What Is A Whistleblower Lawyer? (March 2025)

Is your employer committing fraud? Do you have inside knowledge of corporate wrongdoing? It’s easy to feel powerless in situations like these, but there may be something you can do—you could become a whistleblower.

Whistleblowers are people who expose unethical or illegal conduct across a variety of industries. They often face the risk of retaliation from those they report. In recognition of that risk, some agencies offer considerable financial rewards to whistleblowers whose reports are substantiated.

Before blowing the whistle on illegal and unethical conduct, you should consider hiring a whistleblower attorney. The right lawyer can help protect you from retaliation and possibly maximize your compensation.

What Do Whistleblower Lawyers Do?

Whistleblower lawyers represent people who expose fraud, corruption and other kinds of unethical conduct by corporations and government entities. Here are some situations where you might benefit from the help of a whistleblower attorney:

• You work for a pharmaceutical company that knowingly makes dangerous drugs.
• You work for a doctor’s office that commits Medicaid fraud.
• Your employer is involved in a price-fixing scheme.
• You have valuable information about a defective products case.
• You know of a person or business committing tax fraud.
• You are aware of a contractor that is defrauding the government.

Why Should You Hire a Whistleblower Lawyer?

If you have information about fraud or other illegal or unethical conduct, some people might tell you to simply report it to a relevant regulatory authority. However, in many cases, it’s best to work with a whistleblower lawyer for a number of reasons:

A Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Interests

Generally, whistleblowers must have inside knowledge of wrongdoing. While it isn’t always the case, some whistleblowers are (or were) involved in the conduct but now want to report it. Without proper legal protection, these whistleblowers could potentially face repercussions along with the people they reported.

Here’s an example. Imagine you work for a water company that has knowingly been supplying customers with contaminated water. You helped the business forge documents used to convince consumers the water was safe, but you’ve now decided you want to do the right thing.

If you report the misconduct at this stage, you could be sanctioned or arrested. By working with a whistleblower lawyer, your attorney can advocate for your rights and take steps to protect you from legal consequences.

A Lawyer Can Help Shield You from Retaliation

Even if the information you’re reporting does not directly implicate you, reporting can still be risky. Some businesses and other organizations will retaliate against whistleblowers by doing the following:

• Firing them
• Reducing pay or hours
• Deliberately creating a hostile work environment
• Blacklisting them from potential employment opportunities

The right attorney may be able to protect your anonymity. If the organization you reported chooses to retaliate, your lawyer can also take legal action on your behalf.

A Lawyer Might Help You Recover Compensation

In some instances, whistleblowers whose complaints lead to arrests or sanctions might be entitled to financial awards. For example, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission offers eligible whistleblowers 10% to 30% of the sanctions they collect as a result of their report.

Organizations that compensate whistleblowers often have specific requirements for how and when a tip must be filed. An attorney can help make sure you meet all eligibility criteria to maximize your financial reward.

A whistleblower attorney also may be able to investigate your claims and find additional evidence to substantiate them. The more evidence you have, the more likely you are to be compensated for your report.

A Lawyer Can Help You Work With the Investigating Agency

In many cases, being a whistleblower involves more than filing that first report. The agency investigating the claim may need you to continue working with it. The scope of your involvement will vary depending on the type of misconduct you’re reporting.

If you’re working with an investigating agency, having legal representation is a key step to take in protecting yourself. This is especially crucial if the agency you’re collaborating with has the authority to investigate you.

How Much Does It Cost to Work With a Whistleblower Law Firm?

Many people are afraid to hire whistleblower lawyers because they worry about the cost. However, most whistleblower law firms work on contingency. This means that you pay nothing up front. Instead, you agree to pay your attorney a percentage (usually around 20% to 50%) of any compensation you receive.

Even taking attorney fees into account, many whistleblowers receive considerable compensation. For example, if you want to report a company to the IRS for tax fraud (and qualify for a whistleblower award), the company must have allegedly underpaid taxes by at least $2 million.

IRS whistleblower awards are usually 15% to 30% of any recovered amount. Suppose that you make a successful whistleblower report on a company that’s cheated its taxes by $2 million, and you receive 15%. Your whistleblower award may be $300,000. If your attorney takes a typical contingency fee of 35%, you’d still walk away with $195,000.

Need a Whistleblower Attorney?

The number of lawyers in U.S. jurisdictions who represent whistleblowers is lower than the number focusing on personal injury law or criminal defense. That fact may make it more difficult—but certainly not impossible—to find the right attorney for your situation.

ConsumerShield is here to help. We believe that everyone deserves competent legal representation, and we’re committed to connecting clients with skilled lawyers in their area. When you fill out our contact form, we’ll match you with whistleblower lawyers who may be able to assist you. Get started with a free case review today!