Clayton Utz has hired two new forensic specialists for its recently launched Forensic and Technology Services (FTS) practice service, appointing Owen Bourke and Meg McKechnie as directors.
McKechnie, who will head the firm’s forensic investigations service nationally, has more than 20 years’ experience in corporate misconduct, financial crime, and corporate governance failing investigations in Australia and Asia. The qualified investigator and chartered accountant was involved in the inquiry on the collapses of HIH Insurance and OneTel.
With experience in both the private sector and government, she has held senior roles at the Australian Securities & Investments Commission and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
According to the firm, McKechnie has extensive experience in gathering evidence, financial analysis, and quantification of economic damages required for administrative, civil and criminal proceedings.
Bourke is an expert in digital evidence management, delivery of hosted data processing, early case assessment, and document review solutions. He is a specialist in the use of the Relativity eDiscovery platform and is the first accredited “Relativity Expert” in the Asia Pacific.
He has more than 15 years’ experience has worked in various capacities as forensic investigator in government agencies such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Taxation Office, and companies including KordaMentha, e.law Asia Pacific, Codasen, and icourts.
His work in the private sector involved delivering sophisticated evidence collection and analysis services supporting litigation, investigations, and regulatory investigations. He recently led the design and implementation of a case management and data analysis platform for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The appointments follow the hiring of Paul Fontanot from EY
in February to lead the FTS service. He was the Asia-Pacific quality and risk leader for the accounting giant’s fraud investigation and disputes team.
“We are taking the front foot to help clients identify and manage early on the increasingly common commercial, regulatory and reputation risks to their business,” Fontanot said.
Owen Bourke
Meg McKechnie
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