Clare Lavin joins HKA as partner

Clare Lavin has joined HKA as partner in the Forensic Accounting Commercial Damages team, based in Dubai. HKA is a leading global consultancy in risk mitigation, dispute resolution, expert witness and litigation support services.

Lavin is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience, who regularly testifies in litigation and arbitration matters on accounting quantum and financial-related issues. Having been based in Dubai for over 12 years, she has worked on a number of complex disputes and investigations across the Middle East.

Haroon Niazi, partner and head of Middle East commented, “We are delighted that Clare has joined our team of experts, supporting our Forensic Accounting Commercial Damages growth strategy in the Middle East. Her experience in dealing with all manner of forensic accounting assignments as well as being a go-to expert in the region will be greatly valued by the EMEA team as we continue to grow our presence and enhance our service offering in the region.”

Lavin has a wide range of experience in the disputes field including early case assessment, loss of profit calculations, shareholders disputes, earn-out arrangements, professional negligence, SPA disputes, joint venture arrangements, and contract breaches or terminations.

Her sector experience includes hospitality and leisure, construction and real estate, oil and gas, shipping, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, facilities management, consumer goods, and distribution.

She has testified in litigation and has supported clients and experts in matters before the Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts; the high courts of England and Wales, and New Zealand; and the commercial court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Her arbitration experience includes matters before the DIAC, ICC, and DIFC-LCIA for disputes across the Middle East.

“I am extremely excited to join HKA and be part of the growing Forensic Accounting Commercial Damages team. I look forward to complementing the work of such a talented group of experts to deliver what our clients need in multi-faceted disputes and those with increasing complexity in the region,” said Clare Lavin.

Lavin is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and holds an advanced professional award in expert witness evidence from Legal Experience Training. She is a highly recognised and well-regarded accounting expert witness in Dubai, UAE.