Title
Partner - Head of Forensic and Investigation Services
Office
Dublin
Experience
Paul joined Grant Thornton in 2004 and became Partner in 2006. He is a specialist forensic accountant with 13 years experience involving complex commercial litigation and investigations predominantly working in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe.
Paul specialises in formulating and investigating claims, and unravelling sophisticated frauds. Paul has a proven approach to challenge and critique evidence from various angles and provides innovative solutions to difficult problems. He has given evidence in the Irish High Court, the Commercial Court, the Circuit Court and the UK’s Dispute Adjudication Board.
After graduating with both Law and Commerce degrees Paul qualified as a barrister and solicitor (non practising – New Zealand). Paul trained as an accountant at a Big Four firm working on audit assignments for quoted and unquoted companies in financial services, manufacturing and other industries.
In 1996 he joined the Litigation Support Department of a Big Four firm in London where he investigated allegations of fraud involving BCCI, Robert Maxwell and Polly Peck, and acted in several high profile commercial litigation and arbitration cases.
Sector experience
After four years working as a specialist forensic accountant in a Big Four firm in Dublin Paul's forensic experience includes:
- appointed by the Department of The Taoiseach (on behalf of the National Implementation Body) as independent financial assessor in a dispute between the An Post and the Communication Workers’ Union.
- appointed by all shareholders in a dispute, to independently ascertain the financial position of the company for valuation purposes.
- valuation of goodwill in accordance with the Commercial Agents Directive (EU).
- investigating fraud in construction projects involving issues of misappropriation by third party suppliers and co-shareholders/joint venture parties.
- calculating losses arising under a joint venture agreement. Claim for €50m was heard in International Chamber of Commerce.
- assessing lost profits claimed in termination of distribution and agency agreements (Commercial Court).
- assessing a product liability claim and loss of profits in Ireland arising from defective product supplied to our plaintiff client. Claim exceeds €20 million.
- calculating losses suffered by a manufacturer following breach of contract by a supplier of computer hardware and software. Claim was for €22 million.
- assessing under competition law whether the defendant’s prices for supplying a service were below economic cost and whether the defendant abused its dominant position.
- investigating black hole over €10 million in the accounts of subsidiary of a multinational organisation.
Professional qualifications and memberships
Paul is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI). He has both Law and Commerce degrees and is qualified as a barrister and solicitor (non practicing – New Zealand).