Professional Liability

The representation of licensed professionals is a unique and often misunderstood practice area with its own playbook. When facing complex professional liability claims, you need a team that not only commands the courtroom but also understands the responsibilities and risks that professionals face in their day-to-day work.

Dickinson Wright’s Professional Liability practice tirelessly advocates for accountants, lawyers, real estate agents, corporate directors, and other professionals, resolving matters quickly and effectively. When litigation is involved, our attorneys understand that adversarial proceedings are costly and time-consuming. We proactively address concerns and assist our clients with establishing effective risk-avoidance strategies to resolve lawsuits before trial. Our clients benefit from our creative and efficient approach to the adversary process.

Our Services

From pre-suit investigation through discovery, summary judgment, then trial and appeal, our professional liability lawyers provide comprehensive services to our clients through every stage of a lawsuit. We assist professionals in a variety of claims and proceedings, including:

• Accounting firm acquisitions
• Alleged breach of fiduciary duties
• Alleged professional malpractice
• Alleged violations of state & federal securities law
• Alternative dispute resolution
• Business tort litigation
• Complaints before disciplinary boards.
• Counseling clients on regulatory compliance and professional standards
• Departing partner issues, including non-compete and other restrictions
• Financial statement audit failures
• Pre-suit liability assessment based on a threatened claim assessment
• Regulatory Investigation
• Reviewing and implementing internal policies and procedures, including document retention and information technology policy

Accountants Law

Accountants wear many different hats and serve in various roles, including financial and business operation consultants, IT consultants, independent auditors, tax planners and strategists, and trustees and personal representatives for affluent clients. At Dickinson Wright, our attorneys represent accounting firms of all sizes ranging from the solo practitioner to large national accounting firms. Our attorneys have been immersed in the accounting profession for over two decades and are well-versed in the law and standards that apply to their field. They have served on the American Institute of CPAs Auditing Standards Board, the Board responsible for promulgating auditing standards for the profession. Our attorneys have also served on the Florida Board of Accountancy, which is responsible for licensing and regulating accountants in Florida.

Our representation of accountants includes handling professional liability claims of all kinds, including investigations and disciplinary matters brought by State Boards of Accountancy, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. We represent and assist CPAs in all of the capacities they occupy.

Attorney Representation

Strategic representation by experienced counsel can make all the difference for lawyers and law firms facing alleged negligence or other malfeasance claims. Our professional liability team understands lawyers and the work they do, which allows us to work assiduously to earn the trust and respect of our attorney clients. We provide representation in a variety of areas and subjects, including:

• Charges of ethical violations under the applicable Bar rules
• Professional negligence claims
• Conflict of interest claims
• Alleged claims of a breach of fiduciary duty
• Employment matters

Additionally, as a full-service law firm, our professional liability lawyers work closely with our colleagues across other departments to address and mitigate every point of concern that may emerge, including:

Dickinson Wright’s Professional Liability practice is committed to helping licensed professionals facing complex claims. Our extensive experience in this unique area of law enables us to continue bringing matters to a favorable outcome and empowering our clients in their work.