We have over 30 years' experience advising and defending accountants with expert accounting lawyers

Our accountants team has extensive experience of handling both contentious and non-contentious matters for accountancy firms. We have been involved in numerous high profile matters and are uniquely placed to assist all sizes and types of accountancy firms.

On the non-contentious side, our professional practice lawyers offer a range of services for the largest international accounting networks as well as for smaller firms. These include risk management implications for global networks, and insurance and reinsurance captive arrangements under the different legal and regulatory regimes in which they operate.

Our contentious experience includes defending firms sued in small to multimillion-pound claims, and dealing with disputes covering the full range of audit, tax, advisory, valuation and insolvency services provided by accountants. We handle claims concerning allegations of failure by the auditors to detect fraud. This is a specialised area requiring specific expertise with regards to auditors’ reports. We advise on a range of regulatory, disciplinary and investigatory proceedings, and guide our clients through the particular challenges presented by parallel domestic and cross-border civil and disciplinary proceedings.

We also work with a number of accountancy firms in relation to their employment matters, partnership disputes and team moves.

Our Accountants Work

  • All
  • UK & Europe
  • "Sedation Solutions" - Incorporating an LLP

    Advised a group of several Consultant Sedationists in relation to their grouping under the banner of "Sedation Solutions". This involved the incorporation of the new LLP (and a related limited company), advising the parties in relation to the LLP Agreement, advising the LLP in relation to the acquisition of several medical practices, preparation of personal guarantees of the Members, and all related matters (including preparation of terms and conditions, licence to occupy premises, and...

    Advised on PI submissions for a leading national accounting firm

    Advised an accountancy firm on their PI submissions regarding the FRC investigation into previous employee. We also investigated the background as to why our client went insolvent

    D&O/PI cover for a leading national accounting firm

    The FSA led an investigation into operations systems and controls (FS regulated advice).  This raised questions regarding the nature and extent of our client's cover. We were therefore required to advise as to the adequacy of this cover. We then assisted with the transition of our client into another accountancy firm.

    Incorporating a new business

    Advised on the Incorporation of an accountancy business, including transfer of the business from the partnership to a new company and preparation of a shareholders agreement.

    Individual investment in a Limited Liability Partnership

    Advised an individual in relation to their investment in an LLP. Our role included the incorporation of the LLP, advice in relation to the preparation of the LLP Agreement, preparation of senior and junior debt documentation and all security documentation, and all ancillary documentation (including consultancy agreements, management agreement, and all members' resolutions etc).

    Merger and restructuring of two accountancy firms

    Advised our client on a number of complex employee/partner related matters arising out of the merger of two accountancy firms, and subsequent restructuring, which included a TUPE transfer of the business. The merger triggered exits from 6 teams of partners and their staff at 6 different locations across the UK. We provided urgent advice to the newly merged entity in relation to the protection of its business interests.

    Multi-million pound negligence claim

    Acting for a major accountancy in relation to a liquidation of a stockbroking company.  In relations to a multi-million pound negligence claim

    Partnership to LLP - Transfer of business

    Transfer of the business of an accountancy practice from a partnership to an LLP, including an LLP Members agreement and rebranding

  • Coverage and monitoring following employer insolvency and PPF assessment

    Advising on coverage and monitoring in respect of notifications following employer insolvency and PPF assessment period commencing in relation to the Scheme

    United Kingdom

    Depreciation of fund value and subsequent losses

    Acting in a claim relating to alleged delay in winding up a company pension scheme and losses arising from the resulting fall in the fund value

    United Kingdom

    Equalising gender benefits following the "Barber" judgement

    Advising on failure to amend a scheme correctly to equalise benefits for men and women following the “Barber” judgment in 1991

    United Kingdom

    Incorrect "preservation" legislation in rules

    Advising on rules which incorrectly reflected the “preservation” legislation in the Pension Schemes Act 1993

    United Kingdom

    Incorrect drafting of rule consolidations

    Advising on incorrect drafting of rule consolidations

    United Kingdom

    Incorrect equalisation of retirement ages in accordance with Barber

    Acting for a national firm and its insurers in relation to a claim brought by trustees of a retirement benefits scheme after advisers failed to carry out correctly the equalisation of retirement ages in accordance with Barber which prevented the equalisation from being legally achieved on the date stated in the scheme documentation

    United Kingdom

    Knock-on effects of failure to properly amend scheme rules

    Advising on failure to properly amend the scheme rules correctly to reduce future benefits

    United Kingdom

    Loss of chance claims

    Acting on loss of chance claims

    United Kingdom

    Misapplication of funds claims against a trustee

    Successfully defending a trustee against a claim relating to misapplication of funds by a scheme member who had represented to the Insured that he was a company employee and therefore entitled to join a company pension scheme, when in fact he was not

    United Kingdom

    PTL policy claims

    Advising on claims under PTL policies for “exonerated loss” cover

    United Kingdom

Our Accountants team

Lee Astfalck
Lee Astfalck

Partner

Kira Barrett
Kira Barrett

Partner

Scott Bertschi
Scott Bertschi

Partner

Anthony Brown
Anthony Brown

Partner

Wim Cilliers
Wim Cilliers

Partner

Tim Crockford
Tim Crockford

Partner

Ross Donaldson
Ross Donaldson

Partner

Carolena Gordon
Carolena Gordon

Global Senior Partner and Chair of Global Management Board

Robert Hill
Robert Hill

Partner

Chris Holme
Chris Holme

Partner

Lori Worthington Hurl
Lori Worthington Hurl

Partner

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