Visualizing The Future for Whistleblowers: Trends to Watch for in 2015 and Beyond

Overview:

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), under the umbrella of the Dodd-Frank Act, has focused more upon corporate whistleblowing. In September 2014, more than $30 million was paid to a whistleblower who alerted the SEC to purported fraud. The U.S. Justice Department recovered nearly $6 billion from False Claims Act cases in the same year.

As such, record setting False Claims Act cases and recoveries will continue in 2015, legal protections and greater confidentiality for whistleblowers will increase, and there will be increased scrutiny of whistleblower retaliation techniques. The SEC will continue to focus on whistleblower retaliation in the work place. As a result, companies need to be more aware of the risks of retaliating in any manner against whistleblowers since there have been a record number of False Claims Act recoveries; particularly against health care and defense companies

However, for whistleblowers and corporate defendants, one of the biggest concerns yet to be addressed by the courts is the question of how extensively employees may collect information from an employer to support their allegations of fraud or to protect themselves from anticipated retaliation. In addition, the status and fate of foreign whistleblowers will remain less certain. Never the less, irrespective of lack of protect under U.S. law, foreign whistleblowers are still reports and being awarded. Yet, the courts also seem inconsistent in defining who is a 'whistleblower'.

In light of the developments, company officials would be wise to know the regulations regarding whistleblowers, develop ethics and regulatory compliance policies and training programs, provide confidential and anonymous hotlines, and comply fully with the False Claims Act and other regulations to avoid the risk of litigation and fines.

In a two hour, LIVE Webcast, a panel of key thought leaders and professionals assembled by The Knowledge Group will provide the audience with an overview of the Future of Whistleblowers in 2015 and beyond. The panel will also provide the audience with the crucial advice regarding the risks of retaliation against corporate whistle blowers.

Key topics include:

• Whistleblower Protection
• False Claims Act Recoveries
• Retaliation Schemes and Investigations
• Status of Foreign Whistleblowers
• Employee Self-Help Discovery
• Internal Whistleblowing Risk Mitigation
• Comprehensive Ethics and Compliance Solutions
• Regulatory and Reporting Expectations
• Legal Protection and Confidentiality Procedures for Whistleblowers
• Possible Lawsuits and Settlements

Agenda:

Who Should Attend:

• Attorneys who bring or defend FCA cases
• False Claims Act Lawyers
• Whistleblower Lawyers
• White Collar Lawyers
• Advisors
• Civil Litigators
• Other Related/Interested Professionals and Organizations