On September 6, 2018, the SEC Office of the Whistleblower awarded $39 million to one whistleblower and $15 million to another. The $39 million award is the second-largest award in the history of the program, behind a $50 million award made in March of this year.

The Chief of the SEC Office of the Whistleblower, Jane Norberg, said in a press release that “[w]histleblowers serve as invaluable sources of information, and can propel an investigation forward by helping us overcome obstacles and delays in investigation.” She added, “[t]hese substantial awards send a strong message about the SEC’s commitment to whistleblowers and the value they bring to the agency’s mission.”

According to the Order, the first whistleblower’s award was slightly reduced based on delay in reporting the misconduct. This reduction, however, was smaller than usual because the majority of the time period during which the whistleblower failed to report predated the SEC whistleblower program.

In addition, the second whistleblower provided information in connection with an earlier investigative interview, which the SEC found to be an involuntary submission.  However, because the whistleblower did not know the information at the time of the interview and promptly informed the SEC upon discovery, the SEC granted an award as a limited waiver of the voluntariness requirement.

Also, both whistleblowers’ respective related-action claims were denied. The first was denied because the original information did not lead to a successful agency action in another action.  The second was denied because an additional waiver related to a second agency’s action was not in the public interest. The SEC said allowing whistleblowers to recover funds both under its program and a separate program “for the same action would produce the irrational result of encouraging multiple ‘bites of the apple’ in adjudicating claims for the same action.”

An award for a third claimant was denied, as the information he or she provided did not lead to a successful covered action.

Since its first award in 2012, the SEC has awarded more than $320 million to 57 individuals.

Photo of Steven J. Pearlman Steven J. Pearlman

Steven J. Pearlman is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department and Co-Head of the Whistleblowing & Retaliation Group and the Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Group.

Steven’s practice covers the full spectrum of employment law, with a particular…

Steven J. Pearlman is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department and Co-Head of the Whistleblowing & Retaliation Group and the Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Group.

Steven’s practice covers the full spectrum of employment law, with a particular focus on defending companies against claims of employment discrimination, retaliation and harassment; whistleblower retaliation; restrictive covenant violations; theft of trade secrets; and wage-and-hour violations. He has successfully tried cases in multiple jurisdictions, and defended one of the largest Illinois-only class actions in the history of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He also secured one of only a few ex parte seizures orders that have been issued under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, and obtained a world-wide injunction in federal litigation against a high-level executive who jumped ship to a competitor.

Reporting to boards of directors, their audit committees, CEOs and in-house counsel, Steven conducts sensitive investigations and has testified in federal court. His investigations have involved complaints of sexual harassment involving C-suite officers; systemic violations of employment laws and company policies; and fraud, compliance failures and unethical conduct.

Steven was recognized as Lawyer of the Year for Chicago Labor & Employment Litigation in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. He is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.  Chambers describes Steven as an “outstanding lawyer” who is “very sharp and very responsive,” a “strong advocate,” and an “expert in his field.” Steven was 1 of 12 individuals selected by Compliance Week as a “Top Mind.” Earlier in his career, he was 1 of 5 U.S. lawyers selected by Law360 as a “Rising Star Under 40” in the area of employment law and 1 of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” selected by Law Bulletin Publishing Company. Steven is a Burton Award Winner (U.S. Library of Congress) for “Distinguished Legal Writing.”

Steven has served on Law360’s Employment Editorial Advisory Board and is a Contributor to Forbes.com. He has appeared on Bloomberg News (television and radio) and Yahoo! Finance, and is regularly quoted in leading publications such as The Wall Street Journal.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has engaged Steven to serve as lead counsel on amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court and federal circuit courts of appeal. He was appointed to serve as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois in employment litigation matters. He has presented with the Solicitor of the DOL, the Acting Chair of the EEOC, an EEOC Commissioner, Legal Counsel to the EEOC and heads of the SEC, CFTC and OSHA whistleblower programs. He is also a member of the Sedona Conference, focusing on trade secret matters.

Photo of Austin McLeod Austin McLeod

Austin D. McLeod is a law clerk in the Labor & Employment Department.

Austin assists clients in a range of labor and employment matters. Prior to joining Proskauer, Austin interned at the PGA TOUR and worked as a litigation paralegal at a major…

Austin D. McLeod is a law clerk in the Labor & Employment Department.

Austin assists clients in a range of labor and employment matters. Prior to joining Proskauer, Austin interned at the PGA TOUR and worked as a litigation paralegal at a major financial services company.

During law school, Austin worked as a labor relations law clerk for the National Football League. He also served as a staff editor of the NYU Journal of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law and President of the Student Lawyer Athletic Program.