Clayton Utz adds two to forensic and technology services team

Clayton Utz has expanded its forensic and technology services (FTS) team with two new specialists.

Chelsea Hosking and Pavan Kotha have joined the firm as FTS managers, reflecting the FTS practice’s continued growth that is driven by client demand, the firm said.

Hosking joined Clayton Utz in Canberra from EY, where she was a manager in the forensic and integrity services division.

She has extensive experience in advising and consulting to both private- and public-sector clients, specialising in fraud and non-compliance investigations. She has a masters of fraud and financial crime and has a background in accountancy.

Based in Sydney, Kotha joined Clayton Utz from Deloitte. A certified e-discovery specialist, he has a background in computer science and holds the highest level of qualification in the Relativity e-discovery platform.

Kotha was recently named a member of the “2020 Global Advisory Council” of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (ERDM). Kotha is one of only two Australians to be named to the council, which is chaired by Robert Keeling, a partner at Sidley Austin.

Paul Fontanot, FTS national practice group leader at Clayton Utz, said that Hosking “brings rich experience in fraud and forensic investigations,” which he said is in high demand among clients of the practice. Her experience nicely complements the team’s expertise, he said.

Fontanot said that Kotha will boost the team’s capability in a key area of the practice. “He is a self-described eDiscovery enthusiast who enjoys solving problems, so he is the perfect fit for our team,” he said.

Clayton Utz launched its FTS practice in 2017 with a hire from EY. The firm has regularly hired from the Big Four accounting firms to bolster and grow the division.