A Chartered Accountant who provides Investigative and Forensic Accounting (IFA) services can greatly assist the lawyer in providing a successful solution to a client's matter, either by acting as an Expert Witness or by being a consultant to the lawyer and her/his client. The forensic accountant can be utilized during various stages of both civil and criminal investigations and litigation proceedings. These stages of litigation range from reviewing the merits of a potential case all the way through to providing expert testimony and/or consulting services at a court proceeding.
My training and experience as a Chartered Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner, provides me with the tools and the expertise to assist you in your practice. In most instances, I will be retained by the lawyer to protect the solicitor-client privilege. Whether I am providing litigation support, expert testimony or acting as your advisor, I am committed to providing the highest quality financial evidence at a reasonable cost. Equally important is that I provide personal service and remain accessible to you at all times. Timely reporting is critical and I will work with you to ensure that your deadlines are met and will ensure that my analysis of the case will satisfy your requirements as well as the standards required by a court of law.
Listed below are several areas where I can help you, to help your client. While this list is not exhaustive, it gives an idea of some of the matters an IFA accountant can assist you with in your practice, when the case involves financial information.
General Litigation Matters:
e.g.
assist in evaluating the merits of a case at an early stage
assist with investigation focus
interviews and discoveries
commentary on opposing expert's report
preliminary draft expert report to aid in negotiating settlements prior to a formal proceeding
testifying as an expert witness at trial
assisting counsel in preparing strategy and questions for the examination-in-chief or cross-examination of witnesses
Loss Quantification Matters:
e.g.
personal injury/wrongful death
breach of contract
product liability
professional negligence (having served on the Practice Inspection Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario [ICAO] and on the Professional Conduct Committee for six years, including two years as Chair of the PCC, gives me additional insight into cases of professional negligence by accountants)
economic interference
intellectual property claims
property and income losses for insurance claim purposes (e.g. business interruption)
patent infringements
construction claims
wrongful dismissal
wrongful taking
losses of business income
contract disputes
Investigative-Related Matters:
e.g.
fraud/theft related matters (criminal, civil, insurance remedies)
financial statement manipulation
shareholder/partnership disputes
stock market fraud
investigation for hidden assets and unreported income (income tax, matrimonial and related disputes)
secret commissions
bank fraud
supplier kickback
computer crime
employee theft & fraud
allegations of income tax fraud/evasion
Automobile Insurance Matters:
e.g.
Income Replacement Benefit calculation
Other Accident Benefits calculation
Tort loss
Office:
Suite 212, The Woolen Mill, 4 Cataraqui St.
Kingston, Ontario K7K 1Z7