Hank Kahrs is a principal with Baker Tilly’s forensic, litigation and valuation services practice. He is a magnet for high-profile legal disputes filled with anomalies that require judgment and a nuanced understanding that can only come from experience. For the past 25 years, Hank has practiced as a forensic accountant and fraud examiner quantifying economic damages in complex commercial, civil and criminal cases. His career has seen him quantifying IP damages related to images of 1950s Hollywood royalty, working with rock stars in contract disputes, and valuing assets and businesses in diverse industries, including technology, medical devices, and manufacturing.
Hank’s judgment is respected and trusted by his clients. He has worked extensively with law firms serving as an expert in hundreds of cases, testifying in trials, arbitrations and depositions, and has been involved with cases involving the quantification of damages resulting from:
- Fraud schemes
- Business valuation
- Partnership and corporate dissolution
- Asset tracing
- Breach of contract
- Trademark and copyright infringements
- Contract and shareholder disputes
- Personal injury and wrongful death
- Working on behalf of singer Josh Todd and the band Buckcherry, quantified economic damages in a legal dispute with the band’s former manager following the breakup of the band. Our analysis enabled Josh to sever his personal services contract and to reunite Buckcherry, leading to the release of a new platinum album
- Calculating the value of a publicly traded medical device company that specializes in the production of pain pumps in connection with a public merger transaction
- Calculating the lost profits for a rubber manufacturing business in California that was destroyed in a fire. Analysis included the valuation of damaged inventory and equipment and the impact of extra expenses incurred in clean up and re-opening the business
- Reviewing the books and records for a textile wholesaler in California whose owner was accused of arson when a fire damaged the business. Accounting irregularities including transfers of cash from personal accounts and false customer invoices were uncovered, indicating a financial motive for the arson. The engagement also involved the calculation of value of the damaged inventory and lost profits and giving expert testimony at the criminal trial
- Assisting in a trademark infringement case in California involving improper use of a trademark in advertising. Calculated the profits earned by the infringing party and assisted in the settlement negotiations when the infringer offered its business as part of the settlement. Also provided insight into the valuation issues to procure a better settlement
- Calculating the fair market value of shares owned by an employee of a spa manufacturing company in California who had been bought out based on fraudulent representations made by a majority shareholder. The damage calculation included profits not distributed to the shareholder, corrections to profits as a result of irregularities committed by the majority shareholder, and analyses of corporate contributions and underpayment to the employee for the value of the shares
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA)
- Institute of Certified Management Accountants (IMA)
- Financial Management Honor Society
- National Association of Forensic Economists (NAFE)
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
- American Society of Appraisers (ASA)
- Boys & Girls Club of Tustin, board of directors, 2009–2019
- California State University Blue Ribbon committee, 2012–present
- Coastline Community College Foundation, board of directors, 2010–present
- Hank has participated in seminars and presentations to colleagues and members of the insurance industry and legal profession through trade associations on topics such as investigative accounting, fraud, the measurement of economic damages, the economics of intellectual property, understanding financial statements, and using and cross-examining experts. He has also authored and delivered numerous continuing legal and accounting education courses, including:
• “Cross Examining a Financial Expert,” private law firm seminar, December 2015
• Lie Spotting,” private law firm seminar, February 2015
• “Cross Examining an Expert,” private law firm seminar, June 2014
• “If It’s All About the Money, Which Expert is Right for You?,” Litigation Management, Winter 2013
• “Forensic Accounting in Divorce Cases,” private webinar, November 2013
• “Effective Use of an Expert,” private law firm seminar, September 2013
• “Understanding Business Valuation,” San Diego Bar Association, November 2012
• “Effective Use of an Expert,” panel with Jan Ramsay & Kurt Grosz, Orange County Bar Association, May 2012
• “Understanding Financial Statements,” Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, March 2012
• “The Economics of Intellectual Property,” Webster University, March 2012
• “Adjustments in Divorce Assignments,” private law firm seminar, March 2011
• “Reading & Understanding Financial Statements,” California State Bar Association, January 2011
