NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, March 3, 2015 – The National Law Journal has recognized the work of Phillips & Cohen LLP by selecting the whistleblower law firm for its prestigious “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” for 2015.
The National Law Journal noted that Phillips & Cohen “obtained historic awards for its clients and record-setting recoveries.” It is the only law firm that was selected for work representing whistleblowers. Just 12 law firms made the list this year.
This is the sixth time Phillips & Cohen has been named to the “Plaintiffs’ Hot List,” which recognizes law firms that have done “exemplary, cutting-edge work on the plaintiffs’ side.”
The National Law Journal highlighted three of Phillips & Cohen’s cases in the past year. Working with Phillips & Cohen, one client exposed and helped stop a massive securities fraud. Based on the work of the client and Phillips & Cohen, the Securities and Exchange Commission awarded the client more than $32 million, the largest reward the SEC has made under its Dodd-Frank whistleblower reward program.
In another significant case, Phillips & Cohen represented a whistleblower in a qui tam lawsuit against DaVita Healthcare Partners that settled for $400 million. The client and Phillips & Cohen contributed substantially to the litigation. It apparently was the largest settlement of a healthcare fraud case that involved solely kickbacks.
In January, Phillips & Cohen secured a $68.5 million settlement for more than 1,000 municipalities, schools and other public entities in California from Office Depot for allegedly systematically overcharging them for office supplies. Some of the defrauded entities received millions in repayment. The recovery also made a difference to hundreds of towns in small but important ways, such as putting money in teachers’ pockets to buy more classroom supplies.
In the article, Phillips & Cohen partner Erika Kelton spoke highly of the clients who risked their careers to expose fraud against investors and taxpayers.
“They’re fantastic individuals who care a lot and do the right thing,” she said.