Forensic Services

1. Specialist Skills
2. Business Investigation
3. Commercial Disputes
4. Personal Claims
5. Business Crime

Specialist Skills

Mitchell Charlesworth Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors provides a comprehensive forensic service to lawyers, prosecution authorities, businesses and individuals. We would recommend that we are consulted as early as possible and we are always prepared to discuss, without charge, preliminary issues and whether our expert assistance would help.

Our forensic team operates out of all the Mitchell Charlesworth offices in the North West and has experience and specialist expertise in the following principal areas:

• business investigation
• business valuation
• commercial disputes
• professional negligence
• insurance claims
• personal injury
• matrimonial proceedings
• business crime

Our expert reports are concise and address the key issues, and our costs are competitive and proportional to the circumstances of the case. We agree our fees before starting work and any variation to budget is made only with prior approval.

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Business Investigation

Clear Analysis
Effective business decisions require accurate information. In many 'one-off ' situations it is essential that key issues are quickly identified, investigated, analysed and reported on in a clear and concise manner.

Where historical, complex or incomplete accounting transactions are involved Mitchell Charlesworth's forensic team can provide expert, and cost effective, assistance. We are used to handling cases ranging from those requiring a brief report within days, or hours, of receiving instruction, to others requiring months of painstaking research.

Our forensic experts can draw upon Mitchell Charlesworth's wide experience of local and national businesses and organisations, with specific industry knowledge of many sectors, and can match resources to the needs of the case.

Background information is a preliminary to any investigation and Mitchell Charlesworth forensic services has a dedicated business intelligence unit which can provide a complete range of individual and business information obtained from quality business intelligence sources and agencies.

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Commercial Disputes

Expert Reports
Mitchell Charlesworth's forensic experts have acted frequently for both claimants and defendants in commercial disputes, and can assist in the following principal areas:

• security for costs
• loss of profit consequential loss
• business and share valuation insurance claims
• claims under the Companies Act
• partnership disputes
• professional negligence

The forensic team have a wealth of local knowledge and experience to help in less conventional areas of dispute, and where necessary they can call on the skills of colleagues specialising in other disciplines, such as corporate finance, audit, and corporate recovery and insolvency.

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Personal Claims

Taking Care
Mitchell Charlesworth's forensic experts have acted frequently for both claimants and defendants in personal claims, and can assist in the following principal areas:

• personal injury
• medical negligence
• fatal accidents
• matrimonial proceedings

Our forensic specialists can provide a full range of services in cases involving personal injury and fatal accident claims. They can help by undertaking the accountancy work for inclusion in schedules, and all parties can benefit from their experienced handling of the calculations needed to assess quantum in special damages claims.

In financial proceedings ancillary to divorce our experts can assist in advising on the extent of the liquid assets of the marriage, and the means by which settlements can be funded, including an assessment of any tax implications. In certain circumstances computation of the value of matrimonial assets may require the valuation of businesses in which one or the other parties has an interest.

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Business Crime

Considering Evidence
Mitchell Charlesworth's forensic experts have considerable experience of fraud and business regulatory offences and have assisted both prosecuting authorities and defendants.

We are represented on local police fraud panels and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Our experts understand the legal and business issues raised by fraud and can:

• investigate suspected fraud and report to management or regulatory authorities
• help minimise the consequences of fraud and business crime
• assist the prosecution of fraud in both civil and criminal proceedings
• provide expert assistance in tracing misappropriated assets and funds
• present evidence in Court

We can also work with lawyers and advisers to assist in the preparation of defence for individuals and organisations charged with criminal or business regulatory offences.

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Your next step

If you would like to discuss any of the above or require further information please e-mail Geoff Weisgard at our Chester or Manchester office.