John Temple-Cole

John is a partner in our forensic group. He is a CA Forensic Accounting Specialist, and has over 25 years’ experience in the field of forensic accounting. He specialises in large scale and complex financial investigations and disputes relating to quantification, loss of profit/damages, and accounting irregularities. He has led numerous engagements requiring careful project management, including:

• financial investigations and ‘Forensic audit’
• investigation of accounting irregularities
• fraud investigations
• tax avoidance investigations
• flow of funds and asset tracing
• loss of profit/damages in commercial disputes, international arbitration and class actions.

John has given evidence in a range of Australian Courts and tribunals, the High Court of Singapore and in domestic and international arbitration proceedings. He has a reputation for being upfront about the issues and is constantly in contact with clients.
John is passionate about coaching and mentoring members of his team and helping them deliver on engagements to achieve their professional goals.
Who’s Who Legal/Global Investigations Review – Thought Leaders, 2020, Investigations – Forensic Accountants, 2020, Consulting Experts – Forensic Accountants, 2020..

Significant engagements

• Dick Smith. Engaged by solicitors acting for the audit firm against which various claims and cross-claims were brought following the collapse of well-known home electronics retail chain Dick Smith. Our reports responded to a series of expert reports quantifying alleged accounting irregularities and understatements in the audited accounts of Dick Smith, in particular relating to the carrying value of inventory, and provisions related to these. The Class Actions were subsequently withdrawn. 
• R v Edward Obeid, Moses Obeid and Ian MacDonald. Engaged by the NSW DPP to provide independent expert evidence to review large volumes of information (including financial statements, bank statements, accounting ledgers, trust deeds and property documentation), and set out our findings in an expert report for use as evidence in Court. As part of our report, we were also required to prepare a series of visual aids to assist the Court. Our report provided an independent and detailed account of the events in question and was tendered in evidence for trial, and was ultimately not challenged by the defendant’s lawyers. The accused were each found guilty. [R v Macdonald; R v Edward Obeid; R v Moses Obeid (No 17) [2021] NSWSC 858] 
• Licence dispute between Aircraft manufacturer and Chinese license partner. Preparation of expert reports relating to loss of profits, and provision of oral evidence at hearing in an ICC international arbitration matter.
• Consumer products, China master franchise dispute. Preparation of expert’s reports in ICC international arbitration hearing.
• Acciona Australia v Transport for New South Wales. Costs analysis in proceedings alleging misleading and deceptive conduct for the Design and Construct contract for the $1.5 billion Sydney Light Rail project.
• Oswals v Commissioner of Taxation. Expert’s reports on behalf of Commissioner in a CGT dispute, concerning verification of costs.
• Emirates Park. Expert’s report and evidence in criminal proceedings following investigation of an invoicing fraud. The accused was found guilty on all 14 charges, covering approximately four years and $13 million, and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Languages

• Working proficiency in spoken and written Chinese (Mandarin).

Memberships

• Fellow Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (FCA)
• Fellow Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA, UK).