Profile: Colum Bancroft

Colum is a Managing Director based in Hong Kong and leads Kroll’s Financial Investigations practice across Greater China. Colum has extensive experience assisting clients on local and multijurisdictional issues in areas such as asset tracing and recovery; family, partnership, shareholder, and other business disputes; insider dealing and share price manipulation; money laundering; and fraud and misappropriation of assets.

Colum has in-depth knowledge of construction and manufacturing in Mainland China, and he has advised clients across industries, including aviation, shipping and logistics; property development; technology; financial and professional services; hospitality and leisure; wholesale and retail; and education and non-profit organizations.

Professional Experience:

• Led an investigation into fraud and misappropriation of client assets at a securities brokerage firm, which involved extensive coordination with the Commercial Crime Bureau and the Securities and Futures Commission, and resulted in a successful prosecution by the Department of Justice (DoJ).
• Appointed by the Court as joint administrator to trace and secure the assets of a Hong Kong-based hedge fund after its directors had absconded.
• Commissioned by a US District Attorney’s Office to investigate and report on specific regulatory matters.
• Prepared a report for the DoJ in relation to a money laundering prosecution.
• Prepared an Expert report in a prosecution for insider trading.
• Appointed by various consortia of Hong Kong banks to review the operational and financial performance of PRC manufacturing companies, making viability assessments and recommendations for improving profitability and cash flow in order to optimize recovery of distressed assets.
• Engaged by a Hong Kong-listed property developer to report on, and provide recommendations in relation to, the methodology for calculating management fee charges.
• Appointed by the DoJ as Expert in two civil cases to establish the quantum of losses incurred due to breaches on government contracts.
• Assisted in the discovery process in relation to Hong Kong arbitration proceedings brought by a US company attempting to rescind, due to the alleged fraudulent misrepresentation of the sellers, a contract under which it had acquired a PRC logistics group.
• Prepared an Expert report for a Chinese state-owned enterprise in relation to court proceedings in Singapore.
• Retained in relation to numerous family and business disputes, often arising due to the alleged breach of fiduciary duty or other malfeasance, to ascertain the facts, quantify the financial impact, and provide written and oral evidence, as required.
• Carried out a detailed review of the accounting, internal control, and reporting procedures of a leading law firm, and prepared a report setting out findings and recommendations.
• Appointed by the Audit Committee of a PRC-based, US-listed company to carry out a forensic investigation into alleged financial and corporate governance irregularities, together with an FCPA compliance review.

Prior to joining Kroll, Colum was a partner in the Hong Kong office of an international accounting firm, and for six years managed a group of companies engaged in purchasing, manufacturing, and interior contracting in Greater China. Thereafter, he developed and led the 20-strong forensic accounting practice of an independent professional services firm, and was retained on a wide range of matters to investigate, analyze, interpret, summarize, and present complex financial and business issues.

Education, Certifications and Recognitions:

• Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
• Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Practicing member of the Academy of Experts (UK)
• Member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners(USA)
• University of Leeds, BA (1, Hons) Econ.