In an insightful and timely article that appeared on WSJ.com yesterday (subscription required), Steven J. Pearlman, co-head of Proskauer’s Whistleblower & Retaliation Group, commented on the uptick of whistleblower complaints arising from compliance employees.

The article recognizes that whistleblower claims brought by compliance personnel can present unusual concerns given that such individuals may have access to sensitive and confidential information.  Pearlman stressed the heightened impact that claims by such individuals can present.

Illustrating the trend towards compliance professionals filing suit and the attendant risks, the article also addressed a recent decision by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissing a compliance staffer’s Dodd-Frank whistleblower lawsuit on extraterritorially grounds.  Our post regarding that decision can be found here.