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Association of Corporate Counsel - The Department of Justice’s Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program: Key Insights for Corporate Counsel

Please join us for the Association of Corporate Counsel Tampa Bay Chapter CLE Luncheon highlighting the Department of Justice's New Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program.   

The Department of Justice is intensifying its corporate enforcement efforts with a new whistleblower program that will likely increase the number of whistleblower complaints DOJ receives. Under the Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program, a whistleblower who provides the Criminal Division with original and truthful information about corporate misconduct that results in a successful forfeiture may be eligible for an award. The program is intended to complement existing whistleblower programs, such as the program overseen by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for violations of U.S. sanctions and anti-money laundering violations. Beginning with this pilot program aimed at cases where whistleblowers are not already eligible for payments from other government programs, DOJ plans to pay whistleblowers from monies that defendants forfeit when they settle civil claims or are sentenced after a guilty plea or conviction.

Our presenters will review key strategies in-house counsel can implement to create effective compliance programs and an environment where employees feel safe and supported in reporting concerns internally. Based on extensive experience counseling clients through internal investigations and government enforcement actions, the presenters will discuss proactive measures that help companies identify, deter, and respond to potential misconduct early, thereby reducing the risk of external whistleblower actions in this new environment.