Whistleblowers are having a moment. Several individuals have made major forays into the public consciousness for blowing the whistle on their employers. They include, most recently, the Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and the Theranos whistleblowers Tyler Shultz and Erika Cheung. Federal legislators have likewise introduced a number of bills to add legal protections and financial incentives for individuals interested in stepping forward with information about violations of antitrust, consumer protection and consumer finance laws. And, just last fall, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission awarded the largest-known single award—$200 million—under the whistleblower programs established by the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.

Whistleblowers are finally being recognized for the tremendous value they add, and courage they exude, in bringing misconduct to light. Attorneys of all stripes may therefore see an uptick in potential clients seeking counsel on whistleblower laws, and what protections or rewards they may be eligible for under those laws. While these individuals’ legal options may expand as more whistleblower laws continue to get passed, it is important to first understand the whistleblower rewards claims available to clients now—namely, those addressing fraud involving federal funds, securities, commodities and taxes.

Background on Programs