Audit Firms and Accountancy
Bringing together experts in all relevant fields, we are optimally equipped to provide integrated assistance to audit firms and accountants in challenging times.
Audit firms and accountants are facing complex regulation, demanding supervising authorities and increased targeting in civil, disciplinary and criminal liability suits. And sometimes, all at the same time. We have extensive experience in providing assistance to audit firms and their accountants, covering all legal fields relevant to the matter at hand, both in and out of court.
Services
Audit firms and accountants have an important role in commerce and society, auditing annual accounts and advising companies. In this role, audit firms and accountants are also facing increased regulatory pressure. Legal developments resulting from EU and national legislation have significantly affected the profession. They have given rise, for instance, to additional requirements for audit firms auditing the financial statements of Public Interest Entities (PIEs), requirements regarding communication between the auditor and the audit committee of the PIE, and strengthened requirements on independency and confidentiality. New challenges also result from the major development of sustainability reporting requirements for companies and the enhanced involvement of accountants assessing sustainability disclosures. Also, audit firms and accountants are increasingly targeted in civil liability suits, including class actions.
We have extensive experience in providing assistance to accountants and accountancy firms, including all the big four audit firms and their accountants. Be it in the form of legal advice, dealing with regulators and supervisory authorities, or representation in proceedings before civil, administrative, disciplinary or criminal courts. We are an interdisciplinary team, with experts in accounting law, civil law, class actions, financial supervisory law, disciplinary law and criminal law. Our team is optimally equipped to provide integrated advice or litigation, covering all legal fields relevant to the matter at hand. The team has in-depth market knowledge. Team members frequently lecture on accounting law and have authored numerous publications in the field. The Stibbe audit and accountancy team is widely recognised in the market.