The firm’s Accountant Liability practice was recognized among the top Accountant and Auditor Liability practices in the nation by Chambers USA in the publication’s first-ever rankings for this practice area. Chambers reports that clients and peers say:  “The team can handle complex matters with high stakes, high financial value and reputational risks” and “[t]hey have such a good bench of knowledge and are efficient with their application of it.”  Chambers also ranked partners Katherine Turner and Steve Farina in Band 1 and partner Adrienne Van Winkle as an Up and Coming Practitioner in Accountant and Auditor Liability.

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 Securites 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.

Katherine Turner is Co-Chair of Williams & Connolly’s Accountant Liability and Congressional Investigations practice groups and recently completed a term on the Firm’s Executive Committee.  She has extensive experience in defending accounting firms and their auditors in professional liability litigation and SEC and PCAOB regulatory matters, including work for three of the Big Four firms, several Big Four international member firms, and a prominent national accounting firm.  She has led internal investigations concerning audit, accounting, and governance issues, including an internal investigation for the Audit Committee of a public technology company and an internal investigation for the board of an academic institution, and has defended firm and individual clients in professional discipline matters before state boards of accountancy.   

Steve Farina is a leading first-chair lawyer with diverse experience in complex trial and appellate litigation, securities class actions, investigations and enforcement matters, and professional liability defense.  He is the Co-Chair of Williams & Connolly’s Accountant Liability, Securities Litigation, and Securities Enforcement practice groups.  Steve has represented national and international accounting firms, including three “Big Four” firms, in an array of civil litigation matters and SEC and PCAOB investigations and enforcement proceedings.  He also has successfully defended issuers, underwriters, and individuals in securities litigation in courts throughout the United States. 

Click here to see the firm’s Accountant Liability practice profile by Chambers USA.