Australian law firm Clayton Utz has again raided EY as the law firm grows its new forensic and technology services department (FTS). The firm, which was the first top law firm in Australia to create a forensic practice, has recruited Deepak Pillai who specialises in data analytics at the Big Four accountancy practice and forensic accounting expert Daniel Heywood. It is the third time this year that the firm has hired from EY. 

Technical analysis

Mr Pullai joins the FTS practice as a director, with a decade's experience in providing analytical services for major clients in Australia and North America, across the financial services, resources, government and other sectors. He specialises in technical analysis of large electronic data sets, particularly utilising advanced data capture and analytic modelling techniques. Mr Heywood joins as a senior manager, with nearly a decade's worth of experience in complex financial accounting and investigations both in Australia and internationally. A chartered accountant, he has extensive experience in loss quantification including class actions, post-acquisition disputes, insurance claims, tax-related fraud investigations, business failures and financial products.

Greater scope

Commenting on the appointments, FTS practice head Paul Fontanot said: 'Attracting two professionals as experienced as Deepak and Daniel is not only fantastic for our team, but also means we're able to offer our clients an even greater scope of specialist services in the areas of data analytics, forensic accounting and investigations.'

Forensic services

Clayton Utz set up the department in February, headed up by Mr Fontanot, a specialist in quality and risk, who joined from EY. The forensics practice provides services such as forensic investigation and accounting, normally offered by accountancy firms. The firm are targeting client risk areas from cyber to anti-bribery and contract risk in the supply chain.