Ian Varley - Director
Ian has had 33 years’ experience in criminal law enforcement and investigation. Within Beattie Varley, his primary role is working with barristers and clients on the investigative (non-financial) aspects of files including the interviewing and briefing of witnesses (including clients), the collation and analysis of relevant evidence and chronologies, and the preparation of files for court. Ian’s expertise over many years in the building of prosecution files allows him to readily advise counsel on any investigative merits or deficiencies in cases brought by third parties.
After 23 years in the NZ Police, the majority of which time was served as a Detective in the Auckland Central CIB, he served 10 Years in the Serious Fraud Office in a number of central and senior positions. At the SFO, Ian managed multi-disciplinary teams and provided operational and tactical advice, as well as setting the required standards for efficient and effective investigations.
In addition to his well-known expertise generally in criminal investigation, Ian has highly-developed skills in the assessment of documentary and oral information and in developing efficient plans for any investigation or review activity that may be appropriate. If the file warrants it, Ian works in conjunction with Beattie Varley’s forensic accounting team to ensure a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary solution is provided to counsel.
David Osborn - Director
Prior to co-founding Beattie Varley, David spent nearly 20 years at the Serious Fraud Office in various senior positions. Within Beattie Varley, his primary responsibility is to lead the forensic accounting discipline. He works extensively in the reconstruction and analysis of financial transactions.
David’s clients include a number of Government agencies but he is regularly retained to assist counsel defending claims in the civil jurisdiction or charges in the criminal jurisdiction. David is recognised by the courts as an expert in forensic accounting, and has given expert evidence on numerous occasions in the New Zealand courts and in Australia and Vanuatu. David has expertise in all aspects of litigation support – including the management of electronic and manual information/evidence, the briefing of prosecution and defence files and the presentation of financial and non-financial material in court. His particular specialisation is in applying effective information-gathering and investigation techniques to commercial and financial activity and then presenting findings in an easily understood and effective manner.
David was responsible for the development and enhancement of a number of key operating systems and procedures used at the SFO in its investigation and prosecution work and this has allowed him to assist his current clients with the development of their own systems and the efficient completion of ongoing investigations.
Karen Greenwood - Forensic Accountant
Karen joined the Beattie Varley team in November 2012, enhancing its forensic accounting capacity and bringing significant additional expertise to the firm. Karen has an established pedigree in forensic accounting having first joined the Serious Fraud Office in 2006. Her technical abilities and agility around complex business structures and transactions were recognised by SFO management and she was assigned to some of the most challenging files on the books of that agency.
From February 1998 until June 2006, Karen was a member of the specialist tax services team at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. During that time she was seconded, for 18 months, to PwC's London Office. Between January 2005 and June 2006, as Senior Manager, she led a small specialist-team auditing the tax positions of approximately 180 PWC clients, The role required her to determine and report on the accuracy of tax balances in draft financial statements and to provide options and solutions for the resolution and mitigation of tax risk.
From May 2008 until August 2011, Karen was contracted by Tower Limited as its Tax Manager. Karen's role included ensuring that Towers' tax and regulatory reporting obligations were addressed in an accurate and timely manner. She also had responsibility identifying the impact of new and amended tax legislation on Towers financial position and ensuring that all necessary changes to strategies, systems, and processes were implemented. Karen has a Bachelors degree in Commerce & Administration from Victoria University (BCA - 1997) and is a member of Chartered Accountants, Australia and New Zealand.