Experience

- Smiths Group and its CEO in obtaining dismissal of state law whistleblower and gender discrimination claims asserted by a former Vice President.
- Misys and senior management in a litigation brought by Raymond English alleging discrimination on the basis of national origin and whistleblower retaliation.
- Forest Laboratories in a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit brought by a former employee under the False Claims Act.
- A leading investment bank in a Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower claim that settled favorably following two weeks of hearings.
- The Audit Committee and senior management of a major consumer products company into a whistleblower allegation relating to tax reserves and other accounting issues.
- The Audit Committee and senior management of a multinational mining company into a whistleblower allegation relating to environmental reserve accounting.
- An internal review for the Audit Committee of a multinational agriculture biotechnology company into revenue recognition issues reported by a whistleblower to the SEC.
- An internal review for a multinational technology company into revenue recognition and other accounting issues raised by a whistleblower in a foreign subsidiary.
- An internal review for the legal department of a multinational carmaker into allegations set forth by anonymous whistleblowers concerning internal audit and compliance issues.
- An internal review of a whistleblower allegation relating to tax reserves and other accounting issues at a major consumer products company.
- The Audit Committee of a large public company in the healthcare industry in an internal review of whistleblower allegations of possible manipulation of bad debt reserves.

When an employee raises a concern about potential illegal conduct at a company, the company and its board often face a host of legal challenges that cut across several disciplines. Debevoise’s uniquely collaborative approach enables the firm to help its clients successfully navigate all of these challenges. Debevoise’s white collar and regulatory defense lawyers have extensive experience in conducting internal investigations on behalf of companies and boards. Drawing on their deep experience in government and dealing with regulators on behalf of clients, they are able to provide wise counsel and sound judgment about voluntary disclosures and cooperation with regulatory bodies. Working with the white collar and regulatory lawyers handling the investigation, commercial litigators are frequently called upon to defend False Claims Act suits and other collateral litigations that often accompany regulatory matters. Likewise, employment litigators are frequently called upon to advise on dealings with the whistleblower and defend any retaliation claims the whistleblower may bring. Subject matter expertise from non-litigation practices, such as tax, securities and many others, is also often brought to bear. Debevoise is uniquely able to ensure that all of these efforts by lawyers across many practices are coordinated and efficient.Debevoise also routinely helps clients implement whistleblower protection policies and internal processes for addressing whistleblower complaints.

Whistleblower Investigations and Litigation

Experience