New York, NY securities attorney Jenice L. Malecki talks about whom she represents in whistleblower cases. She explains that most people are unaware that anyone can be a whistleblower, and that any type of credible information regarding wrongdoing—whether at a public company or a private company issuing securities—can be reported. Her firm specializes in representing SEC whistleblowers, focusing on matters within their core practice area.

She notes that tips can come from a variety of sources: overhearing discussions, observing misconduct in the workplace, or even identifying anomalies through analytical study of the market. In the past, one might hear something at a busy Wall Street restaurant; today, whistleblowers can submit information directly to the SEC. Importantly, retaliation against whistleblowers is prohibited, and any retaliatory actions can themselves become the subject of a whistleblower claim.

Whistleblowers may receive a bounty ranging from 10% to 30% of the total collected by the SEC or other regulators as a result of their tip. Her firm has successfully obtained multiple full awards for clients. While the process requires skill, she emphasizes that it is not necessarily time-consuming for the whistleblower and can be highly lucrative, making it a compelling and worthwhile avenue for those with actionable information.