For more than 25 years, Williams & Connolly LLP has defended major law and accounting firms nationwide in professional liability litigation and disciplinary proceedings. The firm currently represents a global accounting firm in a series of arbitrations regarding tax shelter advice. The firm has successfully tried a number of major cases for our law firm clients.  Williams & Connolly LLP lawyers tried and won a case against a Wall Street law firm alleging malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty. Another trial on behalf of a different Wall Street law firm facing claims of aiding and abetting its former client in an alleged fraud in connection with a private financing transaction resulted in a hung jury. Williams & Connolly LLP successfully defended a law firm in a lengthy bench trial where a former bank client alleged both transactional and trial malpractice. Most recently, the firm defended a law firm that had advised Enron before its collapse. After four years of intense litigation, the class plaintiffs dropped all claims against the law firm with no settlement or other payment from the firm.

For a large Washington law firm, Williams & Connolly successfully argued a motion to dismiss in a claim of overbilling by a technology company.  A national law firm defended by Williams & Connolly was dismissed from the largest securities case pending against a law firm at the time. Williams & Connolly LLP lawyers represented a law firm sued by two stock brokers under investigation by the securities and criminal authorities for late trading and market timing of mutual funds. The brokers dropped the case with no settlement or other payment from the law firm. Another company also dropped its malpractice claim against its former law firm, defended by Williams & Connolly LLP, over an SEC enforcement action, with no payment of any kind. 

The firm obtained summary judgment in a case against a national law firm for alleged malpractice in a government contracts transaction for military housing, which was affirmed in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals; for a Washington law firm, establishing the standard by which lawyers are judged on making decisions on unsettled propositions of law; and in a malpractice case against a law firm brought by the trustee for a national group of bondholders claiming $50 million in damages resulting from the law firm's alleged failure to properly secure the bond collateral under the Uniform Commercial Code. Firm lawyers successfully argued that case before the Maryland Court of Appeals, which affirmed the lower court's grant of judgment. Williams & Connolly LLP lawyers have also conducted evidentiary hearings and taken appeals regarding the unique attorney-client privilege issues that arise in this area, and have represented many lawyers in ethics disciplinary proceedings.

Our work for member firms of the Attorneys' Liability Assurance Society (ALAS) is well known. Williams & Connolly LLP also serves as outside claims counsel to ALAS itself. A Williams & Connolly LLP partner chaired the Bar committee that recommended revisions of the District of Columbia Rules of Professional Conduct, another serves as co-chair of the American Bar Association's Committee on Ethics and Professionalism, and a third serves on the Legal Ethics Committee of the District of Columbia Bar.