Protecting Client Reputations

Any claim of malpractice against a CPA or other accounting professional or firm can lead to irreparable harm to their professional reputation and client confidence. Our accountant malpractice defense attorneys provide a dependable defense against malpractice claims and/or investigation. We also offer advice on best practices for risk management to avoid problems in the future.

Malpractice allegations are extremely serious in near-and long-term penalties and may include:

• Permanent reprimand
• Accelerated peer reviews
• Suspension or revocation of your accounting license
• Loss of privilege to perform accountancy services
• Significant monetary penalties

McCormick Barstow’s Accounting Malpractice practice represents both accounting professionals and accounting firms in defending complaints before federal and state courts and various other regulatory and licensing agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our attorneys have an excellent reputation in providing successful representation to clients in need of professional license defense in the accounting field.

For Attorneys and Referrers

Our attorneys have nationally recognized expertise in defending professional liability actions against accountants and accounting firms. Our attorneys have been involved in defending accountants and accounting firms in many states, appearing in both State and Federal Courts.

We stay abreast of all developments in the accounting field by maintaining current copies of relevant industry guidelines, such as GAAS, GAAP, SAS, and other AICPA Professional Standards.

McCormick Barstow’s Accounting Malpractice practice regularly defends both accounting firms and individual accountants in the following types of actions—

• Professional malpractice actions
• Unfair competition actions
• Administrative proceedings before the Securities and Exchange Commission
• Administrative proceedings before the California Board of Accountancy
• Securities fraud class actions

In addition to defending accountants in malpractice actions, we counsel and represent accountants called to testify in other proceedings. For example, we regularly represent accountants who have been subpoenaed to testify where they have rendered professional advice to the parties.