Executive Employment Law
Whistleblower Attorney in Virginia
Reported fraud and faced consequences? Attorney Jehad Ali is a whistleblower retaliation attorney based in Fairfax, Virginia, representing employees across Northern Virginia and federal workers nationwide under the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA), False Claims Act (qui tam), Dodd-Frank Act, Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and the Virginia Whistleblower Protection Law (Va. Code § 40.1-27.3).
Federal Whistleblower Statutes
Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA)
Protects federal employees who disclose evidence of waste, fraud, abuse, or danger to public health and safety. Claims are filed with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) or the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).
False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729–3733)
Allows private citizens to file qui tam lawsuits against entities that defraud the federal government. Relators may receive 15–30% of the government's recovery. Provides robust anti-retaliation protections including reinstatement, double back pay, and attorney's fees.
Dodd-Frank Act
Protects employees who report securities violations to the SEC. Provides a financial bounty (10–30% of sanctions over $1M) and strong anti-retaliation protections with a private right of action in federal court.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)
Protects employees of publicly traded companies who report securities, mail, wire, or bank fraud. 180-day OSHA filing deadline. Post-Murray v. UBS, the Court confirmed the employee-friendly 'contributing factor' standard applies.
Virginia Whistleblower Protections
Virginia Whistleblower Protection Law
Va. Code § 40.1-27.3 prohibits an employer from discharging, disciplining, threatening, or discriminating against an employee who reports a violation of federal or state law, is requested by a government body to participate in an investigation, or refuses an order to perform an illegal act. A one-year deadline applies.
Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act
Va. Code § 8.01-216.1 et seq. is Virginia's state-level False Claims Act. It permits qui tam suits over fraud against the Commonwealth and provides anti-retaliation remedies including reinstatement, double back pay, and attorney's fees.
Federal Employees in Northern Virginia
Agencies and headquarters across Arlington, Alexandria, Springfield, and Fairfax mean many disclosures run through the Office of Special Counsel and the MSPB rather than state court. Attorney Jehad Ali brings 12+ years leading federal EEO work to those filings.
Where We Represent Whistleblowers
Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Tysons, Reston, Vienna, Falls Church, Herndon, Ashburn, Leesburg, Manassas, Woodbridge, and the wider Northern Virginia corridor — plus federal employees and contractors nationwide.
Northern Virginia's Government Contractor Market
Northern Virginia is home to more than 10,000 government contractors — the densest concentration in the country. Government contractors who defraud federal agencies are subject to the False Claims Act, which allows private citizens (relators) to file qui tam lawsuits on behalf of the government and receive 15–30% of the recovery.
If you work for a government contractor and have witnessed fraud, waste, or abuse of federal funds, contact The Justice Advocate for a confidential assessment of your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What federal laws protect whistleblowers from retaliation?
Key federal whistleblower statutes include the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) for federal employees, the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3730) for fraud against the government, the Dodd-Frank Act for SEC violations, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) for securities fraud at public companies.
What is a qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act?
A qui tam lawsuit allows a private citizen (called a 'relator') to file a lawsuit on behalf of the federal government against a person or company that has defrauded the government. If successful, the relator receives 15–30% of the government's recovery.
How long do I have to file a whistleblower retaliation claim?
Deadlines vary by statute: WPA complaints go to the Office of Special Counsel (no strict deadline but timeliness matters); False Claims Act retaliation claims have a 3-year statute of limitations; SOX claims must be filed with OSHA within 180 days; Dodd-Frank claims have a 6-year statute of limitations.
Can I be fired for reporting fraud to my employer?
No. Multiple federal and state laws prohibit retaliation against employees who report fraud, safety violations, or other misconduct. If you were fired, demoted, or otherwise punished for making a protected disclosure, you may have a retaliation claim.
Do whistleblower protections apply to government contractors?
Yes. Government contractor employees are protected by the False Claims Act, and in some cases by the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA). Northern Virginia's government contractors are subject to heightened scrutiny under these statutes.
Do you represent whistleblowers in Virginia?
Yes. Attorney Jehad Ali is based in Fairfax and represents whistleblowers across Northern Virginia — Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Tysons, Reston, Vienna, Falls Church, Loudoun and Prince William — as well as federal employees and contractors nationwide.
Does Virginia have its own whistleblower law?
Yes. The Virginia Whistleblower Protection Law (Va. Code § 40.1-27.3), effective July 1, 2020, bars employers from discharging or disciplining an employee for reporting a violation of federal or state law to a supervisor or government body, or for participating in an investigation. Claims must be brought within one year.
Related Practice Areas
Reported Fraud? We Protect Whistleblowers.
All consultations are confidential. Time limits apply to whistleblower claims.
(571) 550-9008