Wilhelm Dingler

Partner

Office: Seattle

Direct: 206-844-1351

Fax: 312-422-6110

wdingler@ohaganmeyer.com

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  • Professional Overview
    Wilhelm Dingler is a Partner in the Seattle office of O’Hagan Meyer and a member of multiple practice groups. He devotes his practice to defending professionals, primarily accountants, attorneys, real estate and insurance professionals, architects, and engineers. A trial attorney for more than 40 years, he has litigated hundreds of cases in state and federal courts in the Pacific Northwest, the Eastern Seaboard, and Alaska. Wilhelm has provided legal counsel to thousands of professionals on thorny issues that need unwinding and continues to offer advice to attorneys, architects and engineers and CPAs across the country. He has a solid understanding of what they’re facing and puts himself in their shoes to tackle their problem with the utmost level of care. Professionals turn to him to talk through the issues so that together they can come up with realistic objectives and cost-efficient solutions.

    Prior to joining O’Hagan Meyer, Wilhelm was a shareholder at a former West Coast-based insurance defense firm. He also held a senior role at a prominent East Coast insurance defense firm and served as Senior Vice President of West Coast Operations for TPA, C.R. Vince & Associates, Inc., where he led the Seattle office and specialized in professional liability claims, coverage issues, and risk management for accountants, architects, and engineers. Earlier in his career, Wilhelm spent nearly a decade in-house at Safeco, overseeing liability programs for accountants and attorneys.

    When Wilhelm first started practicing law, he served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington providing counsel to the state’s industrial insurance agency. He was a prosecutor for the Medical Disciplinary Board, and upon his move to private practice, the state contracted with his new firm to have him appointed as Special Assistant Attorney General prosecutor for three years following his departure.
  • Practice Areas
  • Education and Admissions

    Education

    • B.A. from the University of Notre Dame
    • J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law, cum laude

    Admissions

    • United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    • United States Tax Court
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
    • United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
    • United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

    States Licensed

    • Pennsylvania
    • Washington
  • Professional Organization Memberships
    • Defense Research Institute (DRI) (Member, Professional Liability Committee and frequent speaker)
    • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) (Member)
    • Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) (Member)
  • News, Honors, Publications & Speeches
    Honors & Awards:
    • Distinguished®, Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
    • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© (2024-2026 — Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants)
    • Order of the Barrister
    Publications & Presentations:
    • Co-Presenter, “From Expert to Effective: Preparing Witnesses for Deposition and Trial Testimony,” DRI Professional Liability Seminar, New York, NY (Dec. 2025)
    •  Co-Presenter, “Come One, Come All. Inviting Others to the Party – Sharing the Blame,” DRI Professional Liability Symposium, New York, NY (Dec. 2021)
    • Author, “Mediation: A Better Solution Than You May Have Thought,” Pennsylvania CPA Journal (Fall 2021), Vol. 92 No.3 pp: 14-15
    • Co-Author, “CPA ‘Comfort Letters’ to Lenders and Third Parties May Be Traps for Violating Professional Standards and Creates Litigation Risk for Accountants,” Travelers Insurance Co. Advisory Bulletin (2018)
    • Co-Author, “Tax Preparation Red Flags: Investigate Red Flags When Preparing Tax Returns for Multiple Related Entities to Prevent Possible Loss Litigation,” Pearl Insurance Risk Management Blog (2018)
    • Author, “Outsmarting the Identity Thief,” Pearl Insurance Risk Management Blog (2017)
    • Author, “Comfort Letters – What to Do?” Pearl Insurance Risk Management Blog (2017)
    • Speaker, “Use of Expert Testimony in Professional Liability,” International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Professional Liability Roundtable (2017)
    • Speaker, “Breakfast Q&A with the IRS,” Greater Philadelphia Society of CPAs Tax Seminar (2017)
    • Panelist, “Top 10 Trouble Spots for Accountants and How to Defend Against Them,” Defense Research Institute (DRI) Professional Liability Seminar (2016)
    • Speaker, “Dos and Don’ts of Engagement Letters,” Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (2016)
    • Speaker, “The Top Ten Trouble Spots for Accountants,” North American Professional Liability Insurance Agency (NAPLIA) (2016)
    • Speaker, “Risk Management – Practical Lessons from the Trenches,” Bucks and Montgomery County Chapters of the Pennsylvania Society of Tax & Accounting Professionals (2016)
    • Speaker, “Perception vs. Reality of Engagement Letters,” Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants Annual Conference (2015)
    • Speaker, “What’s New for Accountants and Lawyers PLI?” Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) International Conference (2014)
    • Speaker, “Buying & Selling Accounting Law and Other Non-Medical Professional Practices,” Montgomery County Bar Association (2014)
    • Speaker, “Ethical Considerations When Dealing with Distressed Property,” National Business Institute (NBI) (2014)
    • Speaker, “Risk Management and Loss Prevention for Accountants,” Kansas City and Kansas Society of CPAs (2014)
    • Speaker, “Accountant’s Professional Liability,” Travelers Insurance Co. (2013)
    • Speaker, “Handling the Accountant Embezzlement Claim – A Case Study,” Travelers Insurance Co. (2013)
    • Speaker, “Forensic Reports: The Federal and State Rules of Evidence – Kovel Letters,” Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs Forensic and Litigation Divorce Conference (2013)
    • Panelist, “I Think My Bookkeeper Is Stealing from Me,” PICPA Cooperates with the Bar and Other Professionals (2013)
    • Speaker, “Handling the Accountant Embezzlement Claim – A Case Study,” Institute of CPAs Joint Committee on Cooperation with the Bar and Other Professionals (2013)
    • Speaker, “Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Accountants Professional Liability Claims Handling, Litigation and Underwriting,” GenStar (a Berkshire Hathaway Company) and Markel Corp. Midwest Region (2013)
    • Speaker, “Accountants Professional Liability – Claims Training and Current Issues Discussion,” GenStar and Markel Corp. / AllRisks (2013)
    • Author, “Another Arrow in the Defense Quiver,” Agents of America, E&O Prevention Weekly (2012)
    • Author, “The IRS, QuickBooks, and You,” Of Mutual Interest (2012)
    • Speaker, “Advanced Issues in Foreclosure” (2011)
    • Speaker, “Maintaining Professionalism in the Legal Practice,” National Business Institute (NBI) Webinar (2011)
    • Speaker, “Tax Consequences of Foreclosure,” National Business Institute (NBI) Webinar (2011)
    • Speaker, “Risk Management and Insurance Coverage – Practical Lessons from the Trenches,” Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Public Accountants Annual Meeting (2011)
    • Speaker, “Risky Business: Risk Management Techniques for Accounting Firms,” Argo Pro, Insight Insurance Services and Contract Solutions Group Webinar (2010)
    • Speaker, “Accountants’ Liability Claims Perspective and Risk Management,” Argo Pro and Insight Insurance Services Webinar (2010)
    • Speaker, “Agents and Brokers – A Better Understanding of Legal Developments and Risk Assessment,” Liberty Mutual Agency Underwriters and Claims (2010)
    • Speaker, “Dos and Don’ts of Engagement Letters in IRS Tax Representation,” Winning Strategies LLC (2009)
    • Speaker, “New Auditing Standards, IRS Regulations: The Turmoil in the American Automotive Market and How Each May Impact Claims, Litigation and Risk Management,” National Alliance of Auto Dealer Advisors (NAADA) Annual Meeting (2009)
    • Speaker, “Case Trends: Risk Management and Issues Effecting Underwriting and Claims against Accountants and Attorneys,” (2009)
    • Author, “Remember Risk Management with Adoption of New Work Paradigms,” Pennsylvania CPA Journal, Vol. 80, No. 1, p. 16 (2009)
    • Speaker, “A Comprehensive Guide to Claims Administration,” Mutual Marine (2009)
    • Author, “In Bad Economy, Protect Yourself from Portfolio Collapse Lawsuits,” Pennsylvania CPA Journal, Vol. 79, No. 3, p. 14 (2008)
    • Author, “Confronting the Inevitable Blame Game,” Pennsylvania CPA Journal, Vol. 79, No. 2, p. 14 (2008)
    • Author, “Top Ten Trouble Spots: Will We Ever Learn?” Pennsylvania CPA Journal, Vol. 78, No. 4, pp. 12-13 (2008)
    • Speaker, “New Auditing Standards for Non-Public Companies/Liability and Risk Management Issues,” Morris J. Cohen & Co, PC (2007)
    • Speaker, “New Auditing Standards Recently Promulgated by the AICPA and Their Effects on Claims Trends and Underwriting,” Everest National Insurance Company (2007)
    • Author, “Mind the Gap in Liability Coverage,” Pennsylvania CPA Journal, Vol. 77, No. 4 (2007)
    • Author, “Never Slack on Security,” Pennsylvania CPA Journal, Vol. 77, No. 3 (2006)
    • Speaker, “Claims Trends and Risk Management Techniques for Professional Liability Attorneys, Claims Handlers and Underwriters,” Crittenden Conferences Specialty Coverages Conference (2004)
    • Speaker, Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) Mid-Year Miscellaneous E&O Symposium (2004)
    • Author, “The Benefits of Advice: One Step to a Better Night’s Sleep,” The Asset Column (2000)
    • Author, “Experience Begets Advice,” The Asset Column, Vol. 6, No. 3 (1999)
    • Author, “Fact and Fiction of Mediation and the Accountant: A Case Study,” Pennsylvania CPA Journal, Vol. 68, No. 4 (1998)
    • Author, “Claims Made and Reported: A View from the Top,” The Asset Column, Vol. 4, No. 3 (1997)