Whistleblower Law Collaborative LLC, based in Boston and winner of multiple awards, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The business represents whistleblowers all around the country. WLC celebrates its past, recalls its accomplishments and growth, and looks forward to its future in a video commemorating the company’s anniversary.
Robert M. Thomas, Jr. and Suzanne E. Durrell, both of whom had previously worked as prosecutors for the government, joined forces in 2003 to form WLC with the intention of representing whistleblowers in qui tam lawsuits brought under the False Claims Act. David W. S. Lieberman, Linda Severin, Bruce C. Judge, and Erica Blachman Hitchings are the four seasoned individuals who have joined the WLC after having worked as prosecutors for the government in the past.
The Whistleblower Legal Centre has developed into one of the most successful and well-known firms of its kind in the country. Clients have been successfully represented by the firm in some of the most noteworthy FCA whistleblower cases. Most recently, the proceedings that were brought on behalf of their clients resulted in the largest government FCA settlements in 2017 (for Mylan), 2018 (for AmerisourceBergen), and 2022 (for Mallinckrodt). Over the course of its history, the company’s efforts have contributed to the federal and state governments recouping over $6.8 billion in lost revenue.
A multitude of awards have been bestowed to WLC, as well as its solicitors and paralegals, Melissa Tremblay and Kelly Shivery, in recognition of their achievements. These include the prestigious whistleblower “Lawyers of the Year” award (2017) from Taxpayers Against Fraud, which is now known as The Anti-Fraud Coalition; Best Lawyers®; Super Lawyers; Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Top Women of Law; Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Excellence in the Law (Paralegal/Administration); Boston Magazine Top Lawyers; and Law360 HealthCare Practise Group of the Year (2022).
Over the past few years, the work of the business has grown beyond the scope of the False Claims Act to include areas that are the focus of other whistleblower programmes. These include, for instance, lawsuits relating to infringement of laws governing securities, commodities and futures, taxes, and measures to combat money laundering.
Bob Thomas and Suzanne Durrell, two of the company’s co-founders, reminisced on the company’s first 20 years by saying, “When we took that leap in 2003, we could never have imagined all the twists and turns in the road ahead.” We are really pleased with our performance over the past twenty years. And we are most proud to have assisted our clients in their heroic efforts to bring to light criminal activities. In addition, they emphasised the following point: “We are aware that the work we have done with our clients has assisted the government in recovering billions of dollars.” We feel that it has also had an effect in reforming or changing industry practises, protecting whistleblowers against retaliation, and ensuring the health and safety of the general public. And that is a source of great satisfaction.”
Regarding the future, the Whistleblowers Legal Centre, together with its six attorneys and two paralegals, is optimistic and dedicated to their mission: “We are honoured to represent whistleblowers in their journeys. We are thrilled to continue the venerable custom that has been upheld for the past twenty years. We look forward to working together government officials and whistleblowers to combat fraud for many more years in the future.
Whistleblower Law Collaborative, LLC is solely focused on serving clients in this area.
