EY opens new forensic technology hub in Manchester

Professional services firm EY has opened its newly established Manchester-based forensic technology hub, specialised in eDiscovery. The new practice currently boasts a team of 14 experts, and EY expects to grow the headcount with another 38 professionals in the coming two years.

EY’s newly established Forensic Technology and Discovery Services (FTDS) practice, focused on fraud investigations, disputes, regulatory reviews, regulatory compliance monitoring, fraud risk management, and transaction monitoring, has opened for business. The practice is based in Manchester, and is EY’s first dedicated forensic technology hub outside of London. The FTDS practice specialises in eDiscovery, and does so through the collecting, managing and analysing of data for legal disputes and regulatory investigations for its clients across the UK.

To boost FTDS's capabilities, EY has recently appointed 12 professionals; eight new Associates and Executives, and four 'transfers' from its London-based team. Christopher Brown, Thomas Jackson and Seth Hughes, who join from London, have been promoted to Forensic Technology & eDiscovery Services Manager. Jackson and Hughes both joined EY in 2010 as FTDS Associate, were promoted to FTDS Executive in 2012. Jack Evans, who joined EY in 2013 as Associate, will take on the role of Executive.

“The outstanding team that we have already recruited and the high volume of applications for roles we have received to date reinforce why the region was chosen for the lab. The North West’s exceptional higher education institutions and thriving technology sector underpin a strong talent pool that is enabling us to build a national forensic centre for excellence,” says Chris Marks, EY’s North West FTDS Practice Leader.

With the 12 newly appointed professionals, the headcount in the North West FTDS practice rises to 14, and EY plans to add another 38 FTE to the team in the next two years.