All posts by cfinertystelzner

Getnick Law and SEC Whistleblower Advocates PLLC led the representation of the lead whistleblower in an historic $263 million tax fraud recovery from an individual taxpayer, the award for which was recently finalized by the Internal Revenue Service. Getnick Law and SEC Whistleblower Advocates represented the whistleblower along with Outten & Golden LLP. The whistleblower, whose identity remains protected, was the primary whistleblower in the case, which involved two additional whistleblowers. One of the other whistleblowers was represented by Whistleblower Partners LLP, and one did not have legal representation. The three whistleblowers will receive 30 percent of the government’s recovery,... read more

On September 5, Getnick Law’s Managing Partner Neil Getnick spoke at the New York Law Journal’s annual New York Legal Awards Dinner, which honors attorneys who have “made a remarkable difference in the legal profession in New York.”  Neil was selected as an individual finalist for the 2024 Innovation Awards, which recognizes innovative efforts by individual lawyers and legal professionals. In his remarks, Neil reflected on Getnick Law’s “guiding principle that good conduct is good business,” and noted that building a practice based on “the right cases, for the right clients, with the right colleagues” has enabled the practice of... read more

On August 27, 2024, Getnick Law Managing Partner Neil Getnick testified before the New York City Counsel to endorse Randy Mastro as New York City Corporation Counsel.  The Corporation Counsel leads the New York City Law Department, which represents the City, Mayor, other elected officials, and the City’s agencies. In his testimony, Mr. Getnick highlighted his collaboration with Mr. Mastro to “structurally reform . . . corrupted industries and markets” in New York City, including the commercial carting industry and Fulton Fish Market.  Mr. Getnick noted that through that work, Mr. Mastro implemented programs that “established a rule of law... read more

On August 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice unveiled its pilot whistleblower program, which it had previewed in an announcement five months before. The program is authorized by a longstanding law that allows the Attorney General to pay awards for information or assistance leading to criminal or civil forfeitures (28 U.S.C. § 524(c)).  Whistleblowers can now provide the government with information regarding certain types of corporate crime by visiting the Department’s website at justice.gov/CorporateWhistleblower. If the Department uses the information to obtain a criminal or civil forfeiture of at least $1 million, the whistleblower may be eligible to receive,... read more

Loper Bright and “Chevron Deference” Over the last 40 years, federal courts have deferred to “reasonable” agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes — even when the courts disagree with those interpretations — under the Supreme Court’s decision in Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837 (1984).  In June 2024, however, the Supreme Court overruled Chevron and held that courts may no longer defer to an agency’s statutory interpretation simply because the interpretation appears to be reasonable.  In Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 144 S. Ct. 2244 (2024), the Court ruled that judges, not administrative agencies, must... read more