Whistleblowers and Corporate Misconduct: the U.S. v. the UK

On July 21, 2010, Congress enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, one of the most significant financial reform efforts in America since the Great Depression. This landmark legislation set out to reshape the U.S. regulatory landscape, reduce systemic risk, and help restore confidence in the financial system. One of the most important investor protection provisions in Dodd-Frank directed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to establish a whistleblower programm that requires the agency to pay monetary awards to eligible whistleblowers who voluntarily provide the Commission with original information about a violation of the federal securities laws that leads to a successful enforcement action or a related action. Dodd-Frank also prohibits retaliation by employers against individuals who provide the SEC with information about possible securities violations.

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