Professional Summary

Paul Bennett is an experienced Forensic Accountant who has specialised in Forensic Accounting since 1996, having worked at a number of top-tier professional services firms, most recently as head of the in-house Forensic Services team at international law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP). Now providing law firms, forensic accounting practices and clients with specialist expert and forensic advice on a consultancy basis through Searca Limited, trading as Searca Forensic.

Paul has wide and deep experience in the full range of Forensic work covering a variety of different industries and business sectors, advising in general corporate and commercial disputes, including sale and purchase agreement disputes, and undertaking valuations of companies and shareholdings. Significant experience of undertaking major fraud and regulatory investigations.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a Member of the Expert Witness Institute.

Core Skills

An expert in the detailed forensic analysis, interpretation and presentation of complex financial information.

Nearly 30 years’ experience of providing advice and opinion – in the form of independent expert reports, witness statements, advisory reports and oral presentations.

Has led significant teams of Forensic Accountants in disputes, asset tracing, investigations and regulatory matters.

Was responsible for the Forensic Technology team at BCLP, covering eDisclosure and digital forensics.

Work history

OWNER                                                                                                                                             June 2024 to date

Searca Limited, trading as Searca Forensic

Established to provide law firms, forensic accounting practices and clients with specialist expert and forensic advice on a consultancy basis.

Instructed as Independent Expert in cases involving:

• breach of warranty claims
• valuations of businesses
• shareholder disputes
• alleged financial impropriety.

Instructed to provide specialist forensic accountancy input to a wide variety of matters, including:

• loss of profit claims
• business valuations
• security for costs
• fraud investigations.

HEAD OF FORENSIC SERVICES                                                                                                                  April 2012 – March 2024

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

The in-house Forensic Services team provided the lawyers at BCLP and their clients with specialist accounting advice on the financial aspects of litigation, arbitration and investigations. This in-house capability was a unique offering for a law firm.

Acted as Independent Expert in numerous matters including:

• determination of the level of charges payable by an airline to an airport
• quantification of the loss of profits suffered by an art gallery
• valuation of a pharmacy business
• quantification of earn-outs following the sale and purchase of a business
• assessment of the quantum of loss of profits at a global retailer.

Provided advice in over 500 disputes. This advice ranged from formal reports and witness statements to initial guidance at the very earliest stages of a dispute, prior to proceedings being issued and for mediations. Example cases:

• calculation of loss of profits suffered at an international hotel group, oil and gas companies, real estate entities, a casino, industrial corporations and businesses in the technology sector
• valuations of windfarms, biomass power plants, an on-line retailer, hospitality businesses and entities in the financial services sector
• quantification of loss in numerous follow-on competition damages claims
• determination of financial issues arising following the sale and purchase of businesses, including completion accounts and net asset values.

Undertook investigations into fraud and other potential accounting irregularities:

• analysed financial transactions in an alleged Ponzi scheme. This work included the preparation of charts that were found to be very helpful by the Court
• reviewed the financial records of an entity based in the Middle East from 2017 onwards to identify undisclosed liabilities and non-genuine assets. Prepared restated financial statements and presented our findings to all stakeholders
• reviewed, analysed and prepared visualisations of transactions in a short-seller "spoofing" investigation
• identified the worldwide assets of an ultra-high net worth individual and prepared a detailed report setting out our findings.

Involved in significant financial regulatory matters, including:

• reviewed redress outcomes arising from the mis-sale of interest rate hedging products in the firm's capacity as Skilled Person under s.166 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
• identified the relevant revenue of a bank for the purpose of a penalty calculation by the FCA.

Worked on the pro bono Windrush Compensation Scheme Initiative to calculate loss of earnings and pension suffered by individuals impacted by the Windrush scandal.

FORENSIC DIRECTOR AND SENIOR MANAGER                                                                                        June 2004 – March 2012

Grant Thornton

Acted as an Independent Expert, or in an advisory capacity, in disputes arising from:

• breach of contract and breach of warranty claims
• sale and purchase agreements, including expert determinations
• shareholder disputes, including valuation of companies and shareholdings
• insurance and professional negligence claims
• compulsory purchase orders and commercial agencies.

Led numerous fraud investigations and regulatory matters.

FORENSIC SENIOR MANAGER AND MANAGER                                                                                   November 1997 – May 2004

Deloitte

Gained significant experience of a wide range of Forensic assignments.

Responsible for managing the business development activities of the firm's Forensic teams in the Central and North regions. This included:

• relocating to the firm's Manchester office for a year to assist in re-establishing a presence in the North following the departure of a partner
• a secondment within the commercial litigation department of Wragge & Co (now Gowling WLG).

Worked in London and Geneva for a year on a case for the United Nations that related to the reparations due to Kuwait following its invasion by Iraq in 1991.

FORENSIC ASSISTANT MANAGER                                                                                                      January 1996 – October 1997

Ernst & Young

Joined a small team to gain initial experience in Forensic Accountancy.

Quantified losses suffered by companies in a variety of circumstances and investigated fraud and other accounting discrepancies.

AUDIT EXECUTIVE                                                                                                                        September 1992 – December 1995

KPMG

Trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant within KPMG's audit department.

Qualifications

Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Member of the Expert Witness Institute.

Postgraduate Certificate in Fraud Management from Liverpool John Moores University.