Firm Profile
The firm: BDO operates on a global basis. Working in collaboration with specialists throughout its international network, the firm has worked with international law firms and regulatory bodies and has been involved in some of the most high-profile regulatory investigations, professional negligence claims, fraud investigations and commercial disputes.
The firm’s service approach is straightforward: its partners are hands-on, leading assignments and being genuinely involved in all aspects of the firm’s work. The firm mobilises its technical experts to meet clients’ needs. It has a very detailed understanding of clients’ objectives and structures its work, communications and opinions to ensure these are met.
Types of work undertaken: BDO forensic services: the forensic services team at BDO is one of the most successful, experienced and innovative investigations and disputes advisory practices worldwide, commensurate with BDO being one of the largest global accountancy firms. It provides expertise and advice to a wide range of clients, from companies to professional services firms, regulators to governments and charities. Specialists from the BDO forensic services team have worked on some of the largest and highest profile matters around the world. It has a reputation for delivering exceptional client service. The UK team of nine partners and over 100 staff boasts leading experts and investigators who provide clients with specialist assistance in litigation and arbitration matters, financial investigations, contentious insolvency and forensic technology.
Litigation and arbitration: BDO’s expert witnesses have provided expert opinions on quantum and professional negligence in hundreds of cases throughout the world; supporting them is a team of specialists who combine forensic accounting, audit and industry experience. The team has considerable experience of providing evidence in court, to arbitration tribunals throughout the world and to regulatory tribunals, working closely with colleagues from across BDO’s international network to support clients on multi-jurisdictional disputes. The licensed experts understand the legal process and the issues in dispute and how to effectively explain the complexities of issues such as loss of profits, loss of value, wasted expenditure, contingent losses, loss of chance and professional negligence for the court or tribunal. BDO’s valuation specialists provide robust valuations for both contentious and non-contentious matters.
Investigations: BDO’s team of dedicated and highly skilled specialists conducts robust forensic investigations whatever the complexity of the issues or the industries involved. Whether it is investigating fraud, accounting ‘black holes’, regulatory breaches, employee misconduct or other financial crime, BDO builds multi-disciplinary teams tailored to the requirements of the assignment. Given BDO’s global reach, it has access to a network of experienced investigators that allows it to deal with cross-border investigations. The team regularly conducts large-scale, complex financial investigations for the UK’s leading law enforcement, prosecution and regulatory agencies, as well as major law firms, banks, international corporations and foreign governments.
Forensic technology: BDO has a dedicated and highly experienced forensic technology team with an approach and insight to overcome the most challenging difficulties in data identification and analysis. It is at the forefront of forensic investigation and review, with a wealth of knowledge and technological expertise to provide the appropriate technical solution and support to investigations.
The forensic technology team is able to evaluate and analyse issues, utilising proven methodologies, innovative and proprietary technologies and working with other skilled professionals across the globe in the areas of digital forensics and cyber investigations, e-discovery and data analytics.
Contentious insolvency: Combining the forces of BDO’s forensic team and its insolvency specialists, the contentious insolvency team operates as an integrated unit to investigate and pursue claims to maximise the recoveries for creditors. From major cross border insolvencies to local matters, cases range from initial freezing injunctions through to asset tracing and undervalue transactions. It has successfully made recoveries from every conceivable party including directors, customers, suppliers, auditors and other professional advisers, other group companies and foreign governments.
Member
- INSOL International
- International Bar Association
- IBA
Main Work Contacts
| Category | Contact |
|---|---|
| Litigation support and forensic Accounting | |
| Head of international advisory, risk and quality | Gervase MacGregor |
| Fraud Investigation | |
| Leeds | Adam Smith |
| Commercial Dispute Resolution | |
| Glasgow, Bristol, Midlands | Sat Plaha |
| Competition & Anti-Trust |