International Whistleblowers.
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International Whistleblower Assistance

Since 1997, the National Whistleblower Legal Defense and Education Fund (Fund) has sponsored a whistleblower legal assistance program for whistleblowers, attempting to locate attorneys to represent whistleblowers.

Given the rise in transnational whistleblower protections the Fund is now accepting intakes from non-U.S. persons who may have a claim under U.S. whistleblower laws. These laws would include the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Enhancement Act, and whistleblower protections covering international sanctions violations, frauds in commodities markets, and securities frauds.

A Free Attorney Referral Program for International Whistleblowers

The Fund operates a free-of-charge Attorney Referral Program (ARP) that seeks to match whistleblower with attorneys willing to take on their cases. This program is now open to non-U.S. persons seeking to file a whistleblower claim under U.S. laws that apply transnationally.

If you think you may have a case that is applicable under U.S. law, please review the frequently asked questions regarding these laws in order to confirm that you may be covered [Link to KKC]. 

If upon review of the FAQs, you determine that you may have a claim, please fill out this form to request an intake form.

Whistleblowers seeking assistance can fill out a secure intake form and submit basic information about their cases on a confidential basis. This form permits attorneys working with the Fund to review each intake. These attorneys have expertise in U.S. transnational whistleblower laws, such as those covering foreign bribery and money laundering.

Intake forms must be filled out in English.

The intake form, and all communication with the Fund, are protected under the attorney-client privilege to the fullest extent permitted under law. This review is conducted free of charge and is managed by an attorney licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia.

The Fund will attempt to inform each intake within 30-days as to the status of their intake. If the Fund cannot provide assistance you will be provided an email declining your case. This does not mean your case is without merit. It simply means that we do not have an attorney who can represent you and/or that your case is not covered under one of the U.S. whistleblower laws.

The Fund does not represent any person under non-U.S. laws and cannot give any advice as to your rights in countries outside of the United States.

Because of the difficulty of matching whistleblowers with attorneys, we strongly recommend that all whistleblowers continue to try to locate an attorney while your case is under review. Also, in the strongest possible terms, we recommend that you obtain a copy of Rules for Whistleblowers. This book will help you understand the laws that may protect you and will help you explain to prospective attorneys the merits of your case.

Always remember you are NOT represented by an attorney until and unless you have a signed written representation agreement with an attorney. Also, always be aware that all whistleblower laws have a statute of limitations that requires claims be filed in a timely manner. Missing a filing deadline can result in your losing your case. Thus it is imperative that you learn about your rights and continue seeking counsel even though you have submitted an intake to our program.

Frequently Asked Questions

There is a long history of whistleblowers being retaliated against for reporting fraud internally to compliance. Also, there are no guaranteed protections for those who decide to report their concerns without seeking counsel. Furthermore, if you decide to talk to the media, this provides the lowest form of protection for your identity and your legal rights moving forward. If you are submitting your information to the media or law enforcement, there is no guarantee your information will be kept confidential and may result in your identity being leaked. Thus, we advise seeking legal counsel to not only protect yourself from retaliation, but also increase your chances at receiving an award.

If a whistleblower decides to file a reward claim through the AML program, they will need to provide original information to regulators, which must consist of strong evidence – enough to initiate an investigation and/or prosecute persons or banks involved in money laundering. Under the new AML reward provisions, whistleblowers may be entitled to protection and an award between 10 and 30 of the sanctions collected in a successful enforcement action.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is an anti-corruption law that prohibits the payment of anything of value to foreign government officials to obtain a business advantage. The Act’s purpose is to stop corruption, create a fair playing field for honest businesses, and preserve public confidence in the integrity of the marketplace.

The Fund is independent of the National Whistleblower Center, but provides legal representation to the NWC and helps fundraise for the NWC. The Fund also co-founded the educational and advocacy website www.whistleblowers.org, the primary public education resource of the Fund and the National Whistleblower Center. The Fund also founded the Whistleblower Protection Blog at whistleblowersblog.org. This blog became the online newspaper Whistleblower Network News in 2020.