Accounting firms, law firms and their professionals trust Eversheds Sutherland attorneys when faced with lawsuits and regulatory concerns.
Lawsuits and disciplinary actions aimed at accounting firms and attorneys present unique challenges and pressures. When targeted in high-stakes lawsuits and regulatory actions, accountants and attorneys look to Eversheds Sutherland for unbiased advice and experience in successfully resolving professional liability matters. We pride ourselves on providing cost-effective, top-quality service and legal advice. We have a strong track record in taking cases to trial and winning.
For more than 30 years, we have represented accounting firms in hundreds of matters, including major cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Our team is well-versed in the range of challenges that accountants and attorneys can face. We have defended accounting firms with respect to nearly every category of engagement, including audit and assurance, tax, actuarial and consulting services, and in cases involving pension plans, mortgage-backed securities, subprime lending, banking, oil and gas, health care, insurance, construction, manufacturing, distribution, retail, real estate limited partnerships, computer software, leasing and other industries. We have handled matters as far west as Texas and as far north as New York and Michigan.
Our experience with regulators is equally strong and diverse. We have successfully dealt with, among others, the SEC, DOJ, FBI, IRS, PCAOB, AICPA, FDIC, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, HUD, SIG TARP, Senate and House committees, US Attorney’s Offices in multiple jurisdictions, the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, and various state agencies and accountancy boards.
With the February 2017 combination of Eversheds and Sutherland, we represent accounting firms and their professionals in multijurisdictional litigation and regulatory matters around the world. Our client roster includes multiple non-US members of global network firms, with litigation and regulatory matters spanning Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Our team, from partners to paralegals, understands the accounting profession and its recurring issues and sensitivities. We train our team on the basics of financial statements, accounting rules and the audit process, and we closely monitor developments in accounting rules and the regulatory process.
We also represent law firms in a variety of disputes ranging from legal malpractice and fraud actions, to securities arbitrations, to claims under workers’ compensation statutes. Our work for law firms includes individual and class actions, arbitrations and cases in state and federal courts in Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Hawaii.
Why Eversheds Sutherland?
- Trial experience. Our representation of accountants and lawyers is handled by a group of attorneys who have extensive experience litigating professional liability and other cases.
- Full-service strength. When our clients’ needs require additional resources, we draw on the experience of other Eversheds Sutherland attorneys in connection with tax, financial services and complex commercial transactions.
- Collaboration. We understand our clients’ businesses, leverage our capabilities and experience internally, and work cooperatively with our clients to minimize duplicative or time-consuming efforts.
- Recognized leadership. Our attorneys are leaders in the professional liability bar and are regular speakers and contributors to ALI-CLE and ABA committees, seminars and publications regarding professional liability issues.
- Speed. Because of our familiarity with the accounting profession and the applicable professional literature and substantive law, our learning curve on new professional liability matters is minimal, enabling us to assess and defend cases efficiently and effectively.
- Experience. We can avoid common pitfalls that could drag down our defense of clients.
- In-house training. We work to educate our own attorneys and staff on issues relevant to professional liability, so they are not learning on our clients’ time.
Nuts and Bolts
Eversheds Sutherland provides comprehensive services to attorneys and accountants faced with a range of issues:
- Malpractice and professional negligence claims
- Negligent misrepresentation and fraud claims
- Bankruptcy and other insolvency-related proceedings, investigations and litigation brought by trustees, receivers and creditors
- Securities fraud class actions
- SEC and DOJ investigations
- Other federal and state regulatory proceedings
- Internal investigations
- Jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations
- AICPA, PCAOB and state licensing board proceedings
- State and federal RICO actions
- State and federal regulatory proceedings and investigations, including proceedings under the False Claims Act and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Eversheds Sutherland understands the challenges facing accountants and attorneys in professional liability actions. We assess cases promptly and efficiently, help negotiate successful resolutions before litigation is filed when appropriate, and take cases to trial when the facts warrant.
