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 is experienced in all aspects of litigation and trial. She focuses her practice on professional liability defense, tax controversies, and financial services litigation. She has tried multiple cases, including defending accounting firms in several multi-week arbitration hearings related to claims of audit malpractice, and has cross-examined both fact and expert witnesses at trial. Adrienne routinely works with experts in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS). She has deep experience defending both companies and individuals in auditing and accounting matters before the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Adrienne also is a skilled advocate who has repeatedly secured victories for her clients on dispositive motions. Adrienne serves 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 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
- Second-chaired two-week arbitration trial defending Big Four accounting firm against claims of audit malpractice by a professional sports team
- Second-chaired three-day bench trial defending brand pharmaceutical company against breach of contract claim by generic drug company seeking hundreds of millions in damages
- 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 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 after oral argument
- Representation of a national telecommunications company against tort claims, in which the court granted summary judgment in favor of the company at oral argument
- Current representation of Big Four firm in professional liability litigation concerning audits of a bank holding company
- Current representation of national accounting firm in putative class action concerning audits of investment funds
- Current representation of Big Four firms in PCAOB and SEC investigations
- Representation of Big Four firm in PCAOB investigation relating to financial services audits, resulting in no enforcement action
- Representation of Big Four firm in PCAOB investigation relating to an oil-and-gas audit, resulting in no enforcement action
- 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 officers and directors of community banks in lawsuits brought by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation alleging negligence and breaches of fiduciary duty