Jordan A. Thomas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jordan A. Thomas
Jordan A. Thomas
Nationality	American
Education	Bennington College (BA) Southwestern Law School (JD)
Occupation	Attorney, Whistleblower Advocate
Years active	1995–present
Organization	Chair, SEC Whistleblower Advocates PLLC

Jordan Andolini Thomas is an American lawyer, writer, and speaker. He is known for helping people who report wrongdoing in companies, often called whistleblowers. He works at a law firm called SEC Whistleblower Advocates PLLC. There, he helps whistleblowers tell the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about companies breaking financial laws.

Before working with whistleblowers privately, Jordan Thomas worked for the government. He was a lawyer for the U.S. Navy from 1995 to 1999. Then, he worked for the U.S. Department of Justice from 1999 to 2003. After that, he joined the SEC in 2003 and became an Assistant Director.

Early Life and Education

Jordan Thomas was born in Los Angeles, California. He decided to make a fresh start as a young adult. He moved to Vermont and legally changed his name to Jordan Andolini Thomas. He chose "Jordan" because he admired the famous basketball player Michael Jordan. He picked "Andolini" because it was the real last name of a fictional family in the book The Godfather, and he felt like the character Michael Corleone, who tried to break away from his family's past. His new last name, Thomas, was similar to his old one.

While in Vermont, Jordan Thomas went to Bennington College, where he earned his bachelor's degree. Later, he earned his law degree from Southwestern University School of Law.

Helping Whistleblowers

Jordan Thomas has played a big part in helping whistleblowers. These are people who report illegal or unethical actions by companies or organizations.

His Work at the SEC

While working at the SEC, Jordan Thomas helped create the SEC Whistleblower Program. This program was started under a law called the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. This program helps people report financial crimes and can even give them rewards for doing so.

He also started the SEC's Cooperation Program. This program encourages people and companies to report their own mistakes or crimes. It also helps them work with the SEC during investigations.

Representing Whistleblowers Privately

After leaving the SEC, Jordan Thomas started his own legal practice. This practice focuses only on helping and protecting whistleblowers who report financial violations to the SEC. His firm is now called SEC Whistleblower Advocates PLLC.

He explained that he wanted to help the SEC whistleblower program succeed. He believed it would change how the SEC enforces financial laws. News organizations have called him "one of the most prominent attorneys representing whistleblowers" and "one of the top whistleblower lawyers in the country."

His work has led to important results. He represented the first company officer to win an SEC whistleblower award. He also helped the first SEC whistleblower get protection from criminal charges. In 2018, his clients received the largest SEC whistleblower award at that time, which was $83 million.

Important Whistleblower Cases

Jordan Thomas has helped whistleblowers in many major cases:

• JPMorgan Chase: He represented a whistleblower who helped the SEC and another agency settle with JPMorgan for $307 million in 2015. The bank had not told its clients about certain conflicts of interest.
• Merrill Lynch: In 2016, he represented whistleblowers who helped the SEC settle with Merrill Lynch for $415 million. This company had misused customer money and did not protect customer investments properly.
• Visium Asset Management: He represented a whistleblower who reported wrongdoing at Visium Asset Management, a large investment fund. This led to investigations and charges against people who had mishandled money and traded illegally.
• Harbert Management: In 2017, he helped a whistleblower in a case that led to a $40 million settlement with Harbert Management Corporation. This company had avoided paying millions in taxes to New York State.
• Orthofix International: He represented two whistleblowers who helped the SEC settle with Orthofix International for $8.25 million in 2017. This medical device company had made false statements about its financial situation.

Advocating for Whistleblowers

Jordan Thomas also works to protect and strengthen whistleblower programs. In the United States, he has worked to make sure whistleblowers can report anonymously, are protected from losing their jobs, and can receive awards. He has also worked with groups to stop companies from using secret agreements to silence whistleblowers.

Internationally, he has spoken at the United Nations, the UK House of Commons, and the Australian Parliament. His testimony helped Canada's Ontario Securities Commission create its own whistleblower program. He also helped the Australian government introduce stronger protections for whistleblowers.

Awards and Recognition

Jordan Thomas has received many awards for his work:

• In 2020, he was named to the "Enforcement 40" by Securities Docket and the "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Law Dragon.
• In 2019, he was recognized as a "Distinguished Leader" by the New York Law Journal.
• In 2018, he was named "Lawyer of the Year" by Taxpayers Against Fraud Educational Fund. He was also called a "Plaintiff Trailblazer" by the National Law Journal and an "MVP in Securities Law" by Law360.
• In 2017, his firm was recognized for its work in exposing corporate wrongdoing.
• In 2012 and 2013, the Ethisphere Institute named him one of the "Attorneys Who Matter" in corporate ethics.
• In 2012, the American Bar Association Journal called him a "Legal Rebel."
• While at the SEC, he received several Chairman's Awards and Division Director's Awards. He also received the Rear Admiral Hugh H. Howell Award of Excellence twice.