CFTC Announces Record-Breaking $30 Million Whistleblower Award

Today, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced a $30 million whistleblower award-the largest ever under the CFTC’s Whistleblower Program. The award, which is nearly triple the size of the CFTC’s previous highest award, is the fifth made under the program since its inception in 2010 and the first under President Trump. In February, Bloomberg reported that a whistleblower would receive a $30 million award from the CFTC for reporting...

Constantine Cannon partner Eric Havian moderates panel with The Big Three -- heads of the whistleblower offices at the SEC, CFTC and IRS -- at the 16th Annual Offshore Alert Conference

Constantine Cannon Partner Eric Havian recently joined Jane Norberg, Christopher Ehrman and Lee Martin, the heads of the whistleblower offices for the SEC, CFTC and IRS (otherwise known as The Big Three), to moderate a panel entitled ‘Enriching Domestic & Foreign Whistleblowers: The Growth & Spreading Reach Of US Programs,’ which explored, among other things, the growing number of submissions from whistleblowers outside the United States. The panel was part...

CFTC Proposes Significant Changes to Its Whistleblower Program

By Jason Enzler Last week the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) proposed extensive amendments to the regulations implementing its five-year old whistleblower program.  If adopted, the changes would expand and clarify its whistleblower protections, the scope of who can enforce whistleblower protections, the bases for how awards to whistleblowers will be calculated, and the process by which whistleblower claims will be evaluated, among other proposals. Regarding protections against whistleblower...

CFTC Announces Its Largest Whistleblower Reward (so far . . .)

By Jason Enzler This week the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) awarded its largest bounty to date to a whistleblower -- over $10 million.  The award is the third payment to a whistleblower the CFTC has made under its whistleblower program implemented by the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. The identities of the whistleblower and the defendant(s?) are shielded by law.  The Dodd-Frank Act and rules promulgated under that law...

CFTC Announces Second Whistleblower Award

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team The CFTC announced its second ever whistleblower award yesterday under the agency's Dodd-Frank whistleblower program.  The anonymous whistleblower will receive roughly $290,000 for reporting information about violations of the Commodity Exchange Act that led to an  enforcement action.  This award follows nearly a year and a half after the CFTC announced its first whistleblower award in May 2014 for $240,000. Director of the Division...

CFTC Makes Its First Whistleblower Award

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team Acting Chairman Mark Wetjen has just announced that the CFTC will issue its first award to a whistleblower under the agency’s Dodd-Frank Act whistleblower program.  The whistleblower is expected to receive approximately $240,000 for providing information about violations of the Commodity Exchange Act. According to Gretchen Lowe, the Acting Director of the CFTC’s Enforcement unit, “the whistleblower provided specific, timely and credible information that...

Whistleblower Question of the Week: How Are Whistleblowers Protected After Deciding to Speak Out?

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Whistleblowers often take risks when they step forward. That is why Congress and federal agencies have built protections through a combination of laws, regulations, and policies designed to prevent retaliation, preserve confidentiality, and make it possible for individuals to report wrongdoing safely. While our firm does not typically handle standalone whistleblower employment or retaliation matters, those cases sometimes include issues that also fall under one...

Whistleblower Question of the Week: What Drives Whistleblowers to Speak Out?

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Whistleblowers are often driven by a strong sense of integrity and ethical responsibility. When they witness fraud, corruption, misconduct, or threats to the public or government, they feel obligated to speak up. Their moral compass pushes them forward, especially when silence would allow harm to continue unchecked. When institutions turn a blind eye to misconduct, whistleblowers’ resolve strengthens. They step up because no one else...

Whistleblower Question of the Week: What Does a Whistleblower Attorney Do?

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Whistleblower attorneys represent individuals who step forward to report illegal or fraudulent activity that often involves government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, government contracts, investor funds, or corporate misconduct. Our whistleblower team at Constantine Cannon helps guide clients through every step of the process. We navigate complex laws, offer support, and provide strategic legal advice from the first consultation through government investigation, litigation, and...

Whistleblower Question of the Week: What is the Process of Whistleblowing?

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team Witnessing fraud, safety violations, or corruption creates a dilemma: stay silent or speak up? For those who choose to speak up, understanding the process helps you do it safely and effectively. Whistleblowing involves reporting misconduct, unethical behavior, or illegal activity that harms the government or the public. The process typically begins when an individual, such as an insider or employee, observes wrongdoing firsthand. Many whistleblowers raise...