Our Services

Litigation Support

We have been specialising in forensic accounting for some fifteen years now. In that time we've prepared reports in hundreds of cases, attended many conferences with counsel, had numerous meetings with other expert accountants and given evidence in court on many occasions.

We get involved in all sorts of cases

• arbitration,
  


• personal injury,
  


• fatal accident,
  


• professional negligence,
  


• matrimonial,
  


• Drug Trafficking Act offences,
  


• business valuations,
  


• commercial disputes,
  


• fraud

In fact wherever solicitors, barristers or the court need financial or accounting matters clearly explained or need a claim quantifying. We can just do the support work or prepare a full report. At the early stages of a claim we can help by giving a straightforward initial assessment of its financial merits and likely value or advise on any additional information that might be needed to support it. We will even let you know if we don't think accountants should be involved at all.

We receive instructions from solicitors across the country, representing both claimants and defendants. Increasingly we also receive joint instructions. Much of our work comes from recommendations.

Our litigation support work is all carried out by John Malthouse who attends conferences and gives evidence at court if required. Assistants are used for detailed accountancy only.

We are attentive and we try very hard to provide the best service possible. Equally importantly in these cost conscious times our rates are at the reasonable to modest end of the range - and we don't charge for reading all the papers and giving an estimate.

In most circumstances we can be significantly more cost effective than the larger firms - but we have just as much experience and competence. We can guarantee that if you try us, you won't go anywhere else.

This is a sample of cases that we are working on at present

• a personal injury case involving a small manufacturing business that was knocked sideways by a tragic road accident involving a director. When it happened the business was very stretched coping with overseas orders and because he was out of action for a long time it collapsed. We are quantifying losses;
  


• an accountants' negligence claim. A fundamental but huge accounting error leading to a sudden and totally unexpected tax bill. This was for an established business which now turns out, because of the same error, not to be where it thought it was. Acute cash flow problems as a consequence and a complete rescue operation mounted;
  


• three separate matrimonial cases. In one we are appointed for the wife and in the other two as single joint expert. In each case it's a question of putting a value on the husband's business, or share in it, and reporting on what he could reasonably raise by a capital sum to pay out to the wife. Complicated background research needed here;
  


• a small alleged fraud by the steward of a club. Small in terms of sums missing (about £10,000), but not in terms of a custodial sentence, which is what's probably going to be involved. We're defending. The accounting system is under close scrutiny, as is the job specification, training, guidance, and so on.
  


• a complicated share valuation to back up an intra-group transfer of a subsidiary. Industry specific and, again, a lot of research and background statistical data needed;
  


• a partnership dispute over a closing balance sheet before the parting of the ways. Detailed investigation into the accountants' figures and a report setting out all the whys and wherefores to make the accountancy clear;
  


• single joint expert in respect of a business that alleges a pretty catastrophic downturn as the results of a neighbouring organisation's activities. Detailed scrutiny of the accounting records to find out why income dropped so heavily and then a report to make things clearer before the case goes to mediation.
  

All these are routine jobs, but every one is different and every one demands a very clear focus and concentration. If you would like to see one of our sample reports - obviously made completely anonymous - please get in touch with us and we will send you one without any obligation at all. All our work comes by word of mouth and recommendation.