News | May 8, 2026
A recent study by Tatyana Avilova, Economist at Secretariat has been selected by the Editor of JAMA Health Forum as an Editor’s Choice: Clinical Trial of 2025.
Contractual Dispute in North Sea Oil Field Operating Agreement
Background
An Operating Agreement dispute as to what specific costs could be charged to the Joint Account in respect of a North Sea oil field following a corporate transaction that changed the cost structure of the Operator.
Our Role
A Secretariat Managing Director was appointed as the Expert Determiner to determine what amounts could be charged by the Operator to the Joint Venture.
Outcome
We considered the submissions from both sides setting out legal and accounting arguments, including legal pleadings, factual witness statements, expert accounting evidence and documentary evidence. We instructed a QC to provide an opinion on the legal matters and then applied the QC’s opinion and our accounting opinion to determine the amounts that could be charged to the Joint Venture. This required detailed analysis of large volumes of cost and accounting data and working with complex legal issues.
Latest Insights
News | May 8, 2026
Secretariat Experts Recognized in Lexology’s 2026 Investigations Report
Ten of Secretariat experts have been recognized in the Lexology Index 2026 Investigations report, produced in partnership with Global Investigations Review. The guide highlights leading investigations lawyers, digital forensic specialists, and forensic accountants who are trusted to support the most demanding matters worldwide.
Article | May 5, 2026
AI is rapidly reshaping how financial institutions in Latin America approach compliance, shifting from reactive monitoring to proactive financial crime detection. Advanced AI platforms specialized in crime detection enable banks to process vast datasets, identify anomalous behaviors, and map hidden relationships across accounts and jurisdictions. This is particularly relevant in a region characterized by complex cross-border flows, uneven regulatory enforcement, and significant exposure to illicit economies.