Firm adds veteran expertise in forensic accounting and intellectual property valuation to support clients in complex commercial disputes.
Global consultancy HKA has announced the appointments of Jack Westphal as Partner and Patrick McLane as Principal, significantly expanding the firm's forensic accounting, construction, and intellectual property (IP) capabilities across North America. The hires aim to strengthen the firm's ability to provide clarity in high-stakes litigation and complex capital project disputes.
Jack Westphal joins the firm's construction practice with nearly 20 years of experience in forensic accounting, dispute advisory, and investigative services. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Westphal specializes in supporting owners, contractors, and legal counsel through construction claims, project cost audits, and fraud investigations. He has frequently served as an expert witness in state and federal courts and international arbitrations regarding large-scale infrastructure, environmental, and government contracting matters.
At HKA, Westphal will focus on helping clients navigate financial and regulatory complexities within sectors ranging from transportation and power to real estate and manufacturing. His expertise includes detailed cost analysis and environmental cost recovery under frameworks such as CERCLA. Westphal is a Certified Public Accountant and holds post-baccalaureate accounting credentials from the University of Washington.
Joining the firm's IP practice, Patrick McLane brings more than three decades of experience in IP valuation and damages analysis. He is widely recognized for his work valuing a diverse range of technologies, including artificial intelligence software, pharmaceutical innovations, and semiconductor designs. Throughout his career, McLane has advised on hundreds of litigation matters involving reasonable royalty, lost profits, and trade secret valuations for global technology and energy leaders.
McLane's expertise also extends to strategic licensing analysis and economic modeling for business interruption and breach-of-contract matters. Before joining HKA, he held senior leadership positions at several global advisory firms where he directed valuation and litigation teams. A Certified Management Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner, McLane holds a degree from Baylor University and is a frequent author on advanced IP valuation techniques.
The dual appointments come as HKA continues to expand its multidisciplinary disputes and advisory platform. By integrating Westphal's construction forensic expertise and McLane's deep IP valuation background, the firm aims to bolster its global footprint and provide defensible, data-driven opinions for clients facing increasingly intricate commercial and technological challenges.
SOURCE: HKA
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