Category: News

100 Us Dollar Banknotes, representing Barclays Whistleblower

Barclays Whistleblower Process Definitely Disappoints

Barclays Whistleblower Identity Protected The Justice Department is reportedly investigating efforts by Barclays CEO Jes Staley to unmask a Barclays whistleblower who sent two anonymous letters to the bank’s board of directors complaining about the hiring of a mid-level executive. Barclays reportedly asked the U.S. Postal Service for assistance in tracking down the sender of...
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Dollar banknote on white table, representing whistleblower amendments, insider trading, and whistleblower awards.

Massive Amount of Insider Trading Fraud, Front-Running and Ponzi Schemes, Says Former CFTC Enforcement Chief

Insider Trading & Other Schemes Prevalent The former head of enforcement at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) told Reuters that there is a “massive amount of misconduct” in futures, options and swaps markets. This fraud, which includes prohibited market manipulation, insider trading, front-running and Ponzi schemes, goes undetected because of insufficient data mining...
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Close Up of Photo of Books

Review of SEC Rule 21F-17 (Impeding Whistleblowers)

Live Webcast Reviewing SEC Rule 21F-17 Brandon Lauria will speak on enforcement of SEC Rule 21F-17 at a Knowledge Group live webcast on March 9, 2017. SEC Rule 21F-17 prohibits confidentiality agreements and other measures which restrict access to the SEC whistleblower program. The one hour webcast at noon (EST) will cover the rule protecting...
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Close-up Photo of Codes representing the cyber unit as well as hackers and insider trading

Hackers and Insider Trading Continue to Mix in 2017

Hackers and Insider Trading Remain a Threat to SEC It was more than a year ago that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) cracked down on a group of hackers and traders who obtained confidential, non-public information about publicly traded companies by hacking websites for press releases. A recently released report by a cybersecurity...
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Close up of books - False Claims Act and whistleblower immunity

Update on Whistleblower Immunity in DTSA of 2016

DTSA and Whistleblower Immunity Last year, we applauded the carve-out for whistleblowers in the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA). However, a recent opinion of a U.S. District Court in the First Circuit undermined the protections afforded whistleblowers under the law. Instead of receiving whistleblower immunity from the lawsuit, it became a sword to...
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Utopian city at sunset, representing eligibility for SEC whistleblower rewards

Congress Considers Co-Conspirator Eligibility for SEC Whistleblower Rewards in 2017

Eligibility for SEC Whistleblower Rewards A memo circulated in early February regarding the Financial Choice Act produced by House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) has proposed the elimination of SEC whistleblower rewards for co-conspirators. The SEC whistleblower program established by the Dodd-Frank Act currently prohibits the SEC from taking into account any monetary sanctions...
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Man in front of a sunset, representing confidentiality for SEC whistleblowers

Court Rules Definitively on Confidentiality for SEC Whistleblowers in 2017

Decision on Confidentiality for SEC Whistleblowers A U.S. District Court in the Southern District of California has recently ruled on the validity of a SEC whistleblower’s defense to the enforcement of a company’s confidentiality agreement. In the decision, the Court accepts the validity of a public policy defense to a limited whistleblower disclosure of confidential information...
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Photovoltaic PV plant ground mounted with string inverters, highlighting clean energy fraud

A Review of Recent Damaging Clean Energy Fraud

Clean Energy Fraud All Around Us We have discussed the potential for whistleblower actions grounded in the protection of the environment and compliance with environmental laws here before. Most depend on the unique circumstances of the case and the fraudulent scheme in order to fit within one of the whistleblower programs. With the Trump Administration...
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