Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Extraterritoriality and Whistleblower Retaliation

By R. Scott Oswald and Tom Harrington
October 02, 2014

Though whistleblower protection statutes take many forms, the frameworks for determining liability are really quite similar. Generally speaking, an employee must first demonstrate that he or she engaged in protected conduct under an act. Next, the employee may be required to prove that the employer actually knew about the employee's protected conduct. Third, the employer must take some sort of adverse personnel action against the employee. Finally, the employee must demonstrate that his or her protected conduct was causally related to the adverse employment action.

In-house counsel for multinational corporations and counsel for foreign plaintiffs often must deal with an even more preliminary issue than any of those cited above. Specifically, can overseas whistleblowers avail themselves of United States whistleblower protection laws? If so, under what circumstances? How can corporations protect themselves against claims of retaliation from company whistleblowers located outside the United States? An answer one way or the other may render meaningless arguments about, for example, whether an employee's conduct should be deemed protected or the appropriate causation standard to be applied. Indeed, understanding the extraterritoriality issues in international whistleblower cases is absolutely critical insofar as it may provide an avenue for defense counsel to seek a dismissal early in litigation.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment Image

On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.