- Specialist expert witnesses, consulting, valuation data and analytic services
- Reinforces EY strength in forensic accounting services to clients
Ernst & Young, Australia (“EY Australia”) has strengthened its disputes resolution and forensic accounting capabilities through the acquisition of Axiom Forensics Pty Ltd Pty Ltd (Axiom Forensics).
The acquisition will assist EY Australia to better serve clients, particularly legal firms by providing specialist expert witnesses, consulting, valuations, data and analytic services in addition to EY Australia’s existing forensics services.
Michael Potter and David Mullins have joined the EY Australia partnership in the Forensics & Integrity Services team based out of the Sydney office and will service clients throughout Australia and New Zealand. Seven Axiom Forensics staff have joined EY.
Axiom Forensics offers independent expert forensic accounting, valuation and dispute consulting services, with enhanced technology and specialised data analytics capability. They have a very strong brand, particularly in Sydney which is the largest disputes market in Australia.
Rob Locke, EY Oceania Forensic & Integrity Services Leader said, “We are experiencing unprecedented growth and our Disputes offering has played a key role. The opportunity to significantly enhance our footprint in Sydney through the acquisition of a highly successful disputes firm made strategic sense. We have known and observed Axiom Forensics for many years and have been great, albeit begrudging admirers of their work. In our opinion, they are the best in Sydney at what they do so the decision to ask them to join EY was an obvious one. Their vision and growth plans align perfectly with ours and they will be a big part of this continued growth.
“Axiom Forensics have great relationships with the major law firms, particularly in Sydney and this will benefit our clients as well as EY. For Axiom Forensics, the strength of the EY brand and the access to the resources, skills and talent we have globally, will enable them to take their services to the next level.”
“The addition of the Axiom Forensics team to bolster our Sydney practice, along with other significant hires and promotions in the last 12 months, means we are the pre-eminent provider of dispute and claims services in Australia.”
Michael Potter from Axiom Forensics said, “Over recent years we have encountered a number of instances in which we have had to rely on external experts to assist on our engagements. By joining forces with EY, we will be able to complement our existing skills with industry expertise and other inhouse skills, such as economics and statistics. It’s a great next step for us – I am looking forward to being part of a big team where we can bounce ideas around and hear different perspectives. Our people – many of whom have been with us for more than 10 years are excited for the opportunities joining EY will bring in terms of training and development and exposure to new skills and clients.
This means we will be able to offer our clients expanded services by drawing on the broader EY team.
We realised we needed to join a large firm in order to grow our business to the next level. We have gotten to know and respect several of the partners at EY over the years, and so we knew it would be a good fit for us and for EY. We already feel part of the team!”
David Larocca, EY Regional Managing Partner and CEO, Oceania, said, “I am excited to welcome the team from Axiom Forensics to our Assurance practice in Sydney, and in particular to the growing Forensics team. This will significantly enhance our footprint in the region. I’ve watched our team grow year on year and this is a significant step to enhance forensic services that will change the market both in Sydney and in the region.
Our strategic ambition is to grow the practice across Oceania, and the calibre of the team at Axiom Forensics will assist us in achieving this ambition. They were already well known to our team and are a great cultural fit with EY as we work together to build a better working world.”
