Former SEC Insider Jordan Thomas Creates Online Resource for Responsible Organizations and Courageous Whistleblowers

NEW YORK, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to recent corporate scandals, Labaton Sucharow LLP is launching www.SECwhistlebloweradvocate.com, an online resource created by Jordan Thomas, a former Assistant Director in the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Trial Attorney at the Department of Justice.  Using innovative videos, comprehensive legal primers and timely blog entries, the website will serve as a go-to resource for organizations striving to establish a culture of integrity and for individuals who have knowledge of corporate wrongdoing.

"After more than fifteen years in federal law enforcement, it became clear to me that law enforcement authorities cannot effectively and efficiently police the marketplace without the assistance of private individuals and entities," said Mr. Thomas. 

The new website is a natural outgrowth of Labaton Sucharow's longstanding commitment to corporate governance reform through education, litigation and public policy advocacy.  "Our firm has always believed that corporations can and should be the first line of defense for investors.  The problem is organizations often focus too narrowly on the mechanics of compliance and responding to misconduct rather than fostering an ethical culture that deters violations of the law.  This website is dedicated to helping organizations avoid this common problem," Mr. Thomas continued.            

The reality is that securities fraud schemes are often difficult to detect and prosecute.  Recognizing this, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act established the SEC Whistleblower Program that provides significant employment protections, monetary awards, and the ability to report possible violations anonymously.

Mr. Thomas, who chairs the Whistleblower Representation Practice at Labaton Sucharow commented: "The SEC Whistleblower Program has the potential to revolutionize the way securities laws are enforced but being a whistleblower isn't always easy, glamorous, or lucrative.  Accordingly, this website is also dedicated to helping potential whistleblowers make the difficult decision about whether, how, and when to report possible securities violations."

During his tenure at the SEC, Mr. Thomas successfully investigated, litigated, and supervised a wide variety of enforcement matters—including Enron, Fannie Mae, Citigroup, and UBS—which resulted in monetary relief for harmed investors in excess of $35 billion.  Notably, he also played a leadership role in developing the SEC Whistleblower Program, including drafting the proposed legislation and implementing rules.  Leveraging Mr. Thomas' unique knowledge of the SEC enforcement process and, specifically, its whistleblower program, the website provides practical and in-depth guidance regarding the top-of-mind issues for responsible organizations and potential whistleblowers. 

Samples of the video tutorials on www.SECwhistlebloweradvocate.com can be found on Labaton Sucharow's You Tube channel.   

About Labaton Sucharow LLP

Labaton Sucharow was the first law firm in the country to establish a practice exclusively focused on protecting and advocating for whistleblowers who report possible securities violations to the SEC.  Building on the firm's market-leading securities litigation platform, the Whistleblower Representation Practice leverages a world-class in-house team of investigators, financial analysts, and forensic accountants with federal and state law enforcement experience to provide unparalleled representation for whistleblowers. 

For close to 50 years, Labaton Sucharow has been one of the country's premier law firms representing businesses, institutional investors and consumers in complex securities and business litigation.  It is consistently among the top plaintiffs litigation firms based on its rankings in Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500, The National Law Journal's Plaintiffs' Hot List, and Benchmark Plaintiff.  More information about Labaton Sucharow is available at www.labaton.com.

SOURCE Labaton Sucharow LLP