Amy strategically guides her clients through complex, high-stakes business litigation and government investigations, with an emphasis on accounting and financial matters.
Amy is Deputy Practice Group Leader of Eversheds Sutherlandʼs US Litigation Group and co-leads the US and global Professional Liability practices. She has more than 30 years of state and federal trial and appellate experience, including jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations – an increasing rarity in business litigation. Her clients, including the largest accounting firms in the country and corporations across a wide spectrum of industries, have trusted her to defend them against 9- and 10-figure damages cases, as well as matters involving multiple parallel lawsuits and regulatory investigations. Amy helps her clients navigate their challenges coherently and consistently, guiding them to an efficient resolution where appropriate, and taking cases to trial when necessary.
Amy is known for her personal touch and attention to detail. She is a straight shooter who seeks to understand her client’s legal and business objectives, distill problems to their essence, and provide practical guidance and solutions with a steady hand and calm demeanor that instills confidence with clients, courts, and regulators.
Amy represents accounting and financial services firms, along with large corporations and their professionals, in a broad range of high-stakes matters across the country, including:
Accountant, auditor and actuarial liability cases
Trade secret litigation
Insurance litigation
Securities fraud actions
Business and shareholder disputes
Tax litigation
Actions under the False Claims Act
State and federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act cases
Receiver, liquidator and bankruptcy trustee actions
Amy is also active in her community, currently serving as a member of the Tocqueville Society Cabinet of United Way of Greater Atlanta and President of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Appellate Practice & Educational Resource Center, a non-profit that provides pro bono capital habeas representation of last resort to inmates on Georgia’s death row.
Successfully defended a Big Four accounting firm in hundreds of state and federal lawsuits arising from audits of a county-owned hospital and its pension plan, winning dismissals of several actions and resolving the remaining actions to the mutual satisfaction of the parties after discovery.
Defended a Big Four accounting firm in a multibillion-dollar professional negligence case arising out of the bankruptcy of one of the largest privately held mortgage origination companies in the United States, resolving the matter to the mutual satisfaction of the parties after discovery.
Representing a national property and casualty insurance company in Georgia lawsuit alleging bad faith failure to settle.
Secured a win on JNOV for a Big Four accounting firm in a lawsuit brought by the disappointed sellers of a homebuilding enterprise, on grounds of fraud on the court, after a three-week jury trial awarding only 5% of the damages sought.
Represented a national broker-dealer in a federal trial by the SEC arising from the firm’s underwriting, marketing, and sale of auction rate securities (ARS) from late 2007 through the implosion of the ARS market in February 2008. After a week-long bench trial, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia entered an order awarding only 0.17% of the relief sought by the SEC.
Defended a Big Four accounting firm in a $200 million adversary proceeding in the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, relating to the failure of a computer leasing company due to fraud perpetrated on the company, settling the case on favorable terms after discovery.
Defended lawsuit brought against Big Four accounting firm by bankruptcy trustee in Florida on behalf of 6000 noteholders in dispute involving subprime automobile-related investments, reaching a favorable settlement after discovery.
Won summary judgment on three of the four causes of action and prevailed on the fourth cause of action after an eight-day jury trial in a case in which the plaintiff alleged that our client’s consulting division recommended a software package unable to meet the plaintiff’s business needs.
Successfully tried a $400 million case in which a Big Four accounting firm and two of its partners were accused of Georgia RICO violations, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, winning on all but one count after a four-week jury trial and obtaining a judgment on the final count of less than 5% of the requested damages against the accounting firm.
Defends accountants and accounting firms in PCAOB, AICPA and state licensing board disciplinary proceedings and investigations.
Represents professional services firms and their professionals in confidential regulatory investigations, including by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP), several Congressional committees, and criminal and civil grand juries at both the state and federal level.
Successfully defended a Big Four accounting firm in a $40 million lawsuit brought by the receiver of a failed HMO, settling the case on extremely favorable terms prior to discovery.
Represented a Big Four accounting firm in a lawsuit brought by the liquidating trustee of a workers’ compensation self-insurance fund, alleging negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and civil conspiracy, obtaining a very favorable settlement before deposition discovery began.
Represented a county commissioner and multiple homeowners as defendants and counterclaim plaintiffs in a complex federal case involving claims of federal and Georgia RICO violations, defamation, invasion of privacy and breach of contract. After a four-week jury trial, the clients obtained a favorable verdict and were absolved of liability as to all claims asserted against them.
Successfully defended the Canadian partnership of a Big Four accounting firm in a $1.2 billion lawsuit brought in Michigan by the rehabilitator of a Canadian life and health insurance company, securing dismissal after discovery with no liability assessed against our client and winning on summary judgment in a related action in federal court in New Jersey.
Represented the Florida Cable Telecommunications Association (FCTA) in defending against a constitutional challenge to the state's cable and satellite tax statutes. After a lengthy discovery process, FCTA was granted summary judgment that the statutes equalizing taxes and fees on cable and satellite companies were valid under both the Commerce Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution. A divided Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s judgment, and the case was heard by the Florida Supreme Court. The Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals and affirmed the constitutional validity of the statutes.
Served as lead trial counsel defending an international telecommunications company in federal court in a multimillion-dollar breach of contract action. The case settled on favorable terms following a jury trial.
Won a directed verdict at the close of the plaintiffs’ case in chief, in favor of a national property and casualty insurer in a case involving part of a state-mandated residual “wind pool” – a market of last resort for homeowners insurance on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, several smaller insurance companies filed a putative class action against the largest five companies with employees on the board of the wind pool, claiming the board should have purchased at least $450 million in reinsurance. Class certification was denied, and the case proceeded with four companies suing individually.
Prevailed after a nine-day arbitration against a Big Four accounting firm who had been sued by the disappointed purchaser of a discount music retail distribution chain, obtaining an award in our client’s favor on liability and damages.
Successfully defended a Big Four accounting firm against claims of defamation and tortious interference with business relations brought by a newly hired controller of an audit client, settling the case on very favorable terms before discovery.
Represented a Big Four accounting firm sued for negligent misrepresentation allegedly arising from audits it performed for a fragrance wholesaler and retailer, prevailing on the claim brought by the liquidating trustee after a 10-week jury trial and limiting the creditor bank plaintiffs to a judgment for a small fraction of the damages sought.
Won a favorable judgment for a Georgia accounting firm in a lawsuit alleging breach of fiduciary duty and professional malpractice after cross-appeals from a partial grant of summary judgment.
Represented a former Arthur Andersen partner in a broad array of litigation and investigations arising from the collapse of Enron Corporation, including several class action lawsuits, regulatory enforcement investigations, grand jury proceeding and state licensing boards, achieving very satisfactory results for our client in a high-profile, politically charged, and complex representation.
Won affirmance by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit of the dismissal of a Big Four accounting firm in an action brought by a qui tam relator under the False Claims Act, in an issue of first impression in that circuit regarding the interpretation of the statute of limitations provision of the False Claims Act.
Successfully defended a Big Four accounting firm in a securities fraud class action filed against a national homebuilding company, its officers and directors, and its outside auditors, reaching a very favorable settlement after briefing on motions to dismiss was completed.
Prevailed in a week-long arbitration in which the receiver of a failed title insurance company claimed our accounting firm client engaged in actuarial malpractice.
Counseled and defended a company in an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency regarding its compliance with the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Quality Assurance Program
Represented a privately held manufacturing company in a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania regarding alleged breaches of a requirements contract. The matter was settled prior to discovery to the mutual satisfaction of the parties.
“AI and the Accounting Profession,” ALI Accountants’ Liability Conference (May 14, 2026)
Co-author, “Defending Clients in PCAOB Investigations” in Defending Corporations and Individuals under Government Investigations (Thomson Reuters)
“Expanding Your Circle of Champions,” Atlanta Bar Association Leadership Academy (September 18, 2025)
“1776: Oral Argument Before the Court of History,” Clarence Cooper American Inn of Court (September 16, 2025)
“Working in a Technologically Evolving Landscape: AI and Crypto,” ALI-CLE Accountants’ Liability 2025: The Changing Regulatory Landscape, June 2, 2025
“Jury Selection,” Clarence Cooper American Inn of Court, October 22, 2024
“Pending Changes to Federal Rule of Evidence 702: It’s Rule 702, Not Daubert,” Clarence Cooper American Inn of Court, October 2023
“Civil RICO Claims from the Defense Perspective,” Clarence Cooper American Inn of Court, November 2022
“Effective Remote Advocacy: Real-World Challenges in Virtual Litigation,” Emory American Inn of Court, October 2020
ABA Telephonic Roundtable: "Regulators Unveil Current Independence Risks Facing Accountants and Auditors Around the Globe: Avoiding Domestic Trouble and Foreign Headaches, October 22, 2018, ABA Section of Litigation, Professional Liability Litigation Committee, October 22, 2018
“The Year in Litigation,” ALI-CLE: Accountants' Liability 2018: The Profession in an Uncertain World, October 18, 2018
“From Pleading to Trial: Perspectives on a Civil Defense Case,” ICLE-Georgia – RICO, September 20, 2018
“Internal Investigations,” 2017 Corporate Counsel Institute, December 7, 2017
“Independence Issues: The Regulators Speak,” ALI-CLE Accountants’ Liability 2017: Emerging Challenges Facing the Profession, October 26, 2017
“Navigating Stormy Waters: War Gaming for International Investigations,” June 21, 2017
“Conducting an Internal Investigation: Traps for the Unwary,” Association of Corporate Counsel – Georgia, April 26, 2017
“Forecasting the Trump Administration’s Policy and the Impact on London,” April 5, 2017
ABA Telephonic Roundtable: “Recent Developments and Hot Topics in Accountants' Liability,” American Bar Association, March 31, 2017
“Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine: Issues Frequently Encountered by In-House Counsel,” Association of Corporate Counsel – Georgia, March 14, 2017
Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of general commercial litigation (2019-2026) and accountant and auditor liability (2025-2026)
Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of dispute resolution - general commercial disputes (2015-2025)
Named to Best Lawyers in the area of commercial litigation (2013-2026)
Selected for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers® (2012-2014, 2016-2024)
Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (2009-2019)
President, Board of Directors, Georgia Appellate Practice and Educational Resource Center, Inc.
Past Co-Chair, Professional Liability Litigation Committee, American Bar Association Section of Litigation
Member, Tocqueville Society Cabinet; Former Chair, Women of Cole Cabinet, United Way of Greater Atlanta
Leadership Atlanta Class of 2017
Master and Secretary of Executive Committee, Clarence Cooper American Inn of Court
Member, Women’s White Collar Criminal Defense Association
Member, Litigation and Business Law Sections, American Bar Association
Member, General Practice and Trial Law Section, State Bar of Georgia
Member, Appellate Practice, Business Law, and Trial Lawyers Sections, The Florida Bar
Member, Litigation Section, Atlanta Bar Association
Chair, Board of Consultants, Emory Law Journal
Past Member, Board of Directors, American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia
Past Member, Emory College Advisory Board
Past Member, Emory Law Advisory Board
Past Member, Board of Governors, Association of Emory Alumni
Past Member, Emory Law Alumni Association Executive Committee
Leadership Cobb Class of 2002
Florida
Georgia
Court of Appeals of Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
U.S. Supreme Court
Honorable William C. O’Kelley, Chief Judge, Northern District of Georgia.
B.A., with honors, Emory University,
Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Robert W. Woodruff Scholar
J.D., with distinction, Emory University School of Law,
Executive Managing Editor, Emory Law Journal, Order of the Coif, Robert W. Woodruff Fellow