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Richard G. WitkowskiRetired member
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216-621-7227
Rich Witkowski is a litigation attorney, a certified fraud examiner and a certified public accountant (inactive). He specializes in accounting and legal malpractice as well as insurance coverage and other commercial disputes.
Principal practice areas
- Commercial litigation
- Complex litigation
- Professional liability
- Estate, trust and fiduciary litigation
- First- and third-party insurance
Career and educational background
- Certified fraud examiner
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter
- Former financial analyst, Industrial First Inc.
- Former insurance and risk manager, BP America Inc.
- Former staff accountant, Arthur Andersen & Co.
- Certified public accountant in Ohio (inactive)
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University (JD, 1985)
- Miami University (BBA, cum laude, 1976)
Professional activities
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Federal Bar Association
- Member, Ohio State Bar Association
- Member, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Member, American Arbitration Association, Commercial Panel
- Member, Cleveland Association of Civil Trial Attorneys
- Member, American Institute of CPAs
- Member, the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA)
- Member, Society of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters
Publications and interviews
- Quoted, “Accountants’ Malpractice Liability: Fewer Claims, But More Risks,” Accounting Today (Oct. 3, 2019)
- Author, “5 Circumstances an Engagement Letter Should Address,” NGC Legal Insights (Spring 2016)
- Author, “Beware the Shell Company,” NGC Legal Insights (Winter 2014-2015)
- Author, “Engagement Letter Risk Management Techniques,” Travelers Accountants Risk Management Newsletter (October 2015)
- Author, “Beware the Shell Company: Scams Can Go Unnoticed,” Hamilton County Law Library News (October 2015)
- Quoted, “Accounting Expert Witness-Selecting the Best,” The Expert Institute blog (March 10, 2015)
- Quoted, “Tips for Reducing Professional Liability Risk in Business Valuation,” American Institute of CPAs newsletter (Jan. 21, 2015)
- Quoted, “7 Sneaky Ways Employees Steal and How to Prevent It,” americanexpress.com (Nov. 12, 2013)
- Author, “Protect Your Biz from Injury Claims,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (Sept. 9, 2013)
- Quoted, “How to Fraud-Proof Your Business,” nfib.com (National Federation of Independent Business) (August, 2013)
- Author, “Does Your Contractor’s Insurance Protect You?,” NGC Legal Insights (Spring 2013)
- Author, “Simple Steps to Detect and Deter Employee Theft and Fraud,” Crain’s Cleveland Business guest blog (posted March 7, 2013)
- Author, “Does Your Arbitration Clause Protect You?” Crain’s Cleveland Business guest blog (posted Jan. 24, 2013)
- Author, “Simple Steps to Detect and Deter Employee Theft and Fraud,” NGC Legal Insights (Winter 2012-2013)
- Author, “Does Your Arbitration Clause Protect You?,” NGC Legal Insights (Fall 2012)
- Author, “How Much Time Do People Have to Sue Professionals for Negligence?,” NGC Legal Insights (Spring 2012)
Speaking engagements
- Presenter, “Risk Management,” to certified public accountants through the Brunswick Companies, insurance and risk management, in Fairlawn (August 14, 2018)
- Presenter, webinar with Hanover Insurance Group of Worcester, Mass. (August 2, 2018)
- Presenter, “Are You Putting Your Firm at Risk?” Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants (Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo, September-December 2017)
- Presenter, “If You See Something: What Should You Do?” Mega Tax Conference, Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants (Sept. 26, 2017)
- Panelist, “Stuck in the Middle: Avoiding Conflicts of Interest” CNA Insurance Companies’ School of Risk Control Excellence, Webinar (Nov. 11, 2014)
- Speaker, Risk Management & Ethics Boot Camp for Accountants, Oklahoma City (Aug 20, 2014); Minneapolis (Aug. 21, 2014)
- Co-presenter, “Mitigating Malpractice Risk in Audit Engagements” OSCPA 2013 Columbus Accounting Show (Nov. 14, 2013)
- Co-presenter, “Mitigating Malpractice Risk in Tax Engagements” OSCPA 2013 Columbus Accounting Show (Nov. 14, 2013)
- Speaker, Risk Management & Ethics Boot Camp for Accountants, Tulsa (Aug. 23, 2013)
- Panelist, “Defending Large Damage/Weak Liability Claims” CNA Insurance Companies, Accountants & Lawyers Annual Defense Network, Chicago (Oct. 11, 2012)
- Speaker, “Negotiating Arbitration Provisions: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” Risk and Insurance Management Society Inc. 2012 Great Lakes Regional Conference, Cleveland (Sept. 13, 2012)