Sunday Read: Getting to Know Whistleblower Attorneys: Will Kramer, Part 2
National Whistleblower Center (NWC) launched the “Getting to Know Whistleblower Attorneys” feature to explore the qualities and motivations of some of the field’s leading practitioners.
One such attorney is Will Kramer, an associate in the Litigation Practice Group of Pines Bach in Wisconsin. There, he advises clients and litigates in areas including whistleblower law, labor and employment law, environmental law, and health law, and offers services related to regulatory compliance and crisis management.
The prior interview with Will is available, and in this Sunday Read, and in the spirit of Labor Day, we conclude the interview with this hard-working lawyer to learn what inspires Kramer on a daily basis to fight the good fight.
An Interview with Will Kramer
Let’s catch everyone up. Will, you were an occupational health and safety consultant when you documented deeply disturbing conditions and improper handling of hazardous waste at several Wisconsin plants. The plants are supposed to recondition industrial plastic containers and steel drums and are owned by a publicly traded multinational corporation, Greif Inc.
You reported potential health, safety, environmental, and securities violations to government regulators, members of Congress, and the news media after the plants failed to address these issues. These concerns were also reported to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), alleging that the company has not disclosed the regulatory and environmental risks associated with operating these plants to its investors.
These experiences, in part, inspired you to pass the bar and advocate for others who might have witnessed acts of fraud, corruption, or waste.
Will, what do you love about practicing whistleblower law?
The clients. It can be very hard for even those who are closest to a whistleblower to comprehend why they did it. They care about the whistleblower and want what’s best for that person, and may not believe it is worth it for them to risk their career for the anonymous victims of some corporate malfeasance. After all, these kinds of things happen all the time — why stick your neck out when it’s not your responsibility?
At the same time, the typical whistleblower usually cannot fathom why they are the only one who seems to care. They can’t imagine how their co-workers can know about the same problems they do and yet look the other way. It’s an extremely isolating feeling, reflective of the reality that the very nature of blowing the whistle is an act of solitary courage. The entire point is that no one else is willing to do it.
While I am still relatively new to the practice of law and building my whistleblower practice, it means so much to me personally to be one of the few people in my whistleblower clients’ lives who actually understands. It is a lonely road, but one that I proudly walk side-by-side with my clients.
In your experience, what are the most common reasons whistleblowers come forward?
My favorite Daniel Ellsberg quote is: “Don’t bother speaking truth to power. Power already knows what you have to say, and it doesn’t particularly care.”
The problem with whistleblowers is that they tend to believe that people and organizations mean what they say. They hold themselves to high standards and think others do too. They believe it when their corporation has a lofty mission statement, and its purported values painted in large letters on the walls. When they discover something is wrong, they typically tell their manager — and assume that their manager will thank them for sharing the troubling information.
The vast majority of whistleblowers report their concerns internally first. They think that their organization will want to know about the problem so the problem can be swiftly corrected. It rarely occurs to them that the problem happened because someone higher up at the organization decided it should happen. It also does not occur to them that the organization may suddenly prefer that they work elsewhere.
In my experience, whistleblowers uniformly come forward because they see something wrong and take responsibility for making it better. This sense of responsibility often comes at a great personal cost. Coming forward can mean sacrificing their careers, their professional relationships, and even their personal safety. They may face retaliation, blacklisting, and legal threats. They may be ostracized by their peers and their communities. The financial awards that are available through the False Claims Act, SEC Whistleblower Program, and other whistleblower laws represent a small step in the right direction to compensating these brave idealists for taking tremendous risks with their own livelihoods.
How does your firm view work with whistleblowers?
While whistleblower representation is a relatively new area for my firm, my colleagues have been so supportive as I build my practice. For decades, Pines Bach LLP has been a stalwart champion of progressive causes, including labor rights, good government, and reproductive justice, and representing whistleblowers is a natural fit.
I could not ask for a better place to do good work on behalf of clients with righteous causes, nor better people to do it with.
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NWC thanks Will Kramer for his honest insight and perspective. Learn more about him here.
Get to know other whistleblower attorneys, such as:
The “Getting to Know Whistleblower Attorneys” series will continue.
Resources For Whistleblowers
The decision to come forward is not one to be taken lightly, nor should selecting a whistleblower lawyer. NWC provides resources that can connect you with the right legal professional.
You can also learn more about the type of whistleblower lawyer needed for your claim in Rules for Whistleblowers: A Handbook for Doing What’s Right, written by NWC Founder and Chairman of the Board Stephen M. Kohn.
Support NWC
NWC fights to bolster whistleblower programs, inform the public and employees in all sectors about available laws and protections, and help connect whistleblowers with the right legal representation. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit our awareness building work is made possible with the support of our generous donors. Please consider donating $100 today to help us continue to educate the public on how to find help when it is time for them to blow the whistle, and donors who donate $100 or more will receive a copy of Rules for Whistleblowers.
This article was written by Justin Smulison, a professional writer, podcaster, and event host based in New York.
