Forensic Risk Alliance

Since 1999, Forensic Risk Alliance (FRA) – an international consultancy that combines deep forensic accounting, regulatory and investigative experience with cutting edge data mining technology – has positioned global businesses for success as they navigate investigations, disputes and compliance challenges.

With 11 locations and data centres across the world, we have extensive cross-sector and cross-border experience and scalability anywhere in the world, harnessing the right mix of collaborative expertise for clients in both developed economies and emerging markets.

We are regularly hired to provide expertise on some of the world’s largest and high-stakes compliance matters in fraud, bribery, corruption, financial crime, sanctions, audit and accounting malpractice, and corporate transactions.

Each of our client engagements benefits from a tailored team of experts and integrated data capabilities from across our core solutions and global teams.

Investigations

We partner with firms and their lawyers to provide truly independent and objective analysis and recommendations that are integral to mitigate risk and formulate an effective response. As a global leader in this area, we have a track record of success in some of the most high-profile investigations of the past two decades. We are experts in analysing large, complex transactional data sets, with experience working on projects encompassing decades of data and transactions.

Monitorships

We have served as an independent monitor and also supported monitors appointed by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) on a number of matters. We have been involved in monitorships related to anti-bribery and corruption (ABC), anti-money laundering (AML), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions violations, fraud, and PCAOB accounting and auditing standards. We have also assisted clients operating under Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) in preparing for and interacting with compliance monitors. In this capacity, we have been responsible for the assessment, design and/or monitoring of compliance policies and procedures.

Disputes

Organisations are increasingly facing complex disputes and litigation on multiple fronts that demand customised responses. Our independent, multi-disciplinary experts have the experience and deep expertise to help our clients get the best outcome, while minimising risk and reputational damage.

Our seasoned team have assisted client and their legal teams in a wide variety of disputes, delivering insights and credible analysis at different stages of the dispute lifecycle. Services include: expert services and testimony, international arbitration support, Class Action support, litigation consulting, and quantum, damage calculation and event studies.

Advisory

Known and respected by international regulators as leading practitioners, we are regularly trusted to provide compliance expertise for targeted, holistic or global matters. We have developed a bespoke compliance program framework, mapped against all leading international benchmarks and independently verified, to support the design or improvement of compliance programs, including third party due diligence procedures, internal financial controls and system effectiveness testing. We provide recommendations that are practical and implementable, meeting obligations while balancing businesses imperatives and economic considerations. Our approach factors in industry, geography and business risks that are tailored to our client’s needs and weighing the concerns of relevant stakeholders.

FRA continues to lead some of the most high-profile investigations across the globe. Recent headline matters include:

• FRA supports Entain’s £585 million groundbreaking settlement with UK Crown Prosecution Service.
• SAP enters settlement with US and South African authorities with FRA’s support on fine calculation and internal controls enhancement.
• Gunvor agreed to pay more than $660 million to resolve corruption investigations by Swiss and US authorities. Two FRA teams supported compliance testing and evaluation, and fine calculation.
• FRA supported oil and gas rig builder Seatrium in the corruption investigation and settlements with Brazilian and Singaporean authorities.
• FRA supported RTX, formerly known as Raytheon, and counsel in FCPA related fine calculations. RTX agreed to pay over $950 million to the DOJ to resolve fraud and bribery investigations.
• The DOJ appointed Founding Partner Frances McLeod as the independent compliance monitor for cryptocurrency exchange Binance. The three-year DOJ Binance monitorship represents a landmark development in the crypto industry and speaks to the regulators’ confidence in her ability to navigate complex compliance issues in a nascent industry.
• FRA provided forensic accounting expertise, supporting Chinese state-owned agribusiness COFCO’s claims of accounting fraud against Dutch commodities company Nidera, resulting in a successful ruling for the client.

FRA has offices in London, UK; Paris, France; Zurich, Switzerland; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Seoul, Korea; and US offices in Washington DC, New York City, Dallas, Texas and Providence, Rhode Island.