We’re a Small Group of Whistleblower Lawyers with Big Experience.

The Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto whistleblower lawyers are at the forefront of fighting for monetary rewards for whistleblowers. In addition to winning the largest award ever granted to an individual whistleblower in U.S. history, the partners have advocated for the expansion of whistleblower rewards as the cornerstone for effective whistleblower protection.

Stephen M. Kohn

Stephen M. Kohn

Founding Partner

Michael D. Kohn

Michael D. Kohn

Founding Partner

David K. Colapinto

David K. Colapinto

Founding Partner

Mary Jane Wilmoth

Mary Jane Wilmoth

Managing Partner

Todd Yoder

Todd Yoder

Partner

Allison Herren Lee

Allison Herren Lee

Of Counsel

Kayla Svihovec

Kayla Svihovec

Associate

David Blumenthal

David Blumenthal

Associate

Benjamin Calitri

Benjamin Calitri

Associate

Allison Wise

Allison Wise, Esq.

Estelle S. Kohn Public Interest Law Fellow

Our Professional Staff

Geoff Schweller

Geoff Schweller

Communications Director

Sophie Luskin

Sophie Luskin

Communications Fellow

Melissa Revuelta

Melissa Revuelta

Senior Law Clerk

Kate Reeves

Kate Reeves

Public Interest Law Clerk

What Clients Are Saying About Our Whistleblower Lawyers

Harry "Hap" Barko

“When you’re in danger, you need someone you can trust, who isn’t afraid, and who knows how to fight. KKC always has my back.”

Harry Barko, Contract Fraud Whistleblower

“Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto are bulldogs for whistleblowers.” 

Dr. Aaron Westrick, Qui Tam Whistleblower
Linda Tripp

“Most law firms it really is all about billable hours. For these guys its all about the justice…[They] fought tooth and nail for me.”

Linda Tripp, Bloomberg News
Bradley Birkenfeld - Largest Whistleblower Reward in History

“Thanks [KKC] from the bottom of my heart.  I think if you ever have a whistleblowing claim they are the folks to take care of it for you.” – National Whistleblower Day (2017)

Bradley Birkenfeld, Former UBS Employee, Recipient of the Largest Whistleblower Reward ($104M) in History
Frederic Whitehurst

“In my world, courage is spelled “KKC”. They go up against the most powerful adversaries and win.”

Frederic Whitehurst, Former Supervisory Special Agent, FBI

“[Stephen Kohn] displayed a high level of competence, expertise, and diligence.”

Rhyne v. Brand, Judge’s Decision in Nuclear Whistleblower Case

Whistleblowers perform a vital public service by having the courage to report fraud and misconduct.

Whistleblowers assume a considerable risk and need aggressive and highly skilled whistleblower lawyers. As some of the most experienced whistleblower lawyers in the world, Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto works to ensure whistleblowers obtain all to which they are entitled under law, including monetary rewards. Whistleblower cases can be grueling, the stakes are high, and the opposition is never less than formidable, which is why we represent whistleblowers.

AV Preeminent

The partners at Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto have obtained the highest peer review ratings for competence and ethics by Martindale-Hubbell® – AV Preeminent® and are members of the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

Standard Attorney Fees

Standard Attorney Fees

Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto is dedicated to representing whistleblowers worldwide

We undertake most of our cases on a contingency basis. We agree to represent whistleblowers in exchange for obtaining a percentage of a final recovery. In these cases, our clients are not required to pay any upfront attorney’s fees and owe us nothing if we are unable to obtain a recovery or award on their behalf. This allows us to represent whistleblowers regardless of whether they can afford attorney’s fees and our firm is incentivized to obtain the largest possible recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

The whistleblower lawyers of the law firm of Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto all have over 30 years’ experience representing whistleblowers. If KKC agrees to represent you, one of our founding partners will manage your case. This hands-on approach by KKC partners makes it very difficult for the law firm to represent all of the whistleblowers who contact our firm. A founding partner does review every intake form received through the contact us form on our website.

Under the virtually universally followed general rule, if a whistleblower loses their case, he/she does not have to pay the attorney fees incurred by opposing counsel. This general rule is especially true in whistleblower cases litigated within the U.S. Department of Labor. In these cases, there are strict rules preventing companies from ever obtaining any fees or costs from whistleblowers who lose their cases. There are even limits on the number of sanctions given if a whistleblower files a frivolous lawsuit, in bad faith.

In federal court, whistleblowers do not have to pay fees to a corporation if they lose their case. However, if a lawsuit is frivolous and pursued in bad faith, the whistleblower may be liable for sanctions. A losing party in federal court is often liable to pay court costs, which are very small when compared with attorney fees.

It is nearly impossible for a whistleblower who files under the SEC and IRS reward laws to be liable for attorney fees from his or her employer. This situation is especially true if they maintain their confidentiality.

Outside of the United States, most attorneys charge their clients fees. However, the United States has a different pay-model based on a contingency fee (see above). Thus, international whistleblowers who retain attorneys in the United States often do not have to pay any up-front attorney fees.

In the United States, many whistleblower attorneys work for a “contingency” fee. If the whistleblower loses his or her case, the whistleblower does not have to pay the attorney any money. But if the whistleblower wins the case, their attorney will generally obtain a contingency fee of between 30-40%.

Additionally, many whistleblower laws have “statutory fee” provisions. Under these provisions, if the whistleblower wins, the company must pay all “reasonable” attorney fees incurred on behalf of the client.

Finally, although many whistleblowers have a “contingency fee” arrangement, many firms will charge a whistleblower an hourly fee. There are many reasons that firms charge such a rate. Having to pay an attorney a fee is not a good reason to reject retaining legal representation.

It is Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto’s general practice to represent whistleblowers on a contingency fee basis.

Blowing the whistle is serious business. Your job, reputation, and career may be on the line. Your first priority should be to find a whistleblower lawyer. Not all whistleblower disclosures are lawful or protected. You need to know how to blow the whistle and protect yourself. Moreover, many whistleblower laws permit you to obtain a financial reward. It is essential that when you blow the whistle, you understand your rights.

The three founding partners of our firm have exclusively represented whistleblowers since 1984 (Stephen Kohn), 1985 (Michael Kohn) and 1988 (David Colapinto). Our managing partner, Mary Jane Wilmoth, joined the firm in 1993. The firm’s record on winning whistleblower cases is second to none. We obtained the largest award ever given to an individual whistleblower, won numerous reward and retaliation cases, and have worked with Congress and executive agencies in drafting the laws and rules governing whistleblowers. Our partners have written the most books published on whistleblower laws. In 1988 the firm’s partners helped to found the National Whistleblower Center, and they are highly committed to advocating pro bono for whistleblowers. They successfully established many of the whistleblower laws, regulation, and legal precedents that now benefit all whistleblowers.