Ash

Klass

Director

Paris

French

English

What our clients say

"Ash knows the Brazilian market like no one in his area."

Client Reference

Lexology Index

What our clients say

"He can distill complex information into understandable and persuasive presentations for government investigators and corporate stakeholders."

Client Reference

Lexology Index

Expertise

Investigations

Ability to Pay Reviews

Disputes

Disgorgement and Penalty Calculations

International Arbitration

Forensic Accounting

Fraud

Monitorships

Internal Investigations

Bribery and Corruption

Company Monitor Support

Audit and Accounting Advisory

Advisory

Ash Klass leads complex, high-stakes forensic accounting and compliance engagements worldwide. With over 14 years’ experience in bribery and corruption, asset tracing, and disgorgement, he advises clients on multinational investigations, penalty and profit calculations, and DOJ monitorships. Ash has carried out financial analysis and disgorgement calculations for regulators such as the US DOJ and SEC, French PNF, UK SFO, Brazil CGU/AGU and others.

Ash Klass, a Director at FRA, is a qualified accountant with over 14 years of experience in forensic accounting, bribery and corruption, risk, compliance, asset tracing, disgorgement and ability-to-pay calculations. Ash has been involved in a wide range of assignments in the aerospace, banking, trading, oil and gas, engineering, manufacturing, software, medical supplies industries across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Ash has considerable experience in carrying out disgorgement, gain calculations, accounting analysis and ability-to-pay studies in the context of investigations carried out by global enforcement agencies. Ash is currently leading a team undertaking a penalty calculation in the context of Brazilian enforcement agencies investigations into a European multinational firm using illicit payments to win supply contracts in Latin America. He supported Switzerland-based commodities trading firm Gunvor SA and its external counsel in a complex profit calculation that led to a $660mn fine and profit forfeiture, agreed with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Swiss Office of the Attorney General.

Ash has also carried out forensic accounting and financial analysis for profit disgorgement calculations for settlements with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), French Parquet National Financier (PNF), UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and Brazilian authorities: Advogado-Geral da União (AGU), the Controladoria-Geral da União (CGU) and the Ministério Público Federal (MPF).

Ash was part of the FRA team supporting Airbus in a multi-year forensic accounting and eDiscovery review within the context of the company’s multinational investigation, reporting to investigative authorities including the SFO, DOJ and PNF. The investigation involved analysis of complex cross-border financial flows and sophisticated accounting schemes. Ash carried out an ability-to-pay analysis to assess the financial and economic impact that a penalty would have on the company’s ongoing operations.

Ash also has experience in carrying out a multinational DOJ monitorship in the manufacturing industry; tracing assets through North African and European jurisdictions as a result of sanctions imposed by the EU during the Arab Spring; undertaking bribery and corruption reviews of a large European bank; and supporting internal investigations for an international engineering firm.

Prior to joining FRA’s forensic accounting team, Ash was with EY’s Advisory practice in Perth, Australia, where he worked with several multinational mining clients focusing on internal audit, process improvement, risk, compliance, contract management and the bribery and corruption risks associated with the tender award process.

Ash is a qualified Chartered Accountant, a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). He received his Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Financial Planning from Curtin University, Western Australia.

Airbus: Managed a team supporting the multi-year, multinational investigation, resulting in a EUR 3.6b settlement with four investigative authorities: the UK SFO, the US DOJ and DOS, and the French PNF. She also worked on the fine calculation analysis that served as the basis for the global settlement across the four authorities.
Seatrium: Supported the USD 190m settlement between the Singapore-based offshore energy company and the Brazilian authorities (AGU, CGU & MPF), and the DPA and related penalty negotiations with Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
Gunvor: Supported the proactive independent assessment of Swiss-based commodities trading firm Gunvor SA’s global compliance program as part of bribery investigations by the US DOJ and Swiss authorities.
Cybersecurity Company: Performed a global ABAC risk assessment covering over 60 entities across more than 45 countries, tailored to the requirements of the Sapin II law and the Agence Française Anticorruption (AFA), and supported the gain calculation.
Financial Services Company: Supported a regulatory investigation into multiple AML and sanctions issues related to high-risk unsecured lending, assets under management, capital exposure and potential insider trading.
Engineering Manufacturer: Supported the investigation into whistleblower allegations that revenue was overstated and costs were undervalued with respect to certain long-term manufacturing projects, with findings presented to the client’s general counsel, external auditors and audit committee.
Manufacturer: Supported gain calculation and negotiations with the French PNF.
Multinational Engineering Company: Conducted a multi-faceted risk assessment of the acquired company’s projects, joint ventures, and countries of operation to target the areas posing the greatest bribery and corruption risk, the results of which, together with the due diligence plan, were presented to the US DOJ and World Bank.
Healthcare Solutions Company: Supported a gain calculation and ability to pay analysis relating to a False Claims Act investigation, the results of which were used by the US DOJ in its penalty assessment and final settlement with the company.