Katz Banks Kumin LLP

Partners Debra Katz and Michael Filoromo, III published an op-ed today for Bloomberg Law urging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to adopt changes to improve the agency’s communication and transparency with whistleblowers. In the piece, the attorneys argue that high level changes, including allowing whistleblowers to receive high-level status updates on their tips and a point of contact at the agency, will help whistleblowers navigate the complex process and help their attorneys make more informed decisions. Read the piece: https://lnkd.in/efgb5yGp Ms. Katz and Mr. Filoromo recently wrote to the SEC urging them to make the changes outlined in their op-ed. Read their letter: https://lnkd.in/eywmfgQQ #Whistleblower #SECWhistleblower #SECWhistleblowerProgram

KBK Partner Carolyn Wheeler was quoted in a new article from Anne Cullen at Law360 on a recent Sixth Circuit ruling that found that employees may pursue religious discrimination claims when they are punished for breaking with their employer’s personal faith. In the piece, Ms. Wheeler notes that claims “where the employers are not religious organizations, but are just led by people who have religious views,” are very rare, and that “[the] statute allows for discrimination on the basis of religion by religious employers, but not by a run-of-the-mill manufacturer that is run by a person with religious views.” Read the piece here: https://lnkd.in/eVqy8b_s Ms. Wheeler frequently writes and presents on topics of religious discrimination. Recently, she co-authored a KBK blog on the topic of the “ministerial exemption”, and recently served on a panel at the Pacific Coast Labor and Employment conference on the intersection of religious discrimination and politics. Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/dwGyki9Y #employmentlaw #religiousdiscrimination

KBK Partners Alexis Ronickher, Jen Liu, and Rebecca Peterson-Fisher have been recognized by the California Daily Journal, a top legal publication in California, as “Top Labor and Employment Lawyers” for 2024! This annual list compiles a comprehensive list of “California’s top labor and employment attorneys” and is especially focused on attorneys who litigate discrimination and retaliation cases, wage and hour matters, and other employment disputes. In profiles for the Daily Journal, the attorneys go into detail regarding ongoing cases, including the firm’s wage and hour class action litigation, recent PAGA cases, and critical civil rights litigation. Congratulations! Read the profiles here: https://lnkd.in/eWdRNUwx #PAGA #CaliforniaLawyer #EmploymentLaw

Katz Banks Kumin is proud to announce that a total of 17 of the firm’s attorneys are recognized across two Best Lawyers guides this year, including ten attorneys in 2025 edition of "The Best Lawyers in America," and seven additional attorneys in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”! Best Lawyers also recognized that KBK is the “Top-Listed Firm in the United States in Civil Rights Law”, with more attorneys listed on the Best Lawyers in America list for their work in Civil Rights Law than any other U.S. firm. KBK's 2025 Best Lawyers are: Debra Katz, Lisa Banks, Avi Kumin, Alexis Ronickher, Colleen Coveney, Daniel Edelman, Michael Filoromo, III, Adam Herzog, Jen Liu, and Carolyn Wheeler. KBK's 2025 “Ones to Watch” are: Matthew LaGarde, Susanna Barron, Rachel Green, Jolena Jeffrey, Kayla Morin, and Nicolas O'Connor: https://lnkd.in/db4SjPNR Read more about Best Lawyers’ methodology here: https://lnkd.in/dk2WvSe #employmentlawyers #whistleblowerlawyers #civilrightslawyers

KBK Partner Jessica Westerman and Senior Associate Jolena Jeffrey spoke with students at the Northeast Black Law Students Association job fair in New York City last week about the firm's 2025-2026 Litigation Fellowship. This one-year fellowship offers talented junior attorneys the opportunity to work on cases alongside experienced whistleblower, employment discrimination, and civil rights attorneys. Learn more about this position: https://lnkd.in/eht3Mn3N #NEBLSA, #lawstudents, #litigationfellowship

KBK Partner Carolyn Wheeler will join practitioners Daniel Kohrman and Jonathan Mook to present a D.C. Bar course on August 14th. The class, "Understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act: ADA Employment Law and Litigation for Beginners" will cover a wide range of topics under the ADA and include guidance on advising employers and employees about litigating ADA cases.    This is an excellent opportunity for those who are interested in learning more about the ADA and seeking a broad overview of this topic to earn CLE credits in a comfortable Zoom setting.    Register here: https://lnkd.in/eQkzmubp   Learn more about KBK's plaintiff disability discrimination practice: https://lnkd.in/ei8YuQnu   #ADA, #DisabilityRights, #EmploymentLaw

New from KBK Partner Carolyn Wheeler and Associate Sarah Nesbitt: a blog on a recent decision concerning the “ministerial exemption.” This judicially created exemption protects religious employers from liability for discrimination when making employment decisions regarding “ministers.”   In the blog, Ms. Wheeler and Ms. Nesbitt discuss a recent Ninth Circuit decision which reaffirmed this exemption, noting the Ninth Circuit's broad but still fact-bound view of who qualifies as a minister for purposes of the exemption.” The attorneys discuss what the decision means for employees working for religious organizations. Read the blog here: https://lnkd.in/e9Qb6Eb2 Learn more about KBK's plaintiff workplace discrimination practice: https://lnkd.in/ey6SFyKk #workplacediscrimination #employmentlaw

KBK Associate Kayla Morin published a blog post today on the U.S. Department of Justice's newly announced Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program. The DOJ award program, modeled on other successful federal whistleblower tip programs, incentivizes potential whistleblowers to report a broader range of corruption and fraud. Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/ewhFaPYx Read more about KBK's whistleblower practice: https://lnkd.in/ehpRwVuH #whistleblowerlawyer #whistleblowers #DOJWhistleblowers

NEW: KBK Partners Debra Katz and Michael Filoromo, III have sent a letter to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission urging the agency to make critical changes in how it communicates with whistleblowers who submit tips. In the letter, Ms. Katz and Mr. Filoromo urge the agency to adopt changes to the SEC Whistleblower Program that would allow whistleblowers to receive high-level status updates on their tips and a point of contact at the agency. The attorneys argue that better communication and transparency will help whistleblowers navigate the challenges whistleblowing process and help them and their attorneys make more informed decisions. Read KBK’s press release and letter here: https://lnkd.in/eywmfgQQ Learn more about KBK's whistleblower practice: https://lnkd.in/ehpRwVuH