Protecting Those Who Uphold Rule of Law: Addressing the Whistleblower Protection Act

On Wednesday, January 25th, at 12:30pm ET, the LGBT Bar will host a call-in addressing the Whistleblower Protection Act. With the upcoming change in administration and tumultuous confirmation hearings of cabinet appointees, the LGBT Bar has received a number of requests to address the process for government employees who witness unlawful acts. The call-in will cover whistleblower rights, as well as the process of reporting misconduct in governmental agencies.

Join us, and remember to come prepared with questions for our expert panelists! 
 

Call-in Information
Time: Wednesday, January 25, 12:30pm ET
Dial-in Number: (712) 432-6333
Participant Code: 187141#

Speakers: 
Julie Chovanes, Founder, Executive Director, and Legal Program Director of Trans Resource Foundation, LLC (Trans-Help) (Moderator)
Julie graduated from Villanova University and Villanova University Law School. She is also founder and managing partner of Chovanes Law LLC, a patent, intellectual property and corporate law firm.  Previously Ms. Chovanes was a partner at DLA Piper.  Ms. Chovanes has over twenty five years of federal litigation experience in both significant commercial cases and significant trans rights cases.  She has represented LGB and trans clients on issues of trans rights and discrimination, has litigated against private and public organizations to assert trans and LGB rights, and has consulted with various organizations on accommodating LGBT employees, clients and customers.  She has donated legal representation and other resources to various trans individuals, trans groups and LGBT groups, has written, taught and spoke to medical schools, graduate schools, medical, legal and other groups about trans and LGB issues, and been featured as a trans and LGB advocate in national and local media.  

Laura Dumais, Staff Cousel, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)
Laura graduated first in her class from Vermont Law School, where she focused on environmental law.  Laura holds a Masters degree from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment.  Prior to her work with PEER, she clerked for the Vermont Superior Court’s Environmental Division, a unique court with statewide jurisdiction over environmental and land use matters.  She also interned for Judge Peter Hall at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and worked with various nonprofit organizations, including the Center for Biological Diversity and the Environmental Working Group.  

Richard Condit, Of Counsel, Mehri & Skalet
Richard heads the firm’s Whistleblower Law practice, including cases involving whistleblower retaliation, disclosures to the SEC and other federal agencies, and false claims or fraud against the government or its contractors. Mr. Condit has 25 years of experience working with whistleblowers, and has handled many whistleblower cases, covering an array of subject matter. Prior to joining Mehri & Skalet, Mr. Condit was Senior Counsel at the Government Accountability Project, served as General Counsel for PEER, and as the Legal Director for the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies.  While at PEER, he and his colleagues litigated the whistleblower case of former U.S. Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers to a successful conclusion. Mr. Condit is an adjunct faculty member of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. For about 7 years, he taught Whistleblower Law and Practice in the classroom and through the school’s highly regarded clinical program