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We provide our members who are qualified accountants in practice with accountants' disciplinary hearing advice and representation concerning complaints, regulatory and disciplinary cases, through a team of professional advisers. We also advise on technical matters, ethics, difficult clients and negligence claims and provide guidance for accountants.
What is Accountants' Defence?
A team of specialists who assist members in the UK facing a complaint, disciplinary proceedings, a regulatory problem, a difficult practice issue or a negligence claim. In other words, we exist to help you solve your practice problems. We provide advice for accountants. Our specialists include two chartered accountants and SWAT, a barrister and two solicitors, all having experience of dealing with complaints, accountants' disciplinary hearing advice and practice problems. For more information about our advisers
Why use Accountants' Defence?
Practitioners have never been under greater pressure with Practice Assurance and the Money Laundering Regulations adding yet more worries. The average ICAEW Investigation Committee fine and costs is now £4,000, compared to £6,500 for the Disciplinary Committee.
Incorporated
Accountants' Defence was incorporated in January 2004 by Christopher Cope, solicitor (1976) and member of the Academy of Experts (1991). Christopher Cope dealt with complaints/discipline at the ICAEW from 1976-1983. Since 1984, he has specialised in accountants' disciplinary hearing advice, representing over 500 accountants, well over 300 before accountancy tribunals.
Accountancy Defence Union (ADU)
Most former members of the Accountancy Defence Union (est. 1993), who received accountants' disciplinary hearing advice, have transferred to Accountants' Defence. The ADU has now been wound up.
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
As we are not a firm of solicitors we are not regulated by the SRA.