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Why hire an SEC whistleblower lawyer?

Why Hire an SEC Whistleblower Lawyer 

In contrast to False Claims Act (FCA) qui tam claims, a whistleblower reporting wrongdoing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is not required to retain counsel. So why should a whistleblower consider retaining an attorney? Hiring an effective and experienced SEC whistleblower lawyer can significantly increase your chances of recovering and maximizing an SEC whistleblower award.

Since the inception of the SEC Whistleblower Program, the SEC has received more than 52,400 whistleblower tips and awarded approximately $1.3 billion to 231 individuals, including multi-million dollar awards to our clients. In FY 2021, the SEC received more than 12,200 whistleblower tips.  

As less than half of one percent of SEC whistleblower tips result in the payment of a whistleblower award, having an experienced SEC whistleblower attorney prepare a thorough TCR whistleblower submission, protect your interests at the SEC, and prepare a detailed award application can significantly increase your chance of obtaining an award.

Experienced and effective SEC whistleblower attorneys can provide critical guidance and effective advocacy to whistleblowers to increase the likelihood that they get the maximum award from the SEC Whistleblower Program.

Contact us today to find out the strategies that our SEC whistleblower lawyers have successfully employed to secure SEC whistleblower awards for our whistleblower clients from the SEC Whistleblower Program.

 

We have secured awards for seven whistleblowers, and the courageous whistleblowers that we represent have helped stop more than $1 billion in Ponzi schemes and other fraudulent investment schemes.

Blow the Whistle Anonymously

The SEC allows whistleblowers to submit tips anonymously if represented by counsel. For most of Zuckerman Law’s clients, it is imperative that their identity remain confidential throughout the process. Therefore, our experienced SEC whistleblower attorneys prioritize protecting our clients’ identities and take the necessary steps to minimize any risk that a client’s identity could be exposed.

For more information, see Anonymous Whistleblowing: Does the SEC Whistleblower Program Protect a Whistleblower's Identity?

Preparing an Effective SEC Whistleblower Submission

best sec whistleblower lawyerThe SEC Whistleblower Office receives more than 12,000 Form TCR submissions per year and has limited resources. It is critical that whistleblowers and their attorneys prepare submissions that grab the SEC’s attention and provide a roadmap for a successful enforcement action. Indeed, most successful whistleblower submissions involve and include far more than filling out a form on the SEC's website.

Unlike most whistleblower law firms, Zuckerman Law has a full-time in-house certified public accountant (CPA) and certified fraud examiner (CFE) to analyze complex frauds. We leverage our expertise and experience working with the SEC to:

  1. Maximize the likelihood that the SEC Division of Enforcement acts on our client’s tip; and
  2. Maximize the percentage of our client’s future award.

For more information, see What happens after I submit a tip to the SEC?

Advocating Effectively to Secure a High Whistleblower Award

When the SEC takes an enforcement action based on a tip provided by a whistleblower, there is no guarantee that the whistleblower will receive an award. Instead, the whistleblower can apply for an award and navigate a complex process to try to obtain an award. An experienced SEC whistleblower lawyer can prepare a detailed award application to persuade the SEC to grant the whistleblower a substantial award.

For more information, see What happens after I apply for an SEC whistleblower award?

Choosing an Effective SEC Whistleblower Law Firm

What are some questions to ask when evaluating which firm to hire?

  • What results has the firm achieved for clients at the SEC?
  • What are the firm’s capabilities to investigate complex fraud schemes?
  • What is the firm’s experience working effectively with SEC attorneys and accountants?

As discussed in our articles, the SEC whistleblower program has become a very effective enforcement tool for the SEC.  But very few whistleblowers have received awards, which underscores the importance of having experienced counsel represent a whistleblower effectively at the SEC.

Recently the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners published a profile of Matt Stock’s success working with whistleblowers to fight fraud:

SEC whistleblower lawyers

Whistleblower Law Firm Representing SEC Whistleblowers

Our attorneys have been representing whistleblowers at the SEC before Congress created the Dodd-Frank SEC Whistleblower-Reward Program. Since the inception of the program, we have worked effectively with the SEC and its Enforcement Division to combat many types of fraudulent schemes, including, but not limited to:

How to Get an SEC Whistleblower Award

SEC Whistleblower Process

SEC Whistleblower Protections

SEC Whistleblower Program: How to Qualify for an SEC Whistleblower Bounty

These frequently asked questions provide an overview of key facets of the SEC Whistleblower Program.  Every case is unique.  To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call us at 202-262-8959.

The SEC Whistleblower Program offers awards to eligible whistleblowers who provide original information that leads to successful SEC enforcement actions with total monetary sanctions exceeding $1 million. A whistleblower may receive an award of between 10% and 30% of the total monetary sanctions collected in actions brought by the SEC and in related actions brought by other regulatory or law enforcement authorities. The SEC Whistleblower Program allows whistleblowers to submit tips anonymously if represented by an attorney in connection with their tip.

Our clients’ SEC whistleblower tips have helped the SEC halt more than $1 billion in fraudulent investment schemes.

Since the inception of the SEC Whistleblower Program, the SEC has paid more than $1.3 billion in awards to whistleblowers, including seven awards to our clients. The largest SEC whistleblower awards to date are $114 million, $110 million, and $50 million. See a summary of the SEC whistleblower cases that have resulted in large awards.

Experienced and effective SEC whistleblower attorneys can provide critical guidance and effective advocacy to whistleblowers to increase the likelihood that they get the maximum award from the SEC Whistleblower Program.

 

 

 

Jason Zuckerman, Principal of Zuckerman Law, litigates whistleblower retaliation, qui tam, wrongful discharge, and other employment-related claims. He is rated 10 out of 10 by Avvo, was recognized by Washingtonian magazine as a “Top Whistleblower Lawyer” in 2015 and selected by his peers to be included in The Best Lawyers in America® and in SuperLawyers.

Matthew Stock is the Director of the Whistleblower Rewards Practice at Zuckerman Law. He represents whistleblowers around the world in SEC, CFTC and IRS whistleblower claims. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner and former KPMG external auditor.