Services

Services for Family Lawyers

image Business Valuation  |  Computer Forensics  | Property Division  | Asset Tracing

HSSK assists lawyers and their clients in identifying separate and community property, tracing assets and claims for reimbursement, and valuing the business interests owned by the community estate.  Services related to the dissolution of a marriage can be one of the most challenging assignments undertaken by any professional.  Our firm's combined and unique experience in valuation, financial forensics, and computer forensics has led to a multitude of engagements in this specialized area.

Business Valuation and Property Division
Identification and valuation of marital assets requires not only a thorough understanding of valuation principles, but also of the various standards of "divorce value" incorporated in the law of the states, such as Texas’ separation of goodwill or intangible value of the business into two components, that which is personal to the owner/spouse and that which is a part of the business. HSSK has provided services involving community property division for over 30 years.  The principals and senior staff are among the most experienced, credentialed and qualified in the profession and are recognized as expert witnesses throughout Texas and the U.S., allowing HSSK to successfully serve our family law clients.

Healthcare Valuation
The Healthcare Valuation Group at HSSK is exclusively focused on serving the healthcare industry. This intense focus allows us to stay on top of the regulatory changes and industry dynamics that impact valuations.  For divorce matters involving healthcare valuation, please contact Don Barbo in the Dallas office.

Computer Forensics
Computer Forensics is one of the fastest growing areas in family law, rapidly changing the landscape of information available to attorneys, including:

  • Hidden Assets
  • Business Dealings
  • Financial Information
  • Inappropriate Internet Activity
  • Extramarital Affairs
  • Deleted E-Mail

HSSK computer forensics experts will guide you through the complex process of electronic analysis using sound forensic methodology properly preserving the data and the chain of custody.  As demonstrated by our testimony experience, we can effectively communicate technical matters and issues to clients, judges and juries regardless of their technical knowledge.

Nation’s First Accreditation
HSSK Houston is distinguished as operating the nation’s first private computer forensics lab accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB).

Representative Engagements

Business Valuation

  • Complex valuation of an interest in a law firm which was a participant in the Texas Tobacco settlement, including calculating the present value of the stream of revenues that was highly dependent on the future sale of “tobacco units”.  The settlement was also under challenge by the Texas Attorney General and other lawyers.
  • HSSK has significant experience in performing valuations for family law matters, including valuing businesses, partnerships, professional practices, stock options, oil and gas interests, and minority ownership interests, to name a few.

Computer Forensics

  • Recovered hidden files detailing undisclosed assets
  • Recovered deleted internet history disclosing extramarital affairs
  • Recovered information used to locate kidnapped child leading to a safe return
  • Broke encryption on password protected files containing financial information

Healthcare Valuation

  • Determined fair market value and gave expert testimony at trial of a primary care medical practice (family practice), including the identification of personal goodwill.  Court agreed with our opinion. Client was the non-physician spouse
  • Determined fair market value of a pediatric physician practice, including identification of personal goodwill, used by the parties for the settlement of community property.  Client was the physician spouse.

Asset Tracing

  • HSSK has completed many engagements requiring detailed forensic tracing and characterization of assets for marital estates ranging from several hundred thousand to over several hundred million dollars.

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