Tag: Awards

SEC Report Details Record-Shattering Year for Whistleblower Program

On November 15, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Whistleblower Program released its Annual Report to Congress for the 2021 fiscal year. The report details a record-shattering fiscal year for the agency’s highly successful whistleblower program. During the 2021 fiscal year, the SEC Whistleblower Program received a record 12,200 whistleblower tips and issued a record $564 million in whistleblower awards to a record 108 individuals. Over the course of the year, the whistleblower program issued more awards than in all previous years combined.

“The SEC’s Dodd-Frank Act whistleblower program has revolutionized the detection and enforcement of securities law violations,” said whistleblower attorney Stephen M. Kohn. “Congress needs to pay attention to this highly effective anti-corruption program and enact similar laws to fight money laundering committed by the Big Banks, antitrust violations committed by Big Tech, and the widespread consumer frauds often impacting low income and middle class families who are taken advantage of by illegal lending practices, redlining, and credit card frauds.”

“The report documents that whistleblowing works, and works remarkably well, both in the United States and worldwide,” continued Kohn. “The successful efforts of the SEC to use whistleblower-information to police Wall Street frauds is a milestone in the fight against corruption. Every American benefits from this program.”

In the report, Acting Chief of the Office of the Whistleblower Emily Pasquinelli states “[t]he success of the Commission’s whistleblower program in landmark FY 2021 demonstrates that it is a vital component of the Commission’s enforcement efforts. We hope the awards made this year continue to encourage whistleblowers to report specific, timely, and credible information to the Commission, which will enhance the agency’s ability to detect wrongdoing and protect investors and the marketplace.”

Read the SEC Whistleblower Program’s full report.

Geoff Schweller also contributed to this article.

Copyright Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto, LLP 2021. All Rights Reserved.
For more on SEC Whistleblower Rewards, visit the NLR White Collar Crime & Consumer Rights section.

Congratulations to the Legal Sales and Service Organization Winners of 2019 Sales and Service Awards

Last week the Legal Sales and Service Organization announced the 2019 winners Sales & Service Award Winners.  The awards were presented by John Hellerman at the 16th Annual RainDance conference.  Winners were recognized in three categories:

  • Sales & Service Sales Team of the Year
  • Sales & Service Executive of the Year (small firm)
  • Sales & Service Executive of the Year (large firm)

The panel of judges included Erica Glass, Director of Global Corporate Communications and Wolters Kluwer, Chris Hummel, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Banner Witcoff and Samantha McKenna, LinkedIn Sales Navigator.  The judges looked to recognize sales, business development, and marketing professionals who spearheaded initiatives that contributed to revenue growth in law firms in 2018.

LSSO Award Barnes Thornburg

Barnes & Thornburg was named the Sales & Service Team of the Year, recognized for their “Marketing Blitz 1.0.”  In this initiative, the four-person team of Gretchen Helms, Business Development Manager, Karen Smith, Director of Communications, Susan Haag, Director of Marketing Services and Gwen Ragno, Digital Marketing Manager hit the road, visiting each of the firm’s offices to provide attorneys with training.  Topics included new approaches to business development and showcased the capabilities of the department.  The initiative was such a success, Marketing Blitz 2.0 is in the works.

 

LSSO Executive of YearBrandi Hobbs, the Director of Client Service & Strategy at Poyner Spruill was named the Sales & Service Executive of the Year in the small firm category. Poyner Spruill is a 93-attorney firm based in North Carolina, and Hobbs spearheaded a program to set strategic marketing and business development choices by focusing on “Clients as Advocates.”  Throughout the year, Hobbs developed new approaches to training and increasing efficiency in the firm, with a focus on client service and learning client’s businesses to deepen relationships.

 

LSSO Executive of the Year McGuire WoodsChristian Berger, Senior Advisor of Strategic Business Development at McGuire Woods was named the Sales & Service Executive of the Year for a large firm.  Over the past year, Berger has originated or co-originated more than 75 new client relationships and participated in more than 160 first pitch meetings.  Additionally, Berger has worked with attorneys to coach them on their own Business Development efforts, and Joe Cave, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer says his impact on the firm is “nothing short of remarkable.”

Congratulations to all on their accomplishments!

Read more on the Business of Law on our Law Office Management Page.