Free Consultation: (202) 342-6980Tap to Call This Lawyer
Stephen Kohn

Stephen Kohn

Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto
  • Employment Law, Tax Law, Securities Law ...
  • District of Columbia
Badges
Claimed Lawyer ProfileBlawg SearchSocial Media
Biography

Stephen M. Kohn, along with his partners are America's leading whistleblower attorneys. He successfully represented the most important tax whistleblower in U.S. history (Bradley Birkenfeld) and won the largest whistleblower reward ever paid to an individual whistleblower ($104 million). Since 1984 his practice has focused exclusively on advocating for whistleblowers, expanding laws that protect and reward whistleblowers and litigating many cutting-edge cases. He has successfully represented whistleblowers under numerous state and federal laws, including the False Claims Act/qui tam laws, and established important precedent protecting whistleblowers under the First Amendment. Since 2009 his practice has expanded to helping international whistleblowers file claims in the United States for securities fraud, tax fraud and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Mr. Kohn has served as lead counsel and prevailed in major precedent setting whistleblower cases both at trial and in appeals court rulings. Mr. Kohn worked with Congressional staff in proposing language incorporated into major whistleblower laws, such as the Dodd-Frank Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Whistleblower Protection Act. Many of his proposals were adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission during their historic whistleblower-rulemaking proceedings. Additionally, Mr. Kohn volunteers as the pro bono Executive Director of the National Whistleblower, where he has filed numerous amicus briefs on behalf of whistleblowers in key Supreme Court cases. Mr. Kohn wrote the first legal treatise on whistleblower law in 1985. His seventh book on whistleblowing, The Whistleblower’s Handbook was praised by the Wall Street Journal as essential reading for whistleblowers. In 2014 Mr. Kohn and his firm were recognized by the National Law Journal as among the top 50 plaintiffs law firms in the United States.

Practice Areas
Employment Law
Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
Tax Law
Business Taxes, Criminal Tax Litigation, Estate Tax Planning, Income Taxes, International Taxes, Payroll Taxes, Property Taxes, Sales Taxes, Tax Appeals, Tax Audits, Tax Planning
Securities Law
International Law
Human Rights, Imports & Exports
Gov & Administrative Law
Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs
Additional Practice Areas
  • Whistleblower Protections and Rewards under the False Claims Act
  • Whistleblower Protections and Rewards under the Dodd-Frank Act
  • Whistleblower Protections and Rewards under the Internal Revenue Code
  • Whistleblower Protections and Rewards under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Contingent Fees
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    For information about the fee policies at Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto, see our Standard Billing Rates page, http://www.kkc.com/our-firm/standard-billing-rates/
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
District of Columbia
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Supreme Court
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
Various U.S. District Courts
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
Professional Experience
Partner
Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto
- Current
Partner in America's leading whistleblower rights law firm.
Director of Corporate Litigation
Government Accountability Project
-
Lead Supervisory Attorney on cutting-edge corporate whistleblower cases.
Supervisor of Whistleblower Advocacy Clinic
Antioch School of Law
-
Supervised 10 to 15 law students on whistleblower legal cases.
Judicial Intern, Hon. A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Circuit Judge
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
-
Wrote Bench-memos and draft opinions for Judge Higginbotham.
Education
Northeastern University School of Law
J.D. (1984)
Placeholder image for education.
Brown University
M.A. (1981) | Political Science
Brown University Logo
Boston University
B.S. (1979) | Social Education
Honors: Magna Cum Laude
Boston University Logo
Awards
Elite Trial Lawyers Recognition
National Law Journal
Super Lawyers Recognition
Super Lawyers
Top 800 lawyers
Washingtonian Magazine
Daynard Public Interest Fellowship
Northeastern University School of Law
Plaintiff's Hot List
National Law Journal
The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
Martindale-Hubbell
Fellow
National Endowment for the Humanities
A-V Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
Top Lawyers
Washingtonian Magazine
Professional Associations
District of Columbia Bar
Member
Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
National Employment Lawyers Association
Member
Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
American Association for Justice
Member
Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
Taxpayers Against Fraud
Member
Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
National Whistleblower Legal Defense and Education Fund
Trustee
Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
Northeastern University School of Law
Guest Lecturer
- Current
Activities: Taught specialized course on whistleblower law.
Placeholder image for professional associations.
National Whistleblower Center
Executive Director (Pro Bono)
- Current
Activities: Served Pro Bono as the lead attorney and public advocate for this nonprofit organization since its founding.
Placeholder image for professional associations.
Websites & Blogs
Website
Kohn Kohn and Colapinto LLP
Blog
Whistleblower Network News
Contact & Map
3233 P Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
Telephone: (202) 342-6980
Fax: (202) 342-6984