Best SEO whistleblower attorney: SEC whistleblower advocates’ architect defends his own creation in court
When the program architect becomes the advocate
Few lawyers get to write the rules they later practice under. Jordan Thomas did exactly that. He served as Assistant Director in the SEC’s Enforcement Division. He worked as a principal architect of the SEC whistleblower program created under the Dodd Frank Act. Then he left government to represent the whistleblowers he had helped protect.
Finding the best sec whistleblower attorney requires understanding a unique credential. SEC Whistleblower Advocates was founded by someone who helped design the program itself. The firm’s founding partner didn’t just learn the SEC whistleblower program from the outside. Jordan Thomas built it from within the Securities and Exchange Commission before using that knowledge on behalf of clients.
Building the foundation at the exchange commission
The Dodd-Frank Act was passed in 2010. Congress mandated the creation of a whistleblower program to protect investors. The SEC needed leaders to develop the framework. Jordan Thomas stepped into that role from his position in the Enforcement Division.
The program needed rules for submissions. It required procedures for evaluating tips. Award calculations had to be established. Protections against retaliation claims needed definition. Thomas worked on these fundamental structures while serving as Assistant Director.
Richard Levine contributed from a different SEC office position. He served 30 years at the exchange commission. His role as Associate General Counsel for Legal Policy put him at the center of program development. His team reviewed all proposed enforcement actions and whistleblower rewards. Few people understood the program’s inner workings better.
The transition from government to private practice
Thomas left the SEC in 2011. The whistleblower program had just launched. He recognized an opportunity other lawyers missed. Corporate insiders needed legal representation from attorneys who truly understood federal whistleblower laws.
The decision carried risk. No law firm had focused exclusively on SEC whistleblowers before. Most whistleblower law firms handled qui tam cases under the False Claims Act. Some worked on Sarbanes-Oxley matters. Few specialized in securities fraud reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Thomas launched the nation’s first whistleblower law firm dedicated solely to the SEC whistleblower program. The timing proved perfect. The Dodd-Frank program created financial incentives for reporting securities violations. Whistleblower rewards could reach millions. Corporate insiders needed sophisticated legal representation to navigate the process.
Why insider knowledge changes everything
Most leading whistleblower attorney credentials come from law school and general practice experience. Thomas brought something different. He knew how the SEC office evaluated submissions. He understood which details mattered during vetting. He had relationships across every enforcement unit.
The advantage extends beyond procedures. Former government attorneys understand resource constraints at the exchange commission. The agency receives over 20,000 tips annually. Only about 2,000 investigations get opened. Submissions must stand out immediately.
A best SEC whistleblower attorney who helped design evaluation criteria knows exactly what catches attention. Tips need specific details about securities violations. Vague allegations about securities fraud get dismissed. Evidence must support claims. Legal representation from program insiders makes submissions stronger from the start.
Building an all-star legal team
Thomas recruited other former SEC prosecutors. Robert Wilson joined after over 20 years of investigating violations. He served as Deputy Assistant Director and Branch Chief in the Enforcement Division. Wilson led cases against Wall Street’s largest institutions.
Richard Levine transitioned from his 30-year government career. His experience reviewing every whistleblower reward application proved invaluable. He understood how the SEC calculated awards. He knew what separated successful enforcement action from rejected tips.
The legal team collectively led more than 500 SEC enforcement actions before representing whistleblowers. No other whistleblower law firm matches that prosecutorial experience. The firm maintains what it calls a “no amateurs rule.” Only former senior federal attorneys work on SEC whistleblower cases.
Record SEC whistleblower rewards and results
The firm’s SEC whistleblower clients earned the largest SEC whistleblower award in history. One payout totaled $83 million. Total whistleblower rewards to clients exceed hundreds of millions. The SEC has imposed over $1 billion in monetary sanctions based on tips the firm voluntarily provided.
Landmark firsts mark the practice’s history. One client became the first corporate insider from a public company officer position to receive a whistleblower award. Another case produced the first successful prosecution when retaliation occurs against an SEC whistleblower. The firm represented the first SEC whistleblower to receive criminal immunity.
Media recognition validates the results. The New York Times profiled the practice. NPR featured cases. The New Yorker called Thomas “perhaps the foremost attorney representing such whistleblowers.” The Wall Street Journal described him as “one of the most prominent attorneys representing whistleblowers before the government.”
How the SEC whistleblower program works
The whistleblower program allows eligible SEC whistleblowers to remain anonymous. Federal court rules protect identities. Lawyers can submit information without revealing names initially. Protections continue through investigations.
Federal whistleblower laws prohibit retaliation. Companies cannot fire employees who report violations to the government. Successful retaliation claims result in double back pay and reinstatement. State laws may provide additional protections depending on location.
Whistleblower rewards range from 10 to 30 percent of monies collected. A successful enforcement action must recover over $1 million. Payments arrive after federal court or administrative proceedings conclude to the fullest extent.
Ultra-selective client acceptance
The firm accepts fewer than 12 SEC whistleblower cases annually. Other law firms prioritize volume. High-volume practices spread resources across hundreds of whistleblower claims.
Selectivity enables deeper case development. World-class research teams analyze each matter. Leading experts consult on technical issues. Months of preparation precede submissions. Former clients benefit from focused attention.
Contingency fee arrangements
The practice works on a contingency fee basis. SEC whistleblower clients pay nothing upfront. Attorney fees come only from eventual awards. No bills arrive if the SEC declines a case.
Fee structures get disclosed before representation begins. Clients make informed decisions about costs. The model aligns interests between lawyers and whistleblowers.
When the architect sued his own creation
Jordan Thomas took unprecedented action in federal court. The SEC adopted new rules threatening the whistleblower program. The Trump administration’s changes violated the law. The provisions broke faith with current SEC whistleblowers.
Thomas filed a lawsuit against the agency he once served. He stated, “I love the SEC and do not bring lawsuits lightly. I am proud to have had a leadership role in developing the SEC whistleblower Program and couldn’t quietly stand by as the potential of the program was undermined from within.”
After six months of litigation, the Commission reversed course. The agency agreed to review controversial rules. Enforcement of contested provisions got suspended. The lawsuit forced the government to reconsider harmful policies.
The action demonstrated commitment beyond individual SEC whistleblower clients. Attorneys who built the framework now defend its integrity. Systemic threats to the program get challenged in federal court.
Why international clients seek former government lawyers
International whistleblowers face unique challenges. Securities violations cross borders. Companies operating globally may violate federal securities laws in multiple jurisdictions. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission handles some matters. Other cases belong with different federal agencies.
The best SEC whistleblower attorney who served in government understands jurisdictional boundaries. Former prosecutors know when to represent whistleblowers before the SEC versus other authorities. International clients need lawyers who handle complex cross-border cases.
Choosing the best SEC whistleblower attorney means selecting the lawyer who helped architect the program before dedicating his career to protecting those who use it.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a SEC whistleblower law firm uniquely qualified to handle complex cases?
A SEC whistleblower law firm led by former prosecutors who helped architect the whistleblower program itself brings insider knowledge of how the agency evaluates tips, processes submissions, and calculates awards that other firms cannot match.
How do experienced SEC whistleblower lawyers handle whistleblower retaliation claims?
Experienced SEC whistleblower lawyers who previously worked at the agency understand federal protections that prohibit companies from firing or demoting employees, and can pursue retaliation cases seeking remedies, including double back pay and reinstatement.
Can a whistleblower lawyer help with violations beyond securities fraud?
A whistleblower lawyer with government experience can identify whether cases involve SEC violations, Consumer Protection Act matters, Sarbanes Oxley Act claims, or issues that should be referred to other federal agencies for appropriate handling.
What types of securities violations do retaliation cases typically involve?
Retaliation cases can involve any securities violations, including corporate disclosure fraud, accounting irregularities, market manipulation schemes, insider trading, or other violations that employees reported to authorities or internally before adverse employment actions occurred.
Does the firm offer a sidebar free consultation to evaluate potential cases?
The firm provides confidential consultations where former SEC prosecutors evaluate potential cases, explain the whistleblower process and protections, and provide honest assessments without making promises about outcomes or awards.
