christopher hatcher
BSc(Econ) FCA
Partner - Watts Gregory
Chartered Accountants
general
Qualified in 1981 having trained with Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now Pricewaterhouse Coopers) following graduation from University of Wales with joint honours degree in law and accountancy.
Remained with Deloittes until their merger with Coopers in 1990 operating in managerial roles in the Cardiff and Swansea offices. The merger with Coopers coincided with an approach from Guilfoyle Sage & Co., which had been a management buyout of Deloittes’ Newport office and part of its Gloucester office, a couple of years earlier. Joined Guilfoyle Sage & Co. as partner in charge of a new office in Cardiff in November 1990.
Watts Gregory and Guilfoyle Sage & Co. are members of the same umbrella organisation, The UK200 Group, and in 1994 Watts Gregory made an approach following the retirement of one of their partners. A merger of the Cardiff office of Guilfoyle Sage & Co. with Watts Gregory was arranged and this took place in October 1994, with the Watts Gregory offices being expanded to accommodate the merged firm.
Mainstream work involves advice and services to small and medium sized businesses, up to approximately £20m turnover, professional partnerships, doctors practices etc., together with litigation support/forensic accounting work which is referred to in greater detail below. Also acts as firm’s representative (Contact Partner) for the UK200 Group, as a member of the Group’s Legal Specialist Team and Litigation Support Panel and the firm’s Compliance Partner.
litigation support/FORENSIC ACCOUNTING
First involvement was in the mid 1980’s when with Deloittes who acted for Municipal Mutual Insurance (MMI). Provided support on claims made against local authorities who were insured with MMI. This led to involvement with claims by and against clients of the Deloittes offices in South Wales.
Continued involvement after leaving Deloittes mainly in respect of claims by and against clients until joining Watts Gregory where work of this nature continued, but was supplemented by a small number of cases each year from a variety of firms of solicitors, who had historically referred work to the firm. Work undertaken includes:
Loss of earnings/profit claims
Share/business valuations
Company/partnership disputes
Fraud matters
Tax disputes
In the last four years work of this nature has seen an increase as other firms of solicitors have become aware of the firm’s involvement in this field, often as an alternative to the Big 5 accountancy practices, but also due to referrals with regard to professional negligence claims against firms of accountants and other professionals. This resulted in the firm becoming a member of NIFA (The Network of Independent Forensic Accountants) and successfully applying for and obtaining Law Society Gold Seal Expert Witness status.
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