Request Expert

Expert has over 10 years full time experience working as an expert witness specialising in forensic accounting and the quantification of disputes. Prior to that he spent 12 years as an insurance loss adjuster specialising in business interruption claims and he still advises on this type of loss on a regular basis. He has experience of a variety of industries and commercial sectors as part of an accountancy career of some 35 years and he has worked in several different parts of the world.

Expert trained as a Chartered Accountant in Scotland before moving overseas. He has since qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters, an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, an Accredited Mediator and is a member of the Expert Witness Institute.

As an expert witness and forensic accountant he investigates and advises on most civil and criminal cases that require quantification to assist the courts. The work ranges from evaluating the loss of earnings from accidents or contract problems through valuation of businesses to assist with succession planning or for divorce to employment problems and then on to fraud and asset recovery cases for the criminal courts.

Expert was recently employed by the BBC to assist with research in an investigative reporting case involving assets included in company accounts based on fraudulent valuation reports and he was quoted within the programme when broadcast. He has also written technical papers on aspects of forensic accountancy and insurance claims and lectured on them. The public speaking skills are complementary to his need to go into the witness box in court on a regular basis.

While Expert has worked abroad in the past his expert witness and mediation assignments have been restricted to all parts of the United Kingdom. In addition he has advised on business interruption insurance claims relating to events in other countries.

He has assisted in splitting up a family business because relatives could no longer work together. As part of that Expert had to value components of the business and find a way of separating components so that different groups ended up with their pro rata share of the assets and value. He was also able to do it in such a way that no one accused him of favouring either side so the compliance client relationships remained intact.An owner managed business had a major fire that threatened to disrupt the customer relationship. Expert helped the managing director remain focused on production and customer relations while he dealt with assembly of information and submissions to insurers that assisted cash flow by getting prompt payments on account. Jointly they were able to explore the options on how to reestablish production facilities and ensure that they were cost effective and successful. Expert used his practical experience of business interruption claims and of the evidence required to support the value of losses to advise on what information could be available to either support or disprove the size of claims on behalf of senior personal subject to accidents that force a change of seniority. Expert has used his experience of business interruption insurance claims and policies to advise on compliance with expected standards when setting levels of policy cover. This has extended to advising on compliance with the business standards set by the Financial Services Authority in so far as it relates to adequacy of business interruption insurance and client service. Expert has advised on the standard, extent and quality of work by other accountants and adjusters and by organisations regisrerd with the FSA. This has assisted in settlement negotiations in disputes.