Scope of Practice

While lawyers and accountants have long practiced under the threat of suit brought by unhappy clients, pressures generated by the current economic downturn have resulted in ever-increasing scrutiny of services provided by these professionals.

We have defended lawyers against a broad spectrum of claims filed by former clients alleging negligence in negotiating or drafting contracts, conducting commercial closings or drafting the documents essential to them, drafting wills, probating estates, offering tax or business advice, instituting or prosecuting litigation. 

For example, we have defended lawyers who drafted wills for their clients only to find themselves sued by disinherited heirs or by heirs disappointed by their inheritances. We have defended lawyers against claims initiated by the opposing party in a client's litigation or by the other side to a failed commercial transaction.

We have defended complex accounting malpractice claims ranging from audit services criticized for failing to identify weaknesses in the client's internal controls, failing to unearth defalcations by the client's trusted employees, failing to discover bank teller embezzlements to claims asserting that the accountants provided inaccurate, incorrect or misleading business advice, tax planning or tax advice.

We have defended accounting malpractice claims instituted by the accounting client's lending partners, such as the client's bank or the client's sureties extending construction bond credit, who have claimed injury due to reliance on allegedly misleading audited, reviewed or compiled financial statements. We have defended accountants who provided audit or business advice to corporations against suits filed by the client's stockholders.

It is not just these professionals' direct clients who bring lawsuits against them. We have also defended cases brought by third persons with whom the lawyers or accountants have no direct relationship.

The lawyers of Bell, Moore & Richter S.C. have broad and extensive experience defending lawyers, law firms, accountants and accounting firms against the whole range of potential professional malpractice claims which may be asserted against them. If the need arises, let us put that experience to work protecting your interests or the interests of your insureds.

* Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. has been named one of the 2015 Best Law Firms - Madison First Tier Ranking in the area of Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants, by Best Lawyers.