Director
Qualified as a solicitor 1976.
Employed Professional Conduct Department, ICAEW, 1976-1983. Handled numerous complaints at ICAEW.
Was secretary to Investigation Committee.
Prosecuted cases before Disciplinary/Appeal Committees.
1984-1987 ran advisory service for accountants.
1988-October 2013 practised as a solicitor.
Since 1988 acted for hundreds of accountants and represented well over 500 before tribunals.
Established Accountants National Complaint Services Limited in 2013. Sold the company to Blake Morgan LLP, solicitors, in July 2020. Is a director of Accountants’ Defence & Advisory Services Ltd and also a director of Astley Legal Limited.
As a specialist adviser, Chris will give accountants advice on disciplinary hearings and will arrange representation before disciplinary and regulatory tribunals. We will invariably instruct counsel on complex, defended and appeal cases and those cases where the client needs to present a strong plea in mitigation.
Based in North Devon.
Barrister
Matthew was called to the bar in 2006 and is a specialist fitness to practise, professional disciplinary & regulatory barrister, having practised in this field for over 10 years. He acts for both regulators and regulated professionals.
Matthew is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a leading barrister in Professional Discipline and Regulatory law.
Matthew has considerable experience of proceedings at the accountancy regulators including in proceedings before the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the Association of Accounting Technicians, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, the Institute of Financial Accountants, the Association of International Accountants and the Tax Disciplinary Board.
Matthew’s practice predominantly involves acting on behalf of accountants but he also acts on behalf of some of the accountancy regulators.
Matthew’s practice includes advisory work, assisting accountants in drafting response to their regulators at various stages of the process and representation at disciplinary hearings.
Based in London.
Directories and testimonials
“Your ability to communicate the facts of the case on the day of the hearing was exemplary and once again ensured that the panel had clarity and focus in considering the facts of the hearing. I would have no hesitation in recommending you in the future.”
ICAEW MEMBER, AUGUST 2022
“Matthew is an absolute model of professionalism. His detailed and forensic analysis of each and every single point of relevance or potential relevance to my case – both good and bad – left me feeling more than extremely confident that I had been placed in the best possible hands. Indeed I could not have been better represented…. Thanks to Matthew representing me I am delighted to remain both a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Tax Adviser. I would have no hesitation in recommending Matthew’s superb services. In my forty year career he is the standout professional I have met over those last four decades.”
ICAEW & CIOT MEMBER – SEPTEMBER 2023
Former Insolvency Practitioner
Over 35 years in the profession.
Professional practice experience with chartered accountancy firms.
Over 20 years in insolvency regulation.
Senior roles in two largest insolvency regulators
• Senior manager of ICAEW insolvency team
• CEO of IPA
Investigated many complaints against IPs.
Resolved complaints without need for disciplinary action.
Prepared reports for disciplinary committees.
Instigated system changes to improve processes/ fairness to IPs.
Advised IPs on appropriate responses to professional bodies/ committees.
Unique experience & understanding of insolvency regulation committee dynamics.
Contributory author of complaints gateway and common sanctions guidance.
Consultant Board Member, Lexis Restructuring & Insolvency.
Based in Eastbourne.
Chartered Accountant
Ben is a Partner in the Forensic Accounting Services department of Moore Kingston Smith and has over 15 years’ experience working in the Forensic Accounting profession.
Ben has been instructed to act as an Expert Accountant in numerous cases involving disciplinary action by the ICAEW against auditors and accountants. He also has significant experience acting in professional negligence claims against auditors and accountants, acting for both Claimants and Defendants.
Ben trained and qualified as an auditor before moving into forensic accounting, compliance and firm protection roles. He is a member of the firm’s Technical Committee which is responsible for determining the firm’s audit methodology, ensuring that audits are undertaken in compliance with all aspects of the regulatory framework and monitoring and assessing the quality of the firm’s audit work. Ben regularly provides training for audit partners and staff on aspects of audit methodology.
Ben is also a member of the firm’s core team that addresses any internal professional indemnity or regulatory matters and as such works closely with the firm’s technical partner, ethics partner and head of audit as well as the firm’s legal advisors and insurers. Ben has a working knowledge of the key features of Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Ben has attended Court on numerous occasions and has given evidence in an Expert capacity.
Ben is a Fellow of the ICAEW, a member of the ICAEW’s Forensic Special Interest Group and the Compulsory Purchase Association. He is also a full member of The Academy of Experts and Expert Witness Institute.
Based in London.
Chartered Accountant
Fellow Member of ICAEW, 25 years’ experience in the profession, including 10 years as a partner responsible for listed and private company audits, with extensive experience of acquisition and due diligence investigations.
Over 20 years working in Professional Conduct Department, ICAEW, senior manager of audit department, responsible for own portfolio of cases, together with review and supervision of staff, primarily in respect of audit cases, but including ethical and general practice complaints. Role included preparation and review of reports to Investigation Committee, but many cases resolved without the need for disciplinary action.
Main point of contact with FRC in liaison over the investigation of public interest cases.
Role at ICAEW also included acting as Secretary to Audit Registration Committee, and oversight of staff responsible for audit regulation.
Left ICAEW in November 2020. Holder of ICAEW Practising Certificate.
Based in Worcester.
