LEVERAGING FINANCE & ACCOUNTING BACKGROUND IN RESOLVING BUSINESS LITIGATION
Tom Hutchinson is a Chambers-ranked litigator who protects the interests of businesses and professionals embroiled in high-stakes disputes involving financial matters and contract litigation. With an accounting degree and background as a financial consultant with a top-tier CPA firm, he speaks the language in the business finance arena and understands the technical issues involved. Tom brings a natural ability to dive into the details of financial statements to spot issues and find answers.
A big part of Tom’s practice includes navigating complex financial issues and sensitive ethics issues. He’s handled many securities matters and has defended claims against accountants, attorneys, C-suite executives, real estate brokers, and financial advisors. He is fluent in E&O and D&O insurance issues and advises on cases involving SEC and DOJ investigations. Tom has also handled matters involving Registered Investment Advisors, hedge funds, venture capital funds, and mortgage-backed securities. He is often brought on to defend trustees in trust and estate disputes.
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Clients describe Tom as prepared and thoughtful. They appreciate his communication style and effective approach with even the most challenging personalities. He is adept at detangling problems by staying focused on meaningful details and the end game.
PRACTICE AREAS
ADMISSIONS
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 1992
- Oregon, 1999
- Washington, 2014
EDUCATION
- Louisiana State University, School of Law – J.D., 1992
- University of Minnesota – B.S. – Accounting, 1987
- Defense Research Institute (Chair, Professional Liability Committee, Financial Advisory Services Substantive Law Group)
- Financial Executives Networking Group (Member, Portland Chapter)
- Litigation Counsel of America (Fellow, 2015-Present)
- Louisiana Court of Appeal (Judicial Law Clerk for the Chief Judge, 1992-1993)
- Multnomah Bar Association (Member)
- Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (Member; Vice Chair, Commercial Practice Group)
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (Member, Board of Trustees)
- Co-Speaker, “Maximizing Forgiveness Under the Paycheck Protection Program,” Webinar, May 2020
- Co-Speaker, Benefits and Pitfalls Under the CARES Act that Every Small Business Needs to Understand,” Webinar, April 2020
- Panelist, “Putting Investors First,” CFA Society Portland Finance Expo (2016)
- Co-Speaker, “Demystifying Damage Defenses in Claims Against Accounting and Financial Professionals,” Defense Research Institute (DRI) Professional Liability Seminar (2015)
- Co-Author, “Identifying and Calculating Recoverable Damages and Predicting Risks in Cyber Security Breaches,” Willamette Management Associates, Insights (2014)
- Co-Speaker, “Advanced Commercial Damages,” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (OADC) Commercial Practice Seminar (2014)
- Co-Author, “Hacked: How Target’s Data Breach Affects the Cyber Liability Landscape,” Defense Research Institute (DRI) Professional Liability Committee Newsletter, Riding the E&O Line (2014)
- Co-Author, “Pointing the Finger: Bernie Madoff and the Potentially Changing Landscape of Trustee Claims,” Defense Research Institute (DRI) Professional Liability Committee Newsletter, Riding the E&O Line (2014)
- Speaker, “An Overview of Professional Liability Issues as They Apply to Auditors Performing Municipal/Governmental Audits,” Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants Winter Governmental Auditing & Accounting Conference (2013)
- Speaker, “Defending Accountant Malpractice Claims,” Defense Research Institute (DRI) Professional Liability Webcast Series (2013)
- Speaker, “Securities Fraud Cases: Trends, Developments, and What Financial Professionals Need to Know about Oregon Law,” Financial Executives Networking Group (FENG) Networking Meeting (2012)
- Co-Speaker, “The Securities Fraud Case – Plaintiff and Defense Perspective,” Multnomah Bar Association (2012)
- Author, “To Arbitrate or Not to Arbitrate: That Is the Question,” Defense Research Institute (DRI) Professional Liability Committee Newsletter, Riding the E&O Line (2012)
- Chapter Co-Author, “Professional Negligence,” Oregon State Bar (OSB) BarBooks™ Torts, 2012 Revision (2012)
- Co-Author, “What Liability Issues Do Businesses Often Overlook?: Fiduciary Duty Owed,” Portland Business Journal (2011)
- Author, “Accountants: Risks Presented in the Preparation of Compilation Reports for Private Investment Companies,” Defense Research Institute (DRI) Professional Liability Committee Newsletter, Riding the E&O Line (2009)
- Co-Author, “Pretrial Professionalism in Oregon: A Summary of the American College of Trial Lawyers Code of Pretrial Conduct,” Oregon State Bar (OSB) Litigation Journal, Vol. 24, No. 2 (2005)
- Speaker, “Upcoming Changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Re: Electronic Discovery,” Multnomah Bar Association (2005)
- Speaker, “Professional Liability Claims against Appraisers,” American Society of Appraisers & Oregon Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Appraisal Institute, Joint Meeting & Program (2003)
- Named one of Oregon’s top general commercial litigation lawyers by Chambers USA (2019-2022 — Litigation: General Commercial)
- AV® Preeminent™, Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected for inclusion in Oregon Super Lawyers (2011-2023 — Business Litigation)
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© (2013-2024 — Commercial Litigation)
- Named as a “Local Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation (2009-2022 — General Commercial; Professional Liability; Securities)
GETTING BACK TO THE BIG EASY
Tom grew up in New Orleans and tries to make it back for Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest to spend time with friends and family (and to eat all the great cooking).