Whistleblower Law

This blog was co-authored by John McKnight and Danya Rangachar. Microsoft recently invested $10...

Globally, our increasing online presence – and the rising interest in the metaverse – renders cybersecurity as important as ever. More people are using the Internet than ever before: the number of Internet users has grown from 413 million in 2000 to more than 3.4 billion in 2016.[1] Yet, as the Internet becomes normalized, more new ideas continue to emerge.…

As the world becomes more dependent on technology, there have been more and more cybersecurity attacks that leverage vulnerabilities in technology products. Cyberattacks are becoming more prevalent and have established themselves as key threats across different industries, affecting both public and private sectors. State and non-state actors across the globe will all likely engage in more dangerous cyberattacks in the…

As Bitcoin adoption increases – and other cryptocurrencies emerge – the need for industry regulation is becoming increasingly clear. In particular, the growth of stablecoin epitomizes the growing appeal of digital currencies. Stablecoins, issued by stablecoin issuers, are a type of cryptocurrency that is typically pegged to a government-backed currency, such as the U.S. dollar.[1] As a result, unlike Bitcoin –…

Customs fraud continues to be a focus of False Claims Act enforcement. Customs fraud comes in a variety of forms, a few of which we’ve looked at in the past on this blog, including the undervaluing of merchandise, the incorrect classification of merchandise to invoke a lower duty rate, or the failure to mark goods with their country of origin. Companies sometimes…

Maryland recently took an important step in the fight against tax dodgers, as it enacted a bill that creates a tax whistleblower program similar to the successful programs administered by the Internal Revenue Service and the District of Columbia. The policy created by Maryland House Bill 804, which was enacted on June 1, 2021, and scheduled to take effect later…

On January 1, 2021, Congress overrode then-President Trump’s veto to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (“AMLA”), an important new law that is designed to combat money laundering.[1] Among the provisions of the AMLA, the ban on shell companies—which, when finalized, will require most U.S. companies to report their so-called “true beneficial owner”—has received widespread media attention.[2] A part of the…

If you’re considering becoming a whistleblower, there are five important facts that you should know about qui tam cases before pursuing litigation. 1. The first one to file is the relator. For example, your department is aware of the company’s actions in defrauding the government. Over and over again, you’ve heard your colleagues complaining about your company’s actions and how someone should…