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Cravath’s London Office Moves to 100 Cheapside

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Litigation

Professional Liability

Professional Liability

Cravath has extensive experience representing accounting firms, investment banks, law firms, consulting firms, actuaries and other professionals in litigation, investigations and regulatory enforcement matters. We defend professionals in third‑party actions such as those brought by investors, as well as in direct suits brought by clients or former clients of those professionals, including trustees, regulators, receivers or liquidators of insolvent companies standing in the shoes of clients. These lawsuits often involve claims of professional malpractice, breach of contract, fraud, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and other federal and state law causes of action. We have helped create important precedent on issues of particular relevance to professionals, such as the application of the imputation and in pari delicto doctrines and auditor liability under the federal securities laws. 

Cravath’s ability to effectively handle a wide range of matters impacting professionals is supported by our expertise in complex commercial litigation at all stages of a case, from a motion to dismiss through discovery to trial and appeals. Our success in defending professionals also derives from our understanding of our clients’ businesses and the nature of their work. For example, as long-time counsel to two of the “Big Four” accounting firms, our lawyers have a thorough knowledge of the audit process, understand how to explain accounting and auditing standards in a courtroom and have developed litigation strategies for issues that frequently arise in accountants’ liability litigation. We draw on our depth of familiarity with the accounting profession to address issues of concern to accounting firms, including Investigations and Regulatory Enforcement matters and Securities Litigation.

Cravath’s ability to effectively handle a wide range of matters impacting professionals is supported by our expertise in complex commercial litigation at all stages of a case, from a motion to dismiss through discovery to trial and appeals. Our success in defending professionals also derives from our understanding of our clients’ businesses and the nature of their work. For example, as long-time counsel to two of the “Big Four” accounting firms, our lawyers have a thorough knowledge of the audit process, understand how to explain accounting and auditing standards in a courtroom and have developed litigation strategies for issues that frequently arise in accountants’ liability litigation. We draw on our depth of familiarity with the accounting profession to address issues of concern to accounting firms, including Investigations and Regulatory Enforcement matters and Securities Litigation.

  • Recent News & Insights

Activities

October 26, 2023

Jennifer Leete Speaks at Securities Docket’s 2023 Securities Enforcement Forum

On October 25, 2023, Cravath partner Jennifer S. Leete participated in Securities Docket’s 2023 Securities Enforcement Forum in Washington, D.C. The event convened current and former senior SEC officials, securities enforcement and white collar attorneys and in-house counsel and compliance executives to discuss critical topics in securities enforcement, including cryptocurrency, whistleblowers, financial and accounting fraud, the impact of artificial intelligence and more. Jennifer spoke on a panel entitled “Financial Disclosure and Accounting Fraud.”

Activities

October 26, 2023

Jennifer Leete Speaks at Securities Docket’s 2023 Securities Enforcement Forum

On October 25, 2023, Cravath partner Jennifer S. Leete participated in Securities Docket’s 2023 Securities Enforcement Forum in Washington, D.C. The event convened current and former senior SEC officials, securities enforcement and white collar attorneys and in-house counsel and compliance executives to discuss critical topics in securities enforcement, including cryptocurrency, whistleblowers, financial and accounting fraud, the impact of artificial intelligence and more. Jennifer spoke on a panel entitled “Financial Disclosure and Accounting Fraud.”

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Professional Liability

Cravath Bicentennial

Celebrating 200 years of partnership. In 2019, we celebrated our bicentennial. Our history mirrors that of our nation. Integral to our story is our culture.

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