Professional Liability Group

The Professional Liability group of Armstrong Teasdale represents attorneys and accountants with respect to claims and litigation involving professional malpractice. We are keenly aware that in a professional malpractice action more is at stake than money. These cases threaten a professional’s most valued asset, his reputation. Therefore, we work very closely with the client to assess the risk, identify their goals, and to vigorously pursue their objective, whether it is a staunch defense or a discrete resolution.

Representation of Lawyers

Over the past several years Armstrong  Teasdale has represented several  of the largest law firms in the state  of Missouri both in litigation and  in the claims stage. These cases have  involved some of the premiere  insurers such as The Attorneys’ Liability  Assurance Society (Bermuda) Ltd.  (ALAS) and Syndicates of Lloyd’s of  London.

Representation of Accountants

Armstrong Teasdale has also represented accountants in both in litigation and in the claims stage. One of the members of the Professional Liability Group has a Masters Degree in Accounting and was the lead author of Is there a Gap in Your Knowledge of GAAP, Financial Analysts Journal (Sept/Oct 2002), which discusses the sources of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and their relative authority. Another member, in addition to being an experienced litigator, has an LLM in Taxation. Therefore, we not only understand the law and the litigation aspects of malpractice claims, we understand the substantive issues facing accountants.

Professional Involvement and Recognition

The Professional Liability group includes a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers who was also selected as a Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyer in 2005 and is listed in the America's Top Lawyers (2001-present). Three members are listed in the most recent edition of The Best Lawyers in America.  Other members actively participate in professional organizations such as, Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, Defense Research Institute, and the Association of Trial Lawyers in America.

Recent Representative Matters

Defense of attorneys and accountants involving a variety of allegations:

• Breach of fiduciary obligations
• Conflicts of interest
• Missing the applicable statute of limitations
• Misapplication of appropriate laws in the estates and trusts areas
• Preparation of erroneous Federal Income Tax returns
• Failure to follow Generally Accepted Auditing Standards

Members of the Professional Liability Practice Group

Bockman, Lori	Tomlinson, Wil
Sophir, Mark