Paul Jacobs

Experience

Paul is a Partner and Head of the Forensic & Investigation Services unit in Grant Thornton Ireland. He has delivered and led numerous complex financial investigations as well as acting an expert witness in a broad range of high value commercial disputes.

He has over 25 years’ experience in forensic accounting, in a career spanning 30 years. Paul established Grant Thornton’s forensic, legal technology and cyber security units, having spent over a decade with a Big 4 firm in Dublin, London and New Zealand.

Paul has investigated monies misappropriated and dispersed internationally from Funds, in the context of assisting Grant Thornton Liquidators.

Paul has provides unique solutions by deeply integrating technology solutions in investigations utilising a highly experienced, multi-disciplinary team of professionals in forensic accounting, e-discovery, analytics, incident response, and cyber security.

Recent, investigation and accounting appointments include: the Olympic Council of Ireland (in relation to ticketing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro), the Football Association of Ireland, and being appointed Independent Financial Assessor in Labour Relations Commission industrial relations matters involving the electricity utility (ESB), Aer Lingus, and the Irish postal service, and unions.

He has given expert witness testimony in over 25 occasions including civil litigation in the High Courts of Ireland, England, the Netherlands and the Channel Islands, and arbitration proceedings (ICC). Testimonies include acting as expert for the Defendant in two cases where the claims exceeded €100m, asset tracing arising from construction of a resort in the Caribbean, quantum assessment from termination of contracts, and calculation of capital and interest owed.

Paul has had a number of appointments in the music/entertainment sector, including acting for W2 in a shareholder dispute involving Octagon Films, music artists, and a large concert promoter. Recently, he has been involved in assessing business interruption losses in the context of Covid-19. Paul has had a number of appointments in the music/entertainment sector, including acting for W2 in a shareholder dispute involving Octagon Films, music artists, and a large concert promoter. Recently, he has been involved in assessing business interruption losses in the context of Covid-19 and testified in Court (July 2021) in Ireland’s precedent setting cases.

Sector experience

Specialist areas include:

Expert witness on economic losses and dispute advisory services:

• Claims for loss of profits and consequential losses in complex commercial disputes
• Analysis of product and service costings
• Share valuations
• Completion accounts in corporate acquisitions and disposals

Fraud, money laundering and special purpose investigations:

• Asset tracing and analysis of transactions
• Analysis of accounting entries and proper books of account
• Compliance with requirements of Companies Acts, Regulations and other legislation