Equal Representation for Expert Witnesses Spotlight Series Featuring Victoria Richards

Equal Representation for Expert Witnesses (ERE) featured FRA Director Victoria Richards in their June edition of their Spotlight Series, coordinated by the ERE Young Practitioners’ Committee. Read the full Q&A below.

Victoria, please tell us a little more about your background:

I qualified as an accountant with a mid-sized firm in London’s West End, working across audit, general accounting, and tax compliance. My first foray into forensic accounting and investigations began over 20 years ago when I joined the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as an investigator. It was a steep learning curve, with early exposure to investigative interviews, the execution of search warrants, and asset tracing.

I had the opportunity to work on several high-profile cases and particularly valued the collaboration within multidisciplinary teams. Coming from an accounting background, I found it immensely rewarding to work alongside Police officers and Counsel, gaining new perspectives and learning from each other.

After my time at the SFO, I moved back into private practice, where I started focusing more on expert witness work, alongside investigations and wider forensic accounting. I’ve held roles at Moore Stephens, BDO, and Kroll, and I recently joined FRA’s Disputes team. Since then, I’ve been appointed as expert witness on cases involving a post-acquisition dispute and the valuation of assets linked to inheritance matters.

What has been the highlight of your career?

There have been a few standout moments. Giving expert evidence for the first time in the High Court in London is one I’ll never forget. I was understandably a little nervous, but the preparation really paid off, and it went smoothly. The judge was very complimentary about my evidence, which made it all feel worthwhile.

Another career highlight was during my time at the SFO — my evidence contributed to a number of successful trials involving boiler room frauds. Those cases resulted in custodial sentences for 12 individuals and helped secure justice for victims who had lost millions. It was hugely rewarding to be part of something so meaningful.

I also spent a few years working across Africa, which was both a personal and professional highlight. It gave me the chance to experience different cultures and ways of working, which broadened my perspective enormously.

What has been the biggest challenge of your career?

I’ve been lucky to have worked with supportive and inspiring colleagues throughout my career, so I’ve rarely had to face challenges alone.

That said, coming back into the profession after a longer career break was definitely a moment of uncertainty. I wasn’t sure how it would be received, but I was pleasantly surprised — people were encouraging, supportive, and in some cases, even a bit envious! It reminded me that your network is often more resilient and supportive than you think.

What career advice would you give your younger self?

Take the time to understand the wider organisation you’re a part of. Learn what your colleagues are trying to achieve and how you can support them. Showing an interest in other practice areas not only broadens your own perspective—it also builds goodwill and collaborative relationships.

And, if in doubt, pick up the phone. It’s amazing how much clearer things become after a quick call, especially in this age of endless email chains!

What is the secret to having longevity as an expert witness?

Trust is everything. Instructing lawyers and clients need to have confidence in their expert—and that trust is built over time through consistently high-quality work and professional integrity.

It's crucial to stay within your area of expertise, remain independent, and always comply with your duties as an expert. Building long-term relationships also makes a big difference; collaborative and productive working relationships are key to repeat instructions.

Experience helps raise your profile, but this takes time. Mentorship and sponsorship from more seasoned experts—whether through co-authoring reports or informal support—can significantly help new experts build credibility and exposure.

Question from last month’s interviewee (Zawadi Lemayian, Charles River Associates): What’s the one piece of advice you wish you’d had before writing your first expert report?

Plan, plan, plan. It’s tempting to start writing before your views are fully crystallised, and sometimes the act of drafting can help refine your thinking. But in my experience, the most efficient and effective approach is to create a detailed skeleton of the report first. This structure guides your analysis and makes the drafting process much smoother.

What would you like to ask the next expert to be featured in the Spotlight Series?

What skill have you found most valuable in your work as an expert witness (outside of technical expertise)?