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Global law firm Clyde & Co has brought its forensic and investigative advisory expertise to the Middle East. At the head of the new regional offering is former Big Four senior Neal Ysart.

With a team of more than 40 partners and 300 employees, Clyde & Co is one of the larger international law firms with a presence in the Middle East. The company is expanding the portfolio of its regional regulatory and investigative practice and is now launching a consulting branch that specializes in investigating fraudulent or illegal (financial) activities.

“Typically, companies need to involve both business consultants and lawyers in order to achieve their regulatory goals. This new service provides a single point of contact that saves both time and money and helps identify legal or regulatory concerns early, ”said Matthew Shanahan, who leads the Middle East Regulatory and Investigative Practice.

Around the world, Clyde & Co’s Regulatory & Investigations practice helps clients comply with regulations throughout their business – whether it be complying with national financial regulations or navigating the international legal minefield.

The company is very familiar with the existing legal framework and is able to react quickly to new laws – a dozen in the current business environment. An experienced team of regulators, business consultants and law enforcement specialists will now bring this complex range of services to the Middle East.

The aim is to help an increasingly dynamic and international business environment avoid the risk of financial crime or conduct investigations when violations occur. New businesses are emerging in the region every day and the complexity of entrepreneurship often leads to accidental regulatory violations – especially in the age of technology and data laws.

Neal Ysart

The face of Clyde & Co’s new advisory role is Neal Ysart – a 35-year veteran who was appointed Lead Regulatory & Investigations Advisor in the Dubai office. As a police officer, Ysart was with Scotland Yard for more than 16 years, leading undercover investigations into human trafficking.

He got his first professional service experience in 2000 when he joined Big Four’s accounting and advisory firm PwC as Senior Manager, Forensic Services, investigating regulatory and money laundering worldwide. Ysart came to Dubai in 2014 to lead the HSBC Know-your-Customer group in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Most recently, he was a director at the Big Four company EY, helping clients address security threats. Shanahan praised Ysart’s “unique investigative experience” and highlighted his strategic value in the global regulatory and investigation practice at Clyde & Co.

Ysart described his new challenge as an “exciting opportunity” and praised the innovative new model. “I am thrilled to be joining a company with such a broad offering and reputation as Clyde & Co. This is a unique approach and I believe companies will certainly benefit from having legal expertise and regulatory interpretation incorporated into it Results are integrated. “