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Specialist fraud and financial crime firm launched amid COVID-19
Disruption caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, and subsequent increases in risk to companies, have given rise to a firm providing strategic investigatory and legal advice.
Jerome Doraisamy
COVID-19 has seen a rise in fraud and financial crime, meaning accountants, auditors and companies are having to navigate increased risk on top of dealing with the economic and environmental fallout of the pandemic.
Mr Tragardh – who boasts more than 25 years as a barrister and solicitor (14 years at the Victorian Bar) specialising in fraud, misconduct and financial crime cases, and is the firm’s managing director – said that “unscrupulous criminals are upping the ante on scams to take advantage of the pandemic to make short-term gains”.
“Remote working can open the door to cyber security vulnerabilities and increased financial pressures can trigger dishonest behaviours among employees who might not normally engage in criminal activity,” he said.
It is imperative, Mr Tragardh noted, that companies seek specialist advice to identify risks and prevent incidents of fraud and financial crime.
“Companies must be vigilant in safeguarding valuable data assets throughout COVID-19 remembering they have an obligation to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to protect personal information it holds from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure,” he said.
“Our icon of four pillars intersecting to create a diamond represents the four disciplines often required to pursue or defend fraud, misconduct or financial crime cases – legal, accounting, investigation and IT,” he said. “The diamond represents the positive outcome which is our focus.”
Mr Tragardh said that many people seek help from law firms that do not have specialist fraud lawyers or investigators – a gap he is aiming to fill.
“The consequences are predictable. A lack of insight and expertise can lead to communication failures, mistakes in investigation or the analysis of evidence, and ultimately substantial and unnecessary costs, delays and poor outcomes,” he said.
Mr Tragardh will head Duxton Hill’s specialised multidisciplinary team of legal professionals, fraud experts and investigators.
The firm’s leadership team also includes: Simon Heath, a lawyer with 36 years of experience and was deputy commissioner for the Victorian-based Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission, and Shane Ringin, a former Victoria Police detective, National Crime Authority investigator and senior manager at Victoria Police Fraud and Extortion Squad with more than 30 years’ experience in law enforcement, risk management and whistleblowers.
The firm will pursue claims and prosecutions such as recovery of stolen assets, freezing assets and search orders and insurance claims, defend claims and prosecutions including regulatory proceedings, civil and criminal claims, corruption in public office and disciplinary inquiries.
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Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. In June 2024, he also assumed the editorship of HR Leader. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
You can email Jerome at:
