in the UK and overseas. Some examples include:
- People and entities in a shareholder dispute
- People and entities suing another party for damages, for example for a breach of contract or warranty
- People and entities involved with or accused of fraud, or impacted by the Proceeds of Crime Act
- People and entities involved in or impacted by a professional negligence dispute
- Individuals in a divorce proceeding who require an independent valuation of assets
- People, entities and councils involved in a compulsory purchase order
When should a forensic accountant review my case?
Forensic accountants can be engaged at any time, from a preliminary review to advice on potential outcomes to when a case is well established.
Earlier engagement will allow the forensic accountant to provide more input into case management, for example, helping with understanding the merits of the claim with you and your solicitors, drafting of pleadings, disclosure requirements and quantum issues.
What is an expert witness?
An expert witness provides an independent expert opinion within their area of expertise to assist a court in relation to disputed matters. An expert witness cannot act as an advocate. Their evidence on matters within their expertise is given more weight than evidence provided by witnesses that are a party to the proceedings.
What should I do if I suspect financial statements have been misstated due to fraud or error?
It’s a good idea to contact a forensic accountant if you believe financial statements have been misstated. Depending on the nature of your concerns, a forensic accountant can:
- Perform investigations to identify whether fraud and/or error has caused a misstatement
- Perform reviews of your financial statements to determine whether they were prepared in accordance with the relevant accounting standards, for example IFRS and UK GAAP
- Assist in considering whether there is a basis for an auditor negligence claim
- Assist in determining restatements required in the financial statements