Tag Archives: Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

July 5, 2012

District Court Holds That Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Protection Does Not Have Extraterritorial Reach–Longstanding Presumption Against Extraterritoriality May Also Apply to Other Statutes

By Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.

by Allen B. Roberts and Michael J. Slocum

Global whistleblowers cannot look to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank”) for protection against retaliation, according to a recent federal court decision.  Taking an important step towards clarifying the reach of Dodd-Frank, and potentially impacting other statutes having similar provisions, the court ruled that the “Anti-Retaliation Provision” protecting whistleblowers under Dodd-Frank does not apply outside the territorial United States. Asadi v. G.E. Energy (USA), LLC, No. 12-345 (S.D. Tex. June 28, 2012).

Posted in Legal Updates | North America
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May 29, 2012

New FINRA Rule Confirms That Whistleblower Claims Need Not Be Arbitrated

By Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.

Written by Lauri F. Rasnick

Before the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd Frank”) was enacted, whistleblower claims by registered representatives, including those arising pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX”) were subject to mandatory arbitration at FINRA. See FINRA Notice 12-21 (PDF). Dodd Frank changed that. Dodd Frank specifically amended SOX to provide that “[n]o dispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable, if the agreement requires arbitration of a dispute arising under this section.” In addition, SOX was also amended to provide that rights and remedies provided for in the statute cannot be waived, including by having a predispute arbitration agreement. In order to be consistent with SOX and to make it clear that FINRA will not require the arbitration of other similar statutory claims, as of May 21, 2012, FINRA amended Rule 13201 of the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Industry Disputes (the “FINRA Code”) to address the arbitrability of statutory whistleblower claims.

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June 17, 2011

SEC Final Rule on Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Bounty Awards and Protections Discussed in Bloomberg Article

By Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.

In previous articles and postings, we have cautioned that legislative policy of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act threatens to circumvent corporate compliance programs and drive whistleblowers having vital information outside the organization in the hope of receiving rich bounty awards. In a recent article published by Bloomberg Law Reports®, Allen Roberts discusses some of the challenges businesses subject to SEC jurisdiction need to address in the face of the SEC’s Final Rule – mindful that the plaintiffs’ bar has geared up to capitalize on new opportunities.

For more information, see Allen B. Roberts, Dodd-Frank Bounty Awards and Protections Change Whistleblower Stakes — Will Opporunity for Personal Gain Frustrate Corporate Compliance?, Bloomberg Law Reports – Securities Law (2011) (pdf)

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December 20, 2010

SEC’s Proposed Dodd-Frank Anti-Retaliation Rules: What Is An Employer To Do?

By Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.

By David W. Garland and Allen B. Roberts

Major provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) will gain substance and vitality only with amplifying interpretive rules. On December 17 the period closed for submitting comments on rules proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to implement whistleblower provisions added in a new Section 21F to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). With the comment period having closed, and final rules expected to be implemented in the Spring of 2011, this is a good time to take account of the proposed rules regarding the statute’s anti-retaliation provisions and their potential impact on employers.   

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July 14, 2010

Bloomberg Law Video of Allen Roberts Interview on Whistleblower Rights and Protections in Wall Street Financial Reform Bill

By Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.

We continue to follow developments on Wall Street financial reform legislation and the whistleblower rights and protections that will come with its enactment. Now recast as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the bill will be considered with its Conference Report (pdf).

A preview of the legislation is addressed in the interview of Allen Roberts by Bloomberg legal analyst Spencer Mazyck, now available in video, below:


 

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