# Kohn, Kohn \& Colapinto LLP: Top Whistleblower Attorneys > The whistleblower attorneys who secured the historic $104M Birkenfeld award — among the largest in the world\. Free consultations nationwide\. Generated by Yoast SEO v27.9, this is an llms.txt file, meant for consumption by LLMs. ## Pages - [Miami Whistleblower Lawyer](https://kkc.com/miami-whistleblower-lawyer/) - [Awards \& Recognition](https://kkc.com/awards-recognition/) - [New York Whistleblower Lawyer](https://kkc.com/new-york-whistleblower-lawyer/) - [Texas Whistleblower Lawyer](https://kkc.com/texas-whistleblower-lawyer/) - [Whistleblower Attorney Near Me](https://kkc.com/whistleblower-services/whistleblower-attorney-near-me/) ## Posts - [DOJ Brain Drain Hampers Push to Speed Benefits Fraud Lawsuits](https://kkc.com/blog/doj-brain-drain-hampers-push-to-speed-benefits-fraud-lawsuits/): In this article, author Daniel Seiden of Bloomberg reports that the Justice Department staffing limitations threaten to undercut a new plan to expedite the assessment of whistleblower claims involving fraud against Medicaid and other government benefit programs\. - [Whistleblower Lawyer Stephen Kohn Named to Forbes Top Lawyers List for Second Time](https://kkc.com/blog/whistleblower-lawyer-stephen-kohn-named-to-forbes-top-lawyers-list-for-second-time/) - [KKC Senior Special Counsel Assists TAF with FinCEN Rulemaking Comment](https://kkc.com/blog/kkc-senior-special-counsel-assists-taf-with-fincen-rulemaking-comment/) - [KKC Receives Outstanding Internship Partner Award from UCDC](https://kkc.com/blog/kkc-receives-outstanding-internship-partner-award-from-ucdc/) - [Help Save the AML Whistleblower Program: Submit Your Comment to FinCEN Before June 1](https://kkc.com/blog/send-comments-fincen-save-aml/): FinCEN's proposed rules for the Anti\-Money Laundering Whistleblower Improvement Act fall short of congressional intent\. KKC and the National Whistleblower Center are urging the public to submit comments before the June 1, 2026 deadline\. ## Advisories - [SEC Warns of Pre\-IPO Offerings that Violate Securities Laws](https://kkc.com/advisories/sec-warns-pre-ipo-offerings-violating-securities-laws/): The U\.S\. Securities and Exchange Commission \(SEC\) is alerting investors to a scam targeting people with the promise of buying shares in companies before they go public \(pre\-IPO\)\. These scams can appear anywhere, from social media to phone calls, and despite ongoing enforcement efforts by the SEC, they continue to trick investors\. - [Advisory on Kleptocracy and Foreign Public Corruption](https://kkc.com/advisories/advisory-kleptocracy-foreign-public-corruption/): If an individual has information regarding a possible foreign public corruption scheme, they may be eligible for protection under the U\.S\. Treasury Department’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Program\. - [Blow the Whistle on Fraud or Market Manipulation in the Carbon Markets](https://kkc.com/advisories/blow-the-whistle-on-fraud-or-market-manipulation-in-the-carbon-markets/): The CFTC released an alert regarding fraud or market manipulation in carbon markets\. Carbon markets \(CMs\) refer to the buying and selling of carbon credits and carbon offsets in the context of a transition to a low\-carbon economy\. - [SEC Says to Be Cautious of Investment Scams Related to Natural Disasters](https://kkc.com/advisories/sec-says-to-be-cautious-of-investment-scams-related-to-natural-disasters/): After the aftermath of natural disasters like hurricanes Helene and Milton, the U\.S\. Securities and Exchange Commission \(SEC\) is urging people to be cautious of investment scams\. - [CFPB Issues Warning about Whistleblower Intimidation](https://kkc.com/advisories/cfpb-issues-warning-about-whistleblower-intimidation/): The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau \(CFPB\) issued an advisory warning law enforcement agencies and regulators that companies may be breaking the law by requiring employees to sign broad nondisclosure agreements \(NDAs\) that could deter whistleblowing\. ## Companys - [Deutsche Bank Whistleblowing](https://kkc.com/employee-help/deutsche-bank-whistleblowing/): Are you a Deutsche Bank employee concerned about misconduct? Learn how U\.S\. laws can protect you and offer substantial rewards for reporting fraud, financial misconduct, or other violations\. Don't risk retaliation by reporting internally\. Continue reading to learn more\. - [Wells Fargo Whistleblowing](https://kkc.com/employee-help/wells-fargo-whistleblowing/): Wells Fargo employees: use whistleblower award laws to anonymoulsy report potential fraud, financial misconduct, AML violations, or bribery\. - [Goldman Sachs Whistleblowing](https://kkc.com/employee-help/goldman-sachs-whistleblowing/): Employees of Goldman Sachs have the right to anonymously report concerns of accounting fraud, financial misconduct, AML violations, or bribery, and receive protection and potentially become eligible for an award for their information\. Continue reading to learn more\. - [JPMorgan Whistleblowing](https://kkc.com/employee-help/jp-morgan-whistleblowing/): Are you a JP Morgan employee concerned about financial fraud or manipulation? Read this guide to learn how U\.S\. laws can protect you and offer substantial awards for reporting securities or commidities violations\. Don't risk retaliation or inaction by reporting internally\. ## Countries - [Corruption in Israel](https://kkc.com/corruption-index/corruption-in-israel/): Understand the history of corruption in Israel and how to use U\.S\. whistleblower laws to report transnational corruption, money laundering, and other illicit financial transactions\. - [Corruption in Indonesia](https://kkc.com/corruption-index/corruption-in-indonesia/): Corruption in Indonesia is a major issue that is integral to Indonesian culture\. There are some U\.S\. laws that allow Indonesians to report foreign corruption or money laundering if it involves U\.S\. corporations or individuals in violation of certain laws\. In return, they may be able to obtain an award and protection for their information\. - [Corruption in Colombia](https://kkc.com/corruption-index/corruption-in-colombia/): Over the years, weak regulation, a lack of enforcement, and drug trafficking have corrupted politicians and businesses\. Whistleblowers who know of corruption may be eligible for protection and awards under various U\.S\. whistleblower laws, which we'll explore in this guide\. - [Corruption in United Kingdom](https://kkc.com/corruption-index/corruption-in-united-kingdom/): While the UK is poised to implement stronger whistleblower protections, U\.S\. anti\-corruption laws could provide immediate relief\. Individuals reporting money laundering, government contract fraud, or violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act may be eligible for protection and substantial rewards\. - [Corruption in Russia](https://kkc.com/corruption-index/corruption-in-russia/): Corruption in Russia is a deep\-rooted issue with far\-reaching consequences for the country and the global economy\. While the Russian government has taken steps to address the problem, progress has been slow\. The lack of political will, weak rule of law, and a culture of impunity continue to hinder anti\-corruption efforts\. ## Efforts - [Establishing an Effective DOJ Whistleblower Rewards Program](https://kkc.com/pro-bono/establishing-an-effective-doj-whistleblower-rewards-program/): Kohn, Kohn \& Colapinto's pro bono team is playing a leading role in advocating that the US Department of Justice's new whistleblower program is effective and fully protects whistleblowers\. Through meetings with DOJ officials, detailed letters, and in\-depth opinion pieces, our attorneys are outlining the best practices for effective whistleblower award programs that incentivize whistleblowers and strengthen public trust\. - [IRS Whistleblower Program Rulemaking: Making Tax Whistleblowing Work](https://kkc.com/pro-bono/making-tax-whistleblowing-work/): Since the Tax Relief and Health Care Act established the modern \IRS Whistleblower Program\ in 2006, the pro bono team at Kohn, Kohn \& Colapinto has engaged in consistent advocacy to ensure that the program works to the best of its abilities\. - [International Seminars, Presentations, and The Capacity to Successfully Implement Educational Programming](https://kkc.com/pro-bono/international-whistleblower-education/): Stephen M\. Kohn and the partners at Kohn, Kohn and Colpainto have given numerous U\.S\. sponsored seminars and presentations on topics related to international whistleblowing and anti\-corruption, and has organized numerous educational programs\. - [Pushing to Make National Whistleblower Day Permanent](https://kkc.com/pro-bono/make-national-whistleblower-day-permanent/): Kohn, Kohn \& Colapinto is proud to be offering pro bono support to a whistleblower\-led campaign to make National Whistleblower Day permanent\. Since 2011, attorneys at Kohn, Kohn \& Colapinto have worked hard to ensure that the historic passage of America’s first whistleblower law by the Founders of the United States is celebrated and its impact is understood\. - [Fighting to Keep the CFTC’s Whistleblower Program Funded and Successful](https://kkc.com/pro-bono/cftc-whistleblower-program-funding/): Our firm has worked directly with the Congressional offices responsible for oversight and funding of the CFTC’s Whistleblower Office to ensure that the program will continue to be an immense success\. ## Heros - [Bunnatine "Bunny" Greenhouse](https://kkc.com/hero/bunnatine-greenhouse/): Bunny came from humble beginnings and rose to one of the top positions at the U\.S\. Army Corps of Engineers\. She protested in writing, citing regulations that protected taxpayer dollars from contract fraud\. When Army officials bypassed her authority and steered contracts to Halliburton’s subsidiary KBR anyway, she became a whistleblower\. - [Bradley Birkenfeld](https://kkc.com/hero/bradley-birkenfeld/): UBS Financial Services was forced to disclose the identities of 4,450 U\.S\. taxpayers and faced a penalty of $780 million\. Mr\. Birkenfeld secured the most substantial individual qui tam whistleblower award at the time, amounting to $104 million\. - [Howard Wilkinson](https://kkc.com/hero/howard-wilkinson/): Wilkinson blew the whistle on a $200 billion Russian money\-laundering scandal that moved rubles out of Russia, converted them to dollars at the Estonian branch of Danske Bank, and then moved the dollars to New York\. ## Issues - [Facebook Whistleblowers: Take Action](https://kkc.com/issues/facebook-whistleblowers-take-action/): Several anonymous Facebook whistleblowers have exposed a shocking pattern of criminal activity on the platform\. Facebook is aware of these widespread issues but has not taken real or meaningful steps to stop them\. Congress must ensure that the Securities and Exchange Commission \(SEC\) does its job\. - [President Biden’s Anti\-Corruption Agenda and Whistleblowing](https://kkc.com/issues/president-bidens-anti-corruption-agenda-and-whistleblowing/): Our pro bono team has taken the lead in advocating that laws protecting and incentivizing whistleblowers can and should be a central part of President Biden’s fight against corruption\. ## LSRs - [Sarbanes Oxley Act \(SOX\) \(18 U\.S\.C\. § 1514A\)](https://kkc.com/laws/sarbanes-oxley-act-sox-18-u-s-c-§-1514a/): 18 U\.S\.C\. § 1514A, also known as the Civil Action to Protect Against Retaliation in Fraud Cases, provides whistleblower protection for employees of publicly traded companies\. It safeguards them from discrimination and retaliation if they engage in certain activities related to reporting potential fraud\. This includes any employee working for a company with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or one required to file reports under the Act, including subsidiaries and affiliates whose financial information is consolidated\. It also encompasses officers, employees, contractors, subcontractors, and agents of such companies\. - [FDA Food Safety Modernization Act \(21 U\.S\.C\. § 399d\)](https://kkc.com/laws/fda-food-safety-modernization-act-21-u-s-c-§-399d/): 21 U\.S\.C\. § 399d, officially titled Employee protections, is a section within the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act \(FD\&C Act\) focused on protecting employees within the food industry from discrimination and retaliation if they engage in certain activities related to food safety\. This encompasses any individual employed in the manufacture, processing, packing, transporting, distribution, reception, holding, or importation of food\. It covers a wide range of personnel involved in various stages of the food supply chain\. - [International Emergency Economic Powers Act \(50 USC §1702\-1710\)](https://kkc.com/laws/international-emergency-economic-powers-act-50-usc-1701-1710/): 50 U\.S\.C\. §1702, the second section of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, allows the President to “investigate, regulate, or prohibit” any foreign exchange transactions, any transactions with or through a foreign bank, and the importation and exportation of currency or securities\. The President may also investigate, prohibit, and even void transactions involving property in which a foreign country or national has interest\. Under the Anti\-Money\-Laundering Act, whistleblowers may report any of these activities to FinCEN and may receive an award if their information leads to a significant seizure of assets as part of an enforcement action\. - [Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act \(21 USC § 1901\-1908\)](https://kkc.com/laws/foreign-narcotics-kingpin-designation-act-21-usc-§-1901-1908/): 21 U\.S\.C\. § 1901 et seq\., titled “Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act,” seeks to provide the government with the authority to declare and publicly identify major drug traffickers\. It allows the President to publicly identify drug traffickers in cases where the President believes sanctions should be imposed, and then impose these sanctions\. Sanctions include blocking the traffickers’ property and prohibiting their ability to make transactions within the United States or with Americans in general\. As such, the Act provides a direct and public route through which the government can sanction drug traffickers\. Under the Anti\-Money\-Laundering Act, whistleblowers may report any of these activities to FinCEN and may receive an award if their information leads to a significant seizure of assets as part of an enforcement action\. - [Trading With The Enemy Act \(50 USC § 4305, 4312\)](https://kkc.com/laws/trading-with-the-enemy-act-50-usc-§-4305-4312/): 50 U\.S\.C\. § 4305 and 4312, sections 5 and 12 of the act titled the “Trading with the Enemy Act” make it illegal for Americans to conduct or take part in trade with a foreign enemy or an ally of a foreign enemy, unless they have a license from the President to do so\. The Act also allows the President to regulate or prohibit foreign transactions during times of war\. Finally, the Act establishes an alien property custodian with the power to receive any funds or property that are prohibited by the Act\. By establishing these provisions, § 4305 and 4312 give the government a framework to regulate trade with foreign enemies and collect illicit funds and property from this trade\. Under the Anti\-Money\-Laundering Act, whistleblowers may report any of these activities to FinCEN and may receive an award if their information leads to a significant seizure of assets as part of an enforcement action\. ## Rules - [Money Laundering and Sanctions\-Busting: Report to FinCEN/Treasury](https://kkc.com/law-library/anti-money-laundering-fincen-treasury/): Lorem ipsum dolor, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua - [Think Globally](https://kkc.com/law-library/think-globally/): Lorem ipsum dolor, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua - [Dodd\-Frank \(Securities \& Commodities\): Report to the SEC/CFTC](https://kkc.com/law-library/dodd-frank-securities-commodities/): Lorem ipsum dolor, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua - [How to Afford a Lawyer](https://kkc.com/law-library/how-to-afford-a-lawyer/): Lorem ipsum dolor, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua - [Conclusion: Can Whistleblowers Drive a Spike Through the Heart of Corruption?](https://kkc.com/law-library/conclusion/): Lorem ipsum dolor, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua ## SROs - [Chicago Board of Trade and Whistleblowing](https://kkc.com/sros/cbot-whistleblowing/): The Chicago Board of Trade is a self\-regulatory organization under the oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission\. It was initially created to help farmers and commodity buyers remove price unreliability from agricultural products such as corn and wheat\. - [NYSE Code of Conduct and Whistleblowing](https://kkc.com/sros/nyse-whistleblowing/): The Securities and Exchange Commission \(SEC\) requires NYSE\-listed companies to adhere to codes of conduct and ethics policies and also requires them to disclose any amendments or waivers of the Code of Conduct\. - [FINRA Whistleblowing](https://kkc.com/sros/finra-whistleblowing/): Under the SEC and CFTC Whistleblower Program rules, individuals who blow the whistle to FINRA can qualify for awards from the SEC and CFTC as long as they file a formal disclosure with the SEC within 120 days of blowing the whistle to FINRA or with the CFTC within 180 days\. ## Glossary - [Kleptocracy](https://kkc.com/whistleblower-terms/kleptocracy/): Kleptocracy is defined as a form of government in which individuals seek personal gain at the expense of those they govern\. - [Fraud Triangle](https://kkc.com/whistleblower-terms/fraud-triangle/): The Fraud Triangle is a tool used by anti\-fraud professionals to identify conditions that could motivate individuals, corporations, or even entire industries to engage in fraudulent activity\. It is comprised of three risk factors, \(1\) motivation, \(2\) opportunity, and \(3\) rationalization\. - [Financial Fraud Whistleblower](https://kkc.com/whistleblower-terms/financial-fraud-whistleblower/): A financial fraud whistleblower is an individual who reports illegal, unethical, or fraud that could harm investors or the financial system\. - [Iguana Papers](https://kkc.com/whistleblower-terms/iguana-papers/): The Iguana Papers include a variety of crucial documents, such as emails, presentations, internal briefs, third\-party reports, and databases, that were collected by Andrés Olarte Peña during his tenure at Ecopetrol from January 2017 and January 2019\. - [CFTC Office of the Whistleblower](https://kkc.com/whistleblower-terms/cftc-office-of-the-whistleblower/): The Commodity Futures Trading Commission \(CFTC\) Office of the Whistleblower is responsible for administering the CFTC’s Whistleblower Program ## Portfolio - [Novartis Greece Bribery](https://kkc.com/whistleblower-case-archive/novartis-greece-bribery/): Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto and Athens\-based Greek law firm of Pavlos K\. Sarakis \& Associates jointly represented Greek whistleblowers who proved that the multinational Swiss\-based pharmaceutical company Novartis paid millions in bribes to illegally market drugs in violation of the \Foreign Corrupt Practices Act\\.  Novartis was required to pay over $300 million in sanctions and fines to the U\.S\. Securities and Exchange Commission \(SEC\) and the U\.S\. Department of Justice \(DOJ\)\.  - [Dr\. Tommie "Toni" Savage](https://kkc.com/whistleblower-case-archive/dr-toni-savage/): Dr\. Tommie Savage, a seasoned contracting officer at the Army Corps of Engineers, uncovered a web of systemic corruption within the agency's Huntsville, Alabama contracting office\. Her unwavering commitment to ethical government practices led to a relentless campaign of retaliation that would test her resilience and courage\. - [Bradley Birkenfeld](https://kkc.com/whistleblower-case-archive/bradley-birkenfeld/): Birkenfeld was the first international banker to blow the whistle on illegal off\-shore tax evasion in Switzerland by U\.S\. Citizens\. - [Frederic Whitehurst](https://kkc.com/whistleblower-case-archive/frederic-whitehurst/): Frederic Whitehurst was FBI's leading explosive expert, who exposing widespread misconduct and fraudulent scientific practices within the FBI crime lab\. He was America's first successful FBI whistleblower, who's whistleblowing led to landmark reforms\. He also received a settlement of $1\.16 million for his information\. - [Dr\. Kiki Ikossi](https://kkc.com/whistleblower-case-archive/dr-kiki-ikossi/): Dr\. Kiki Ikossi, a U\.S\. Naval Research Laboratory electrical engineer, faced gender discrimination in the early 2000s, including a hostile work environment, lack of recognition, and being passed over for promotions in favor of younger, less qualified male colleagues\. After reporting these issues to HR, she was retaliated against and ultimately terminated\. ## FAQs - [Balkans\-Related Sanctions and Whistleblower Rewards](https://kkc.com/frequently-asked-questions/balkans-related-sanctions-and-whistleblower-rewards/): Under the new AML laws, which cover Balkans\-related sanctions violations, whistleblowers who report such violations are eligible for an award between 10 and 30 percent of the sanctions collected in a successful enforcement action\. - [Abusive Tax Schemes: What They Are and How to Report Them to the IRS](https://kkc.com/frequently-asked-questions/reporting-abusive-tax-schemes-irs-whistleblowing/): Abusive tax schemes allow individuals or businesses to avoid paying taxes, but come with major penalties and lead to an even greater tax gap\. Insiders of such schemes may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to a successful action of a scheme of $2 million or more\. Read our guide to learn more\! - [What are the SEC Factors for a Whistleblower Award?](https://kkc.com/frequently-asked-questions/sec-award-factors/): The SEC has developed a Whistleblower Program, which incentivizes whistleblowers with rewards\. The SEC makes their decision based on positive and negative factors, each playing a role in shaping the final award amount\. - [Blowing the Whistle on Illegal Crypto Assets](https://kkc.com/frequently-asked-questions/whistleblowing-illegal-crypto-assets/): Cryptocurrency fraud whistleblowers who report alleged violations to regulators, such as market manipulation, money laundering, tax avoidance, or other scams \(through the guise of crypto\), can earn awards under various federal whistleblower reward programs\. - [Can Cryptocurrency Fraud Whistleblowers Qualify for Rewards?](https://kkc.com/frequently-asked-questions/cryptocurrency-fraud-whistleblowers-qualify-rewards/): Cryptocurrency fraud whistleblowers who report alleged violations to regulators, such as market manipulation, money laundering, tax avoidance, or other scams \(through the guise of crypto\), can earn awards under various federal whistleblower reward programs\. ## Optional - [Sitemap index](https://kkc.com/sitemap_index.xml)