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Greene Espel has extensive experience in a wide variety of disputes and problems confronting accounting firms, including the representation of Big Four, regional, and local accounting firms in audit, tax, and consulting negligence lawsuits, class action securities litigation, review board proceedings, and various federal and state regulatory and criminal matters. 

We pride ourselves on being proactive, using our extensive knowledge of accounting literature, standards, and guidelines to help our accounting firm clients avoid litigation and other problems. 

Experience 

A substantial portion of our practice at Greene Espel PLLP is devoted to helping accountants avoid and resolve disputes. Our experience comes from representing both large and small accounting firms in a wide variety of matters, including the following: 

  • Defense of numerous audit negligence lawsuits. The largest of those lawsuits involved the defense (for more than five years) of claims that an accounting firm’s alleged negligence caused the failure of a large financial institution and damages in excess of $500 million. In a 2005 jury trial, we not only obtained a complete defense verdict (no recovery for the plaintiff), but also a $2.4 million judgment in favor of the Big Four accounting firm defendant, reimbursing our client for its defense costs, including attorney fees 
  • Defense of many tax negligence lawsuits. Those lawsuits have involved charitable gift annuities, trust instruments, tax returns, and Employee Stock Ownership Plans 
  • Defense of several class action securities lawsuits in which accountants were accused of issuing negligent opinions with respect to financial statements 
  • Representation of accountants and accounting firms in AICPA and State review board proceedings 
  • Representation of accountants and accounting firms in a variety of criminal and regulatory investigations, including many conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the United States Department of Justice, and State Attorneys General 
  • Representation of accountants and accounting firms called upon to provide non-party testimony and document discovery in SEC proceedings, Federal and State Grand Jury proceedings, and both civil and criminal lawsuits 
  • Helping accountants avoid litigation by making sound decisions about independence, regulatory disclosures, disputes requiring withdrawal, and a wide variety of other audit and tax issues 
  • Defense of employment lawsuits brought against accounting firms. Those lawsuits have involved claims of wrongful termination, non-competition agreements, discrimination, sexual harassment, and other employment issues 

Related Practices

  • Appellate

    “What’s next?” Greene Espel can guide you through the appellate process, providing an objective assessment of the pivotal issues, developing a strategy based on how appellate judges are likely to view a case in light of legal, institutional, and policy considerations, and advocating effectively.

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  • Commercial Litigation

    Our business litigation practice embraces the wide variety of commercial disputes facing private and public companies today. Areas of particular expertise include intellectual property, antitrust, securities, employment, professional liability, and construction disputes.

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EXTRAORDINARY NEWS

Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Greene Espel for Litigation in Minnesota; Jeanette Bazis, Sybil Dunlop, and Kate Swenson Named Notable Practitioners

This year’s recognition highlights the firm’s “widely respected litigation group able to provide expertise across a range of commercial disputes, including both class actions and single-plaintiff claims.” 

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Greene Espel Congratulates Nicholas Scheiner on His Elevation to Our Partnership

Nick's unique skills and experience will add to the depth of our partnership—particularly in Investigations, a key area of our practice.

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Client Win: Judge Grants Complete Dismissal for Greene Espel Client in Class Action Accountant Liability Case

Judge Michael J. Davis for the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota recently issued an order granting a complete dismissal with prejudice of all claims asserted against our client, Deloitte & Touche LLP, in a putative class action lawsuit, Kamal v. Baker Tilly US, LLP.

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FIND MORE EXTRAORDINARY NEWS

An unfortunate reality in today's litigious business world is that accountants sometimes find themselves the victim of all too many lawsuits. We help isolate the risk, implement risk-avoidance strategies, and resolve disputes. 

Please note

Sending information to us via this feature does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any communications containing confidential or sensitive information if you have not already retained Greene Espel PLLP to represent you.