Practice Area

Professional Liability

Brown & James has defended more lawyer and accountant liability cases than any other law firm in Missouri and has had a substantial impact on the law affecting professionals. The Professional Liability Practice Group has represented lawyers, accountants, title agents, insurance agents, architects, engineers, land surveyors, medical device companies and software engineers in cases involving matters of all types, including:

  • Estate and tax planning
  • Large securities transactions
  • Industrial development bonds
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigations
  • Disbursement of funds
  • Advice concerning health and life insurance and tax avoidance strategies
  • Mergers and acquisitions

We are sensitive to the unique circumstances that exist when a professional is sued. Simply having a suit is filed may jeopardize a professional’s reputation, regardless of the outcome. Professional liability cases are treated with the highest degree of confidentiality, and close consultation with the professional is maintained at all stages of the litigation.

Recent Cases

  • Represented attorney in legal malpractice case involving failure to set aside a default judgement. Eagle Star Group, Inc. v. Marcus, 334 S.W.3d 548 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010)
  • Represented insurance agent in a malpractice case relating to a large copper loss at an apartment complex. Emerald Crossing, LLC v. AHM Holdings, 520 S.W.3d 520 (Mo. App. E.D. 2017)
  • Represented lawyers in a case involving the lawyers’ representation of a class action resulting in a multimillion-dollar settlement. Oetting v. Norton, 795 F.3d 886 (8th Cir. 2015)