Solicitors in Bath gain insightful knowledge on forensic accounting from Milsted Langdon

By Anita Jaynes on 10 October, 2017

Roger Isaacs and Helen Gregory, forensic accountants at Milsted Langdon, gave a presentation on the interpretation of accounts in the context of divorce to solicitors at the latest meeting of family law organisation Bath Resolution.

The event, which was well attended by solicitors from a number of local firms, focused on the issue of valuing family businesses divorce and the problems surrounding a couple’s finances during the process, including the tax-efficient strategies for dividing assets.

During the event, Roger and Helen spoke about the benefits that can be gained by clients from solicitors and accountants working closely together.  They highlighted the advantages of instructing forensic accountants at an early stage to help interpret financial documentation and to help draft questionnaires.

Attendees had a number of questions for Roger and Helen who explained that in some cases, rather than providing a formal report to court, they were willing and able to attend collaborative or round-table meetings as financial neutrals.

They emphasised that importance of instructing accountants who understood the divorce process and adhered to Resolution’s Code of Practice that requires members to help clients understand and manage the potential long-term financial consequences of their decisions and to listen to and treat the parties with respect and without judgment so as to guide them through the options available with the minimum amount of stress.

Roger, who is a member of Resolution himself, is often called upon as an expert witness in divorce cases.  He was admitted to the group earlier this year having worked on a large number of family law cases, where his forensic accounting expertise has proved vital.

Speaking after the event on 26 September 2017, Roger said: “Solicitors have no more appetite for figures than we accountants have an appetite for wrestling with complex case law, but our two professions work together we can get the best results for our clients.”

Roger said that more and more solicitors were enquiring about Milsted Langdon’s forensic services and pointed to recent research from The Network of Independent Forensic Accountants, which showed a 21 per cent increase in forensic cases handled by its members each month in the year to December 2016.

“Forensic accountants play a vital role in matrimonial disputes, regardless of whether parties agree to a settlement or litigate” added Roger.

Pictured above: Milsted Langdon’s Roger Isaacs