Adrienne E. Van Winkle has litigated a wide variety of complex civil matters before state courts, federal courts, and arbitration tribunals, including AAA, JAMS, and CPR. Adrienne has experience with all aspects of litigation, including trial and appellate argument. Adrienne’s practice focuses on professional liability defense, tax controversy, and financial services litigation. Adrienne has deep experience defending both companies and individuals in auditing and accounting professional liability matters, including representing clients before the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). Adrienne also services as the co-chair of the firm’s Tax Controversy practice group, and is a member of the Firm’s Hiring and Pro Bono Committees.
Adrienne grew up in rural Southern Illinois, where she regularly (and with great interest) observed both her father and grandfather practice law. She earned a degree in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis and graduated summa cum laude, while also playing basketball for the Division III Bears and serving as team co-captain her senior year. Adrienne then graduated magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. Before joining Williams & Connolly in 2011, she served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Deborah Cook, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, in Akron, Ohio; and the Honorable Cecilia Altonaga, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, in Miami.
Representative Experience
- Current representation of Big Four accounting firm in professional liability litigation concerning audits of a bank holding company and audits of investment funds
- Current representation of national accounting firm in putative class action concerning audits of investment funds
- Current representation of a Big Four firm in PCAOB investigations
- Representation of a Big Four firm in a three-week arbitration trial involving claims by a bankruptcy trustee for a large insurer, in which the panel issued an award in favor of the accounting firm on all claims
- Representation of a Big Four firm in a PCAOB investigation that resulted in no charges against the firm
- Representation of a national accounting firm in a tax-preparation malpractice lawsuit
- Representation of individuals and companies in tax controversy matters involving income tax, excise tax, gift tax, and FBAR issues
- Representation of a mutual bank and its officers and directors against tort claims brought by depositors seeking distribution of surplus capital, in which the Eighth Circuit upheld dismissal of all claims
- Representation of officers and directors of community banks in lawsuits brought by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation alleging negligence and breaches of fiduciary duty