Accountant & Auditor Liability

Our attorneys, many of whom formerly served as senior SEC Enforcement attorneys, U.S. Attorneys, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Supreme Court Clerks, have extensive experience representing accounting firms and their professionals in a range of civil litigation and matters before the Securities and Exchange Commission, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), Department of Justice, and state boards of accountancy and attorneys general.  Our lawyers also have substantial experience representing accounting firms in international and cross-border engagements, including in Latin America and Asia.  Our attorneys’ dual ability to represent clients facing overlapping regulatory and litigation issues enables us to achieve effective results in an efficient manner.

We have an in-depth understanding of the state and federal regulatory landscape applicable to the accounting profession and the applicable professional standards and accounting principles. We represent accounting firms and their professionals in federal and state government and regulatory investigations and litigation spanning a wide range of issues arising out of all aspects of their business, including audit, tax, and consulting.  Such litigation matters include professional liability, shareholder and securities suits, derivative suits, business disputes, employment disputes, wage and hour class actions, and bankruptcy trustee and receivership cases, and arise out of financial statement audits, royalty audits, theft of trade secrets, public offerings, bond offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and going private transactions, involving a wide range of public and private companies and municipalities.  The team regularly handles high-stakes matters through trial and arbitration and has significant experience serving as lead trial counsel in complex, high-exposure proceedings. The team also represents accounting firms in the deal and restructuring/reorganization context, including helping them navigate the highly regulated environment.

McGuireWoods and members of the Accountant & Auditor Liability Practice Area have been recognized as leading practitioners by Chambers USA, Law360, The Legal 500 U.S., and BTI Consulting, among others. Our accounting firm clients benefit from seamless collaboration between McGuireWoods’ specialty practices, including the Securities Enforcement & Regulatory Counseling, Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation, Business Litigation, Financial Services Litigation, Wage & Hour / Collective Class Action and Trade Secrets & Restrictive Covenants Practice Groups.

With experienced, team-oriented lawyers working together in offices across the country, including Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Charlotte, Chicago, New York and San Francisco, McGuireWoods’ Accountant & Auditor Liability Practice Area gives clients access to comprehensive, strategic, thoughtful, and efficient representation at a moment’s notice.