S&W appoints new forensic services co-head

S&W has announced the appointment of Chris Osborne as partner and co-head of its forensic services team, who will be based in the London office. 

Osborne, who joins the firm with more than 25 years of experience in forensic accounting, previously established and led the forensic practice at FRP. His remit includes expert witness services in litigation, fraud and corruption investigations, asset-tracing, and regulator inquiries. 

In his new role, Osborne will work alongside David Alexander to lead the team. He is scheduled to take over sole leadership of the forensic practice from Alexander during 2026. 

News of Osborne’s appointment comes after S&W’s forensic department doubled in size under the current leadership. 

According to the firm, it intends to use Osborne’s expertise to expand its resources and specialisation in complex disputes. The firm provides forensic support for clients within the UK and internationally. 

Osborne said: “I am delighted to be joining S&W’s highly regarded forensic services team and also to work alongside the full service offering of the wider firm. As well as co-leading a team of fantastic colleagues, I look forward to continuing to serve clients on investigations, litigation and arbitration matters.”

Alexander said: “We are delighted to welcome Chris to the forensic services leadership team. His reputation in the market, deep technical expertise and extensive expert witness experience make him an exceptional addition to our practice.”

John Rugman, head of advisory at S&W, added: “The practice has doubled in size under David’s leadership, and we are excited that Chris will continue this momentum. We have an exciting growth plan for the practice that builds on our strong capabilities.”