Features

Theranos Whistleblower Tyler Shultz: A Tale of Courage and Ethical Duty
In the annals of corporate fraud, few stories resonate as powerfully as that of Theranos, the Silicon Valley biotech startup that promised to revolutionize blood testing but collapsed under the weight of its own deception. At the heart of this saga is Tyler Shultz, a young whistleblower. This article recounts Tyler’s extraordinary journey and invites legal professionals to explore its lessons through our CLE program, which bridges his real-world experience with the ethical obligations enshrined in the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Features

The DOJ's Whistleblower Pilot Program Adds Incentives for Robust Corporate Compliance Programs
By incentivizing individuals to report misconduct through its Whistleblower Pilot Program, the DOJ has expanded its arsenal and the means by which it can identify misconduct. So wrongdoers beware — although this is not the Old West, everybody loves a good bounty.
Features

New DOJ Self-Disclosure Pilot Program Increases Risk for Startups
The DOJ has created new incentives for employee, or anyone, to report criminal misconduct allegedly committed by companies and their agents. Given their often laxer internal reporting structures and higher employee turnover rates, startup companies should pay particularly close attention to this new development to best mitigate legal risks.
Features

Worldwide Regulations Increasing Compliance Challenges
Regulators worldwide — not just in the United States — are putting in place new programs and policies that will make steering clear of enforcement bunkers even more difficult. And one of the most worrisome, according to corporate attorneys, is a new DOJ pilot program that will provide stronger incentives for whistleblowers to rat out their co-workers and employers for misconduct.
Features

Former SEC Lawyers Dominate Payouts Under Agency's Whistleblower Program, Study Finds
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's widely hailed whistleblower program has paid millions in recent years to former SEC lawyers who have come to dominate the market for representing tipsters seeking payouts through the program, a new study found.
Features

The Regulators Are at the Gates: Significant New AML Legislation Nears Passage
Over the past few years, Congress and law enforcement have notably increased their scrutiny of companies' anti-money laundering compliance, and it appears that Congress is not yet finished with its drive for additional legislation and regulation.
Features

Developments in Federal Whistleblowing Programs: What Compliance Officers Need to Know
This article examines recent developments and trends concerning federal whistleblower programs that compliance officers need to know and provides best practices recommendations for ensuring that your company maintains a robust whistleblower and anti-retaliation program in light of increased whistleblower activity.
Columns & Departments
In the Courts
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the majority of an $11 million jury verdict brought by a whistleblower who claimed that his company fired him for raising concerns about possible FCPA violations.
Features

Supreme Court Ties SEC's Hands in Whistleblower Case
With its decision in <i>Digital Realty v. Somers</i>, the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to companies interested in learning of their own securities violations before the government gets the heads-up. The case's outcome means whistleblowers who might have reported violations internally will be incentivized to bypass their own companies' compliance mechanisms in favor of immediate reporting to the SEC.
Features

Takeaways from the Swift End to <i>Waymo v. Uber</i>
The details might not be quite as dramatic as they were in <i>Waymo v. Uber</i>, but lawyers expect trade secrets to continue to be a fertile source for litigation.
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