Stephen M. Kohn
Founding Partner
Since 1984, Kohn has been celebrated as a world-renowned whistleblower attorney and pioneer of whistleblower law and advocacy.
Contact Stephen
stephen.kohn@kkc.com
Stephen M. Kohn, with 38 years of experience, was peer-review rated by the National Law Journal as one of the 50-top Plaintiff’s Lawyers in the United States, the only whistleblower rights lawyer to achieve this distinction. In March of 2024 Forbes named Kohn as one of the top 200 attorneys in the United States.
In 1988 he helped found the National Whistleblower Center, where is currently serves, pro bono, as Chairman of the Board. He is the author of the first legal treatise on whistleblowing and is the world’s most published author on whistleblower protection. His most recent book is Rules for Whistleblowers: A Handbook for Doing What’s Right (Lyons Press 2023).
Kohn has spearheaded several of the largest whistleblower cases in the U.S. and internationally. He is known for his successful strategies, leveraging whistleblower protection and reward laws, many of which he played a significant role in authoring.
In honoring Kohn as among the Top 200 Attorneys in the United States, Forbes Magazine noted that he “helped change the legal landscape” protecting whistleblowers, and helped “draft key whistleblower legislation and regulation, including those incorporated into the Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank acts.”
He won $104 million for UBS whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld, among the largest-ever individual tax whistleblower reward payments, and currently represents Danske Bank whistleblower Howard Wilkinson in its massive money-laundering scandal.
Key Whistleblower Legislation
Steve helped draft key whistleblower legislation and regulatory rules, including those incorporated into the following:
In addition to being added to the inaugural list of Top 50 White Collar Crime Trailblazers, Kohn has been a major contributor to whistleblower law, including the following:
- Chief attorney in Dodd-Frank Act whistleblower case finding restrictive nondisclosure agreements illegal under U.S. securities laws.
- Over $125 million in awards to his SEC whistleblower clients under Dodd-Frank.
- Three whistleblower awards of over $100 million based on IRS and DOJ enforcement actions.
- Represented whistleblower who successfully exposed and stopped the largest money laundering scheme in history (over $200 billion laundered from Russia to Western banks).
- Successfully represented key Swiss banking whistleblowers who triggered the historic prosecutions of Swiss banks (resulting in over $15 billion in sanctions, fines and settlements).
- Represented False Claims Act whistleblower who exposed illegal sales of defective body armor to U.S. military and local police departments. All defective vests pulled from the market; Companies involved sanctioned over $100 million; whistleblower awarded over $6.5 million.
- Argued case establishing nationwide precedent under the First Amendment recognizing the right of federal employees to publicly blow the whistle on their employing agencies.
Watch how Stephen and his client Bradley Birkenfeld brought Swiss banking giant UBS to it’s knees, landing them one of the largest whistleblower rewards in history of $104 million.
Notable Cases
$112.6 Million Award
A confidential whistleblower's disclosures resulted in 461 tax cheats paying over $562.9 million in fines and penalties. The whistleblower obtained awards of over $112.6 million.
$300 Million in Sanctions
Our client exposed a foreign corruption and illegal drug marketing bribery scheme, requiring Novartis to pay over $300 million in sanctions and fines to the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
$2 Billion Recovered for Victims
Wilkinson confidentially blew the whistle on a $230 billion Russian money-laundering scandal that moved rubles out of Russia, converted them to dollars at the Estonian branch of Danske Bank, and then moved the dollars to New York.
Thousands of Lives Saved
Dr. Aaron Westrick filed a False Claims Act lawsuit against Toyoba, the manufacter of Zylon fiber, a material that degraded over time, which put thousands of lives in American police departments, federal law enforcement agencies, and the U.S. military at risk.
$104 Million
Birkenfeld exposed Swiss bank secrecy, forcing his employer UBS bank to disclose the identities of 4,450 U.S. taxpayers and pay a fine of $780 million. Birkenfeld was awarded the most substantial qui tam award of $104 million.
$17.4 Million Joint Award
This case set the national precedent covering tax whistleblowers whose work with the Justice Department resulted in criminal convictions. After two significant victories in Tax Court, the whistleblowers obtained $17.4 million in rewards.
“The only lawyer on my side was Steve Kohn. He was as smart as they come and feisty as a pit bull. Steve was convinced the government owed me a fat reward, and he was going to get it, or die trying.”
“Stephen Kohn has dedicated his life to supporting whistleblowers and uncovering wrongdoers. I admire his tireless efforts…”
“An absolutely first rate lawyer. . . keenly interested in utilizing the law as a rational instrument of social change and improving the quality of life for the weak, the poor and the unpowerful.”
“[Steve Kohn] is an outstanding person, with a very keen mind, a true gift for research, an extremely capable writer, and an eloquent speaker.”
“I want to try to express my feelings of gratitude for what you are doing for me, but I’m not sure that words will do the job . . . The bureaucrats almost won; not because they were legally right, but rather, because they have the power and influence to be able to crush any resistance . . . You are rendering a great service, not only to individuals like myself, but to our country a well.”
“Steve Kohn is the nation’s outstanding whistleblower lawyer.”
“I couldn’t have navigated the shark invested waters whistleblower face without the passion, dedication, determination, and brilliance of my incredible attorneys.”
“…the three co-founders of the National Whistleblower Center, these are important names, Stephen Kohn, Michael Kohn, and David Colapinto, thank you so much for all that you do, they broke the mold with these visionaries and we are all better for it.” – National Whistleblower Day, 2018
“When I had to blow the whistle it was very very difficult. I was lucky I had my daughter and I was lucky I had Stephen Kohn in my life. . .he [Stephen Kohn] dragged me across the finish line . . . he stayed with me, he kept me going . . .”
40 Years of Accomplishment
Kohn is one of the most actively involved whistleblower attorneys in the world, focusing on issues of serious public importance.
In recognition of the growing importance of whistleblower litigation, The National Law Journal named the whistleblower attorney and advocacy law firm of Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto as one of Top 50 plaintiff’s Law Firms in the United States. The firm’s partners were officially named as among “America’s Elite Trial Lawyers.” In its September 29, 2014 article, “Elite Trial Lawyers: The 50 Leading Plaintiff’s Firms in America,” the National Law Journal named Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto as one of the firm’s “doing the most creative and most important work in the courtroom.”
2024
Forbes’ America’s Top 200 Lawyers
LawDragon 500 Leadnig Plaintiff Financial Lawyers
2023
2022
Super Lawyers
LawDragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers
2020
Super Lawyers
LawDragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers
Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge: Grand Prize Winner
2019
Super Lawyers
LawDragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers
Legal Leaders: Top Rated Lawyers
Trust! Top Thought Leaders in Trust: Lifetime Achievement Award
2018
Super Lawyers
Inductee, Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement
Honoree, Whistleblower Law Firm of The Year, Lawyer International
2017
Super Lawyers
Whistleblower Law Firm of the Year in Washington DC, Global Law Experts Awards
2016
Super Lawyers
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
2015
Super Lawyers
White Collar Crime Trailblazers, National Law Journal
A-V Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
America’s Elite Employment Trial Lawyers Finalist, National Law Journal
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
2014
Super Lawyers
“Elite Trial Lawyers” Designation, National Law Journal
America’s Most Honored Professionals, American Registry
100 Most Influential in Business Ethics, Ethisphere Magazine
Washington’s Top Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine
2013
Super Lawyers
Capital Gains, Bloomberg-TV
Washington’s Top Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine
2012
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
Washington’s Top Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine
2011
Washington’s Top Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine
2010
2009
Who’s Who in America
Top Attorneys, Washington DC Super Lawyers
Washington’s Top Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine
2008
Friend of the IEEE Award
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
2007
Top Attorneys, Washington DC Super Lawyers
Washington’s Top Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
Daynard Public Interest Fellow, School of Law, Northeastern University
2006
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
2005
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
2004
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
2003
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
“Hot List” of Plantiff’s Law Firms, National Law Journal
2002
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
2001
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
1999
New York Times, Editorial, “Helping Whistleblowers Survive”
1992-1995
Who’s Who in American Law, Marquis Who’s Who
1981
Fellow, National Endowment for the Humanities
Stephen Kohn wrote the first ever legal law book on whistleblower law and is one of the most published authors on whistleblower law. He has taught classes on whistleblower law at the Northeastern University School of Law, as well as Antioch School of Law.
- Rules for Whistleblowers: A Guide to Doing What’s Right (2023)
- The New Whistleblower Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Doing What’s Right and Protecting Yourself (2017)
- Whistleblower Law: A Guide to Legal Protections for Corporate Employees (2004)
- American Political Prisoners: Prosecutions under the Espionage and Sedition Act (1994)
- Concepts and Procedures in Whistleblower Law (2000)
- The Whistleblower Litigation Handbook: Environmental, Nuclear, Health, and Safety Claims (1990)
- The Labor Lawyer’s Guide to the Rights and Responsibilities of Employee Whistleblowers (1988)
- Jailed for Peace: The History of American Draft Law Violators, 1658-1985 (1986)
- Protecting Environmental and Nuclear Whistleblowers: A Litigation Manual (1985)
- False Claims Acts: Federal, State and Municipal Qui Tam Laws
- Federal Whistleblower Laws and Regulations
- Understanding Your NDA (and When It Can Be Broken), Harvard Business Review (May 15, 2024)
- Why Whistleblowing Works: A New Look at the Economic Theory of Crime (April 16, 2024)
- The SEC’s Final Whistleblower Rules & Their Impact on Internal Compliance (West Law Publishing, Oct. 2011)
- “White Paper” on Whistleblower Protections, presented at the Rand Center for Corporate Ethics and Governance (2011)
- Moral Courage in Organizations, edited by Debra Comer and Gina Vega (New York: M.E. Sharpe press, 2011) (authored chapter entitled “The Greater Good: The Moral Courage of Whistleblowers”)
- Whistleblowing and Environmental Protection, a contribution in the Macmillan Guide to Pollution (Macmillan Reference, N.Y. 2002-03)
- Proving Motive in Whistleblower Cases, Trial (March 2002)
- Corporate Whistleblower Protection and Analysis, The Employee Advocate (Winter 2002/2003)
- Environmental Whistleblowers and the Eleventh Amendment: Employee Protection or State Immunity, 15 Tulane Environmental Law Journal 43 (Winter, 2001)
- The Crisis in Environmental Whistleblower Protection: Deficiencies in the Regulations Protecting Employees Who Disclose Violations of Environmental Laws or Testify in ‘Citizen Suits’, 2 New England Environmental Law Forum 1 (New England School of Law, 1995) (co-author)
- Modern Trends in Protection of Employees under State Whistleblower Laws: A Model Statute, Vol. II, ALA National College of Advocacy Reference Materials, p. 1789 (Washington, D.C. 1998)
- Nuclear Whistleblower Protection and the Scope of Protected Activity Under Section 210 of the Energy Reorganization Act, Antioch Law Journal 73 (Summer, 1986) (co-author)
- An Overview of Federal and State Whistleblower Protection, Antioch Law Journal 99 (Summer, 1986) (co-author)
- Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice of the U.S. House of Representatives, “Oversight of the False Claims Act” (April 28, 2016)
- Senate Judiciary Committee: Whistleblower Retaliation at the FBI: Improving Protections and Oversight (March 4, 2015)
- Hearings before the Committee on Government Reform of the U.S. House of Representatives, “What Price Free Speech” (June 29, 2006) (expert testimony on impact of Supreme Court decision in Garcetti v. Ceballos).
- Hearings before the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, “Hearing on S. 1538, the Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act” (November 12, 2003) (Testimony on behalf of National Whistleblower Center).
- Hearings before the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, “EPA’s Sludge Rule: Closed Minds or Open Debate” (March 22, 2000) (Testimony on behalf of National Whistleblower Center).
- Hearings before the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, “Administrative Oversight of the Investigation of TWA Flight 800” (May 10, 1999) (attorney for witness).
- Hearings before the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, “Oversight Hearings on the FBI Crime Lab” (September 29, 1997) (Testimony as attorney for witness).
- Hearings before the Subcommittee on Crime of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, “Oversight Hearings on the Activities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (May 13, 1997) (attorney for witness).
- Joint Hearings before the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Subcommittee and Legislation and National Security Subcommittee of the House of Representatives Committee on Government Operations, “Elevation of the Environmental Protection Agency to a Cabinet-Level Department (May 6, 1993) (Testimony on behalf of National Whistleblower Center).
- Hearings before the Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Regulations of the House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, “Office of Government Ethics Regulation on Private Travel Payments” ( March 5, 1992) (Testimony on behalf of National Whistleblower Center).
- Hearings before the Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, “Secret Settlement Agreements at Nuclear Power Plants” (May 4, 1989) (representation of witness).
- Hearings before the U.S. Senate Democratic Policy Committee (2007) “Mistreatment of Iraq Contacting Whistleblowers”
Doctor of Jurisprudence
Northeastern University 84′
Master of Arts
Brown University 81′
Bachelor of Science
Boston University 79′
Magna Cum Laude
State Bar
District of Columbia
Federal Bar
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and other Federal District Courts
Presentations to Securities and Exchange Commission on Dodd-Frank Act’s Whistleblower Reward Rules
- August 23, 2010: Presentation to Representatives from the Office of the Chairman
- January 31, 2011: Presentation to the Staff of the SEC Division of Enforcement
- February 10, 2011: Presentation to SEC Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar
- February 11, 2011: Presentation to SEC Commissioner Troy A. Paredes
- March 11, 2011: Presentation to SEC Commissioner Kathleen L. Casey
- March 16, 2011: Presentation to SEC Commissioner Elisse B. Walter
- March 28, 2011: Presentation to SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro
IVLP Pakistan (September 20, 2023) “A New Tool for Fighting Corruption: Whistleblower Protections” The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program.
Belgrade, Serbia (October 27-28, 2016): Anti-Corruption Conference “For Every Truth There Is a Source: Protecting Whistleblowers and Journalistic Sources,” hosted by the Serbian whistleblower advocacy group Pištaljkaa (The Whistle), and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Information:
- Journalism and Whistleblowers: Threats and Opportunities (Panelist)
- Whistleblowing, Justice, and Journalism: The Way Forward (Panelist)
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (May 26, 2015): Presentation sponsored by Luna-Centre for Responsible Democracy and the American Chamber of Commerce in Bosnia-Herzegovina with the support of the U.S. Embassy International Speakers Program.
- Conducted seminar as part of Sarajevo Whistleblower Week: “Breakthrough in Protecting International Whistleblowers: Non-United States Citizens Now Entitled to Whistleblower Protections and Rewards.”
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (March 3-8, 2012): Presentations sponsored by U.S. Embassy:
- Public Presentation: “The Fight Against Corruption and the Role of the Citizen, the Role of the Whistleblower”
- Participation in the Founding Assembly of “Uzbunjivaci protiv korupcije,” a Bosnian anti-corruption and whistleblower advocacy organization
- Presentation and meeting with the Chairwoman of the House of Parliament for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Presentation and meeting with Assistant Minster of Justice
- Public Lecture, Faculty of Criminal Justice
- Presentation and meeting with President of State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Presentation and meeting with the Director of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption
- Round Table private discussion and presentation with U.S. Ambassador, Members of Parliament and leadership of anti-corruption organizations
- Presentation to Staff of U.S. Embassy
- Presentation and meeting with head of anti-corruption committee for the Republika Srpska Parliament
Republic of Serbia (July 10-15, 2011): Presentations sponsored by the U.S. Embassy:
- Presentation and Meeting with Commission for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Projection
- Presentation and meeting with President of Anti-Corruption Council
- Presentation and meeting with Association of Serbian Judges
- Presentation and meeting with Anticorruption Agency
- Presentation and meeting with Prosecutor General’s Office
- Presentation before journalist and NGO workshop
- Presentation before Round Table sponsored by “The Whistle” newspaper
Republic of Montenegro (September 12-19, 2009). Presentations sponsored by the U.S. Embassy:
- Presentation and Meeting with Director, Anti-Corruption Agency
- Presentation and Meeting with Assistant Minister of Interior
- Presentation and Meeting with Minister for EU Integration
- Presentation and Meeting with Judges and Prosecutors
- Presentation before the Public Procurement Commission
- Presentation at the Law Faculty
- Public Address before the Witness Protection Seminar
Prague, Czech Republic: European Union Whistleblower Protection Project. International Roundtable (July 8-9, 2009). Presentation sponsored by U.S. Department of State. Republic of Hungary (2008): Presentations sponsored by U.S. Embassy:
- Private meeting and presentation with Minister of Justice
- Private meeting and presentation with Minister for European Integration
- Formal Presentation to inter-cabinet Anti-Corruption Commission
- Private meeting and presentation to Members of Parliament from four major political parties
- Private meeting and presentation to leading newspaper editors and publishers
- Public presentation before leading representatives of anti-corruption NGOs
- Public presentation before the American Chamber of Commerce in Hungary
Public policy reports submitted on behalf of the National Whistleblower Center
- Saving America’s “Most Important Tool to Uncover and Punish Fraud”: 25 Facts That Rebut the Chamber of Commerce’s Proposal to undermine the False Claims Act (July 30, 2014).
- The Legality of the IRS’ Proposed Whistleblower Rule: Flunking the Loving Test (June 5th, 2014)
- Policy Analysis as to the Congressional to Provide Awards to All Whistleblowers Who Submit Information that Leads to a Successful Enforcement Action, Including Those Who Submitted Information Before the Passage of the Dodd-Frank Act (November 9, 2012)
Rulemaking Proposals and Reports
- December 17, 2010: Report: Impact of qui tam Laws on Internal Compliance.
- December 17, 2010: Formal Comments on the Proposed Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Rules.
- January 25, 2011: Rule making proposal on SEC Rewards Provisions.
- February 15, 2011: Rule making proposal re: Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
- March 7, 2011: Rebuttal to comments proposed by the Chamber of Commerce.
- March 17, 2011: Provision-by-provision analysis of the proposed rules with recommended changes.
- May 17, 2011: Letter to SEC Chairman re: Rules governing protection for employee reports to internal compliance officials.
Media Appearances
ABC World News Tonight, BBC World News Tonight, BBC, “Burden of Proof” on CNN, “Capital Gains” on Bloomberg TV, CBS Evening News, CNN World News, “Crosstalk” on MSNBC, CSNBC, “The Early Show” on CBS, “Good Morning America” on ABC, “The Jack Ford Show” on MSNBC, “Hannity & Colmes” on FOXNEWS, “Hardball” on MSNBC, “The Johnnie Cochran Show” on Court-TV, “Larry King Live” on CNN, “Miller’s Law” on Court-TV, NBC Nightly News, “Nightline” on ABC, “The O’Reilly Factor” on FOXNEWS, “Primetime Live” on ABC, “Rivera Live” on MSNBC, “The Today Show” on NBC, “Close-Up” on C-SPAN, “60 Minutes” on CBS, “Washington Journal,” “HuffPost Live,” KATU 2 ABC, and on CSPAN.
