Forensic Risk Alliance celebrates the launch of MEA office in Dubai
Toby Duthie
On March 16, 2022, Forensic Risk Alliance (FRA), a forensic accounting, regulatory compliance, data analytics, and eDiscovery consultancy specialising in international and complex investigations, financial crime compliance, and disputes, hosted a reception at The Ritz Carlton, Dubai, to celebrate the launch of its Middle East and Africa (MEA) office.
The decision to open the MEA office, FRA’s 10th global office, came as the forensics and advisory market in the Middle East and Africa region grew to several hundred million dollars per year, largely driven by increasing and coordinated enforcement efforts both within the region and globally.
It marked a significant investment in the firm’s international expansion plans and bolstered the firm’s existing engagements in the MEA region, with localised and on-the-ground support in the GCC countries. The move has also borne strong global experts – including native Arabic speakers – in a landscape of increasingly complex and coordinated regulation.
The launch event was hosted by Bhavin Shah and Stephen Millington who recently joined the firm as partners to help establish the regional office. Shah has more than 18 years of professional services experience and his expertise spans complex legal matters, AML/Sanctions, crisis management, and monitorships. Millington has nearly 25 years of professional services experience, with the last 15 years in the Middle East. He is an expert in leading complex investigations into a wide range of white-collar financial crime issues. Shah and Millington were joined by other senior members of the firm including founding partner Toby Duthie; partners Charlie Steele and Simon Taylor; and chairman Philip Gore-Randell.
The launch event was attended by more than 150 guests from various corporate clients, government bodies, regulators, law firms, financial institutions, and advisory firms.
Toby Duthie said, “When Frances, Greg and I started on this journey over 20 years ago, we knew we wanted to build a business that put people and excellence at the heart of it, from our teams to our clients. It’s been an amazing experience to realise this ambition – to see our capabilities expand and to have worked all over the world, including our newly established presence in Dubai, serving the Middle East and Africa.”
Bhavin Shah said, “I’m delighted to lead FRA’s new MEA office here in Dubai. There is increasing demand for independent expert advice that few global firms can provide. Stephen and I look forward to meeting that demand, both for clients based within the MEA region and those with commercial interests in the region.”
