BDO Stoy Hayward’s senior partner Jeremy Newman has said requests for funding from BDO International firms by BDO Seidman are ‘hypothetical’ and that he does not expect the UK firm to be called upon.

The Bowman Report from the US recently suggested that it expected there may be some kind of ‘capital call’ from the US firm following the huge verdict against it over Bankest.

Whether that would mean US partners being called upon, outside investors in the US coming to help capitalise the firm, or support from fellow members of the international network, remains unclear.

The firm is facing a mammoth $520m (£250m) bill in the US following a finding of gross negligence in its audits of Bankest, a factoring group.

‘We believe that BDO will win some relief on appeal and survive. The days between now and then, however, will be lean. The firm may make a capital call to help bridge the gap,’ the report said.

But Newman said: ‘It is a hypothetical question,’ adding that there was no mechanism for the US firm to ask for funds from elsewhere and that he did not expect the US firm to have difficulties dealing with the issue in the short term.

Though Banco Espirito Santo’s lawyers had initially failed to get the suit extended to BDO International, they are appealing the verdict.

A spokesman for BDO Seidman said: ‘To be talking about a capital call is crazy, irresponsible and incorrect. If any damages end up sticking it won’t be for two to three years.’

Partners and clients were all staying put, he added.