Do I need a lawyer to hire a forensic accountant?

Short answer. No, you can engage a forensic accountant directly. But if there is a legal dispute, or one is likely, bring your lawyer in early. Your lawyer frames the legal questions, we answer the financial ones, and the two need to line up.

Come to us directly when

• Something in your business accounts doesn’t reconcile and you want to know why.
• You’re separating and need to understand the financial picture before deciding anything.
• You want a payroll check or a valuation for your own decision.

Involve your lawyer early when

• Family law proceedings are underway or likely.
• You’re in a shareholder or partnership dispute.
• You’ve received a regulator’s notice or a claim.
• The findings may end up in court.

Why it saves money

Your lawyer knows which questions the case turns on. When the forensic work follows those questions:

• you don’t pay for analysis nobody will use;
• evidence is gathered with disclosure and court rules in mind;
• engaging through your lawyer may help protect confidentiality (ask your lawyer);
• expert independence requirements are set up correctly from day one.

Independent either way

Whoever engages us, our job is to report what the evidence shows, not what the person paying hopes to hear. That independence is what gives the findings weight.

Not sure who to call first?

Call us. If you need a lawyer before we can help properly, we’ll tell you.

General information only. It does not take account of your circumstances and is not legal, tax or financial advice.