Elizabeth J. Bower (“Liz”) is a partner in the Litigation Department and Co-Chair of the Accounting Litigation & Enforcement Practice Group. Liz's practice focuses on representations of accounting firms and their professionals, insurance companies, insurance brokers, audit committees, and other financial institutions and corporations in complex commercial litigation, regulatory matters, and significant corporate internal investigations. Chambers USA (2025) recognized Liz as a leading practitioner in its inaugural rankings in the area of Accountant and Auditor Liability (Nationwide), and further recognizes her proficiency in Litigation: General Commercial (District of Columbia).
Liz has significant experience handling SEC and PCAOB investigations and enforcement actions. She regularly advises accounting firms on operational and governance issues, independence-related matters, and PCAOB ownership, registration, and inspection matters. She also represents accounting firms in matters arising from attest engagements, tax advice, valuation services, and other consulting or advisory engagements. Liz increasingly is advising foreign registered accounting firms in matters involving the PCAOB’s Divisions of Registration and Inspections and Enforcement and Investigations, with significant experience representing clients in Latin America, Asia, and Europe.
Her ability to spot and simplify the important issues has enabled her to successfully represent clients across industries in a variety of disputes and board level risks over her twenty-year career, including civil securities actions, accounting and other professional liability actions, various contract and business disputes, adversary proceedings in bankruptcies, SEC enforcement actions, PCAOB investigations, FCPA investigations, and data breach and cybersecurity response.
Liz’s agility has garnered her recognition as an insurance coverage litigator by Legal 500 in its Insurance: Advice to Insurers category. Legal 500 further highlights client feedback describing Liz as an “exceptional strategist,” in its General Commercial Disputes category.
She is also recognized by the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America guide for her work in Commercial Litigation, Investigations, and Accounting.
In addition to serving as the Co-Chair of Willkie's Accounting Litigation & Enforcement Group, Liz Chairs the Firm's Counsel Committee and serves as a member of the DC Associates Committee.
Liz is actively engaged through alumni activities with her alma maters, Penn State and UNC School of Law. Liz currently serves on the UNC School of Law Foundation Board of Directors where she is the Chair of the Audit Committee. Liz is also a member of the Penn State Liberal Arts Development Council, serving as an external adviser to the Dean on matters of alumni relations, communications, and development efforts. In May 2025, Liz was honored to receive the Outstanding Liberal Arts Alumni in Business Award, which recognizes Penn State Liberal Arts alumni for their demonstrated success in the business community and influence as leaders.
Experience
Immediately after law school, Liz served as a law clerk for United States District Court Judge Richard L. Voorhees in the Western District of North Carolina.
Liz is a member of the UNC Law Foundation Board of Directors and serves as the Chair of the Board’s Audit Committee.
She is a member of the Leadership Advisory Committee of the National Women's Law Center.
Liz is a member of the Penn State Liberal Arts Development Council.
- Editor, Lexology Panoramic: Insurance Litigation (2026)
- Co-Author, Chapter 5A: Accountants’ Liability under the Federal Securities Laws, Federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (2026)
- “Protecting Attorney-Client Privilege and Work-Product Doctrine in Internal Investigations,” American Bar Association: Pretrial Practice & Discovery Practice Points (October 26, 2020)
- "Penn State Women: Leaders of Today and Tomorrow" (September 2019)
- "Legal/Compliance: Response to Cyber Incidents," ACLI Annual Conference (October 2018)
- "The Future of DACA: Which Branch of the Government May Decide the Fate of the Immigrants Granted Deferred Action Status?" Immigration and Human Rights Committee of the D.C. Bar International Law Committee Luncheon (July 2018)
- "Data Security and Privacy Issues in Civil Litigation," The Sedona Conference Working Group 11 Annual Meeting (March 2018)
- "Ethical Considerations for In-House Counsel Relating to the Security of Confidential Information Produced in Civil Litigation," Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference (October 2017)
- "Data Security and Privacy Issues in Civil Litigation," The Sedona Conference Working Group 11 Mid-Year Meeting (September 2017)
- "Fireside Chat: Where Companies and Activist Shareholders Have the Same Goals," Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference (September 2016)
- Counsel to Big 4 accounting firm in civil litigations and arbitrations brought by investors in alleged tax shelters.
- Represent Big 4 accounting firm in trial and successful appeal involving accounting malpractice claims.
- Represent Big 4 accounting firm in SEC investigation of a packaging company's accounting and independence practices.
- Represent South American accounting firm in investigation relating to audit and quality control standards.
- Represent South American accounting firm in investigation relating to professional testing matters.
- Represent European accounting firm in investigation relating to professional testing matters.
- Represent Asian accounting firms in investigations relating to professional testing matters.
- Represent South American accounting firm in investigation relating to internal disciplinary proceedings and NOCLAR standards.
- Represent Asian accounting firm in investigation relating to independence matters.
- Conduct internal investigation for audit committee of large insurance company relating to allegations of improper accounting and actuarial practices.
- Represent commercial insurer in coverage litigation relating to the Opioids Crisis.
- Represent commercial insurer in coverage litigation relating to climate change lawsuits.
- Represented international pharmaceutical company in multi-jurisdictional FCPA investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and SEC.
- In re Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation: Counsel for insurance broker in federal multidistrict litigation arising out of government investigations of insurance industry.
- In re Facebook, Inc. IPO Securities & Derivative Litig. (S.D.N.Y.): Representing Facebook, Inc. and its officers and directors in over 40 securities and derivative lawsuits filed in connection with Facebook's May 18, 2012 initial public offering.
- In re LandAmerica Financial Group: Counsel to debtors in large, complex chapter 11 cases, including more than 100 adversary proceedings.
Credentials
Education
University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D. (with distinction), 2001 Pennsylvania State University, B.A. (with distinction), 1997
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
United States Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit United States Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit United States District Court, District of Columbia United States District Court, Southern District of New York United States District Court, Eastern District of New York United States Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit United States District Court, District of Maryland
Clerkships
Hon. Richard L. Voorhees, United States District Court, Western District of North Carolina, September 2001 - August 2002