Financial Services Employment Law News, Updates, and Insights for Financial Services Employers

Category Archives: Whistleblowing and Compliance

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Announcing Our Expanded Coverage of Whistleblowing and Compliance Law

We’re happy to announce that Epstein Becker Green’s Whistleblowing & Compliance Law Blog has joined our blog.  Readers of both blogs will benefit from our coverage of whistleblowing and compliance law, in addition to the financial services employment law topics our readers have come to expect. This combination represents the addition of more than 40… Continue Reading

Second Circuit Confirms Burden of Proof in SOX Whistleblower Retaliation Cases

By:  John F. Fullerton III On March 5, 2013, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals clarified the burden-shifting framework applicable to whistleblower retaliation claims under Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1514A.  In Bechtel v. Administrative Review Board et al., (pdf), the Court issued a decision, consistent with prior decisions of several other… Continue Reading

Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Coverage Expanded by Department of Labor to Private Firms Serving Publicly Traded Companies – Accountants, Lawyers, Consultants, and Advisors, Beware!

by Frank C. Morris, Jr., and Allen B. Roberts The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) Administrative Review Board (“ARB”) has sounded an alarm that needs to be heard by accounting firms, law firms, and other consultants, advisors, and providers of services to publicly traded companies.  With its recent decision in Spinner v. David Landau &… Continue Reading

New FINRA Rule Confirms That Whistleblower Claims Need Not Be Arbitrated

Before the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd Frank”) was enacted, whistleblower claims by registered representatives, including those arising pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX”) were subject to mandatory arbitration at FINRA.  See FINRA Notice 12-21 (PDF).  Dodd Frank changed that.  Dodd Frank specifically amended SOX to provide that “[n]o dispute… Continue Reading

New York’s At-Will Employment Rule Applies To Compliance Officer Allegedly Fired For Objecting To Misconduct

By:  William J. Milani and Anna Kolontyrsky The New York Court of Appeals has rejected a wrongful discharge cause of action brought by a hedge fund compliance officer who claimed that he was terminated for questioning a series of personal stock trades by the company’s president.  Sullivan v. Harnisch, No. 82 (N.Y. May 8, 2012) (PDF)… Continue Reading