Advisory firm sets up Birmingham forensics team with hire from EY
Specialist business advisory firm FRP has established a forensic services team in Birmingham with the appointment of Henry Pocock as a partner.
With more than 20 years’ experience in forensic accounting, Pocock joins from EY, where he was an associate partner in the forensic and integrity services practice.
He specialises in complex forensic accounting cases, including contractual and transaction disputes, fraud and regulatory investigations, and has led numerous engagements to quantify losses arising from matters such as a breach of contract, business interruption insurance claims, post-transaction breach of warranty claims and compulsory purchase order disputes. He also has extensive experience leading the forensic accounting aspects of acquisitions and disposals.
More widely, Pocock advises on professional negligence matters, including those in relation to auditors. His client base includes lawyers, banks and private equity investors, and he has experience acting for claimants, defendants and regulators.
In his new role, he will focus on establishing a forensic services team on-the-ground in Birmingham and leading the growth of that team to support clients across the West Midlands.
His appointment follows a period of significant growth for FRP’s national forensic services team, which has increased by almost 30% over the last 12 months and been recognised by the international legal directory Chambers and Partners for its breadth of experience, professionalism and strong client relationships.
The team is now 27-strong, having been bolstered by the acquisition of Walton Dodge Forensic in September 2020.
Birmingham based FRP partner, Gerald Smith, said: “Henry is the perfect candidate to establish our team in the West Midlands. He brings with him a wealth of experience and I have no doubt that his appointment will strengthen our offering in the region. As organisations continue to return to business-as-usual post-COVID we’re now seeing increased demand for specialist forensic support, in relation to both an increase in disputes and a very busy period for transactions.”
Pocock added: “FRP is an entrepreneurially spirited business and the investment in its forensic services offering over the last few years is a clear sign of its ambitions to continue to build a market-leading, national team that can provide the highest level of service to its clients in every region. The opportunity to establish a team in the West Midlands is one I am very much looking forward to.”
