Forensic accountant J.P. Gingras took the stand Friday in the government’s embezzlement trial against Atlanta lawyer Nathan Hardwick IV, despite vociferous behind-the-scenes objections from prosecutors on the case.

The government has alleged that Hardwick stole $26 million from his now-bankrupt law firm, Morris Hardwick Schneider, by directing MHS’s former controller, Asha Maurya, to wire funds from its operating and escrow accounts directly to casinos, bookies and jet charter companies as well as to his personal holding company, Divot Holdings. Prosecutors presented thousands of pages of documentation to the jurors during their case, which they wrapped up on Oct. 2.