Dispute resolution

Disputes and litigation have become part of our everyday lives. The litigation process provides us with a framework on how to deal with specific situations and it will become apparent that there are particular scenarios where the specialist services of a forensic accountant will be needed.

Some accounting firms may try to over complicate matters by providing unnecessarily complex information wrapped in 'accounting jargon' - at BDO Kendalls we work with you to provide the information you need in a simple and easily understood manner.

When selecting a Forensic Services specialist, it is important to understand that ultimately a matter may end up in court and that the specialist chosen will need to have experience in giving evidence in court and assisting at mediation. We have the experience in providing both written and oral evidence in an easily understood manner.

How can we help you?

BDO Kendalls Forensic Services works closely with legal practitioners to provide expert advice on the quantum of claims being made - from insurance claims to personal injury matters. We can advise on whether the claim being made is of a fair value, whether there is sufficient supporting evidence to take a matter further and we can graphically represent complex financial data for presentation to clients and a court of law.

Our dispute resolution services include:

• Advice on the strengths and weaknesses of a matter
• Analysing and critiquing of expert reports
• Preparation of graphical data summaries
  
• Preparation of reports for use at mediation or in court proceedings
• Assistance in preparing for cross examination of witnesses
• Expert testimony in Court

To learn more about these aspects of the BDO Kendalls offering and the specific dispute resolution services provided, click on one of the sections below:

• Commercial litigation
• Family law
• Personal injury
  

Service details

A detailed description of our dispute resolution services is provided below.

Providing initial advice on the strengths and weaknesses of a matter
We can undertake an initial review of documents and experts' reports and provide our opinion on the relevant strengths and weaknesses of the matter before undertaking a detailed analysis and obtaining an expert's report.

Analysing & critiquing of opposing expert's reports
If an opposing accounting expert's report has been provided, we are able to analyse the report, including assumptions made, scenarios used, calculations prepared and opinions given and provide a critique of the report.

As part of any analysis or critique of a claim, a number of different tasks may need to be undertaken. BDO Kendalls has the experience and understanding of how businesses operate and what needs to be analysed in detail when considering a claim. These include identifying and/or critiquing claims containing:

• Identifying specific lost sales
• Identifying lost customers
• Attributing lost business income to direct physical damage
• Trending of historical results
• Evaluating budgets and forecasts
• Analysing relevant economic factors
• Assessing open orders/bookings
• Evaluating comparables or benchmarks
• Analysing competitors
• Identifying 'hidden' extra expenses
• Proving capacity
• Assisting in the determination of the mitigation period

Preparation of graphical summaries of complex data
Often the volume and type of evidence makes it difficult to easily and quickly understand the relevant aspects of the matter. We can provide visual representations of the evidence to quickly and easily understand the crucial facts of the matter.

Preparation of calculations of scenarios and written reports for use at mediation or court proceedings
Our detailed experience in the preparation of economic loss calculations allows us to prepare scenarios and relevant calculations that are reasonable and fair.

Providing assistance in preparing for cross examination of witnesses
We can assist with the preparation of questions to be asked during the cross examination of witnesses including experts.

Providing expert testimony in Court
We recognise that at the outset of our work, we may need to provide expert evidence in Court. Our team has significant experience in providing expert evidence at each level of Court.