Abogados de Whistleblower

Whistleblower Lawyers in the United States

Employees who report fraud, waste, or illegal activity by their employers take on significant personal risk. Whistleblower lawyers represent these individuals, helping them file claims under federal and state laws while protecting them from retaliation. The right attorney can mean the difference between a dismissed complaint and a multimillion-dollar recovery.

What Whistleblower Law Covers

Whistleblower law spans several federal statutes. The False Claims Act allows private citizens to file lawsuits — called qui tam actions — on behalf of the government when a company defrauds federal programs. Medicare fraud, defense contractor overbilling, and grant misuse are common targets.

The Dodd-Frank Act protects employees who report securities violations to the SEC, while the Sarbanes-Oxley Act covers whistleblowers at publicly traded companies. Other protections exist for reporting tax fraud through the IRS Whistleblower Program, environmental violations, and nuclear safety concerns. Retaliation claims — covering termination, demotion, or harassment after reporting — fall under these same statutes.

When to Hire a Whistleblower Lawyer

• You have evidence of fraud against a government program and want to file a qui tam lawsuit
• Your employer fired, demoted, or retaliated against you after you reported misconduct
• You want to report securities fraud to the SEC and qualify for a financial award
• You discovered tax fraud exceeding $2 million and plan to submit an IRS whistleblower claim
• You need guidance on confidentiality requirements before disclosing information

How the Whistleblower Process Works

In a False Claims Act case, your attorney files a complaint under seal in federal court. The case stays sealed — typically for 60 days, though extensions averaging 2-3 years are common — while the Department of Justice investigates. The government then decides whether to intervene and take over the case or decline, leaving you to proceed independently.

SEC whistleblower claims follow a different path. Your lawyer submits a tip through the SEC's online portal, and the agency investigates internally. Since the program launched in 2011, the SEC has awarded over $2 billion to whistleblowers. IRS claims go through a separate Whistleblower Office and can take several years to resolve.

How Whistleblower Compensation Is Calculated

• False Claims Act awards range from 15-25% of the government's recovery if the DOJ intervenes, and 25-30% if the whistleblower proceeds alone
• SEC awards range from 10-30% of sanctions collected over $1 million, based on the significance of information provided
• IRS awards pay 15-30% of collected proceeds for claims involving more than $2 million in dispute
• Retaliation claims can yield back pay, reinstatement, compensatory damages, and in some cases double back pay
• Factors affecting award size include the originality of the information, the whistleblower's cooperation level, and the total amount recovered

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a whistleblower claim anonymously?

In most cases, yes — at least initially. False Claims Act cases are filed under seal, meaning the defendant doesn't know about the lawsuit during the investigation. SEC tips can be submitted anonymously as long as you're represented by an attorney. Your identity may eventually be disclosed if the case goes to trial.

What protections do I have against retaliation?

Federal whistleblower statutes include strong anti-retaliation provisions. If your employer fires, demotes, suspends, or harasses you for reporting misconduct, you can file a separate retaliation claim. Remedies include reinstatement to your position, back pay with interest, and compensation for attorney fees and litigation costs.