Taxpayers against fraud education fund Membership

Who can join TAFEF?

TAFEF’s membership is made up of more than 400 experienced attorneys who focus in their legal practices on the representation of whistleblowers who come forward to expose fraud against the government.  Prospective members must certify that they and their law firms (1) do not defend clients against allegations of federal or state False Claim Act violations, and do not intend to do so in future; and (2) do not represent clients – as plaintiffs or defendants – in claims against whistleblowers based on actions taken in connection with whistleblowing activity, including claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty or theft of company documents, and do not intend to do so in future. 

Whistleblowers, nonmember lawyers, law libraries and others may be eligible to subscribe to the TAFEF Quarterly Review.

Why Join TAFEF?  To become part of a great professional community.

TAFEF is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) public interest organization dedicated to protecting whistleblowers, combating fraud against the government and safeguarding taxpayer-funded programs through public-private partnerships. Our mission is to protect the integrity and advance the effectiveness of whistleblower incentive provisions in federal and state laws, including the federal and state false claims acts, the federal tax, securities, and commodity futures trading laws, and the Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act.

We pursue our mission in a variety of ways.

TAFEF members and staff work to inform and educate the general public, the legal community, government officials, the media, and other interested groups about incentive-based whistleblower programs. We have appeared at Congressional and state government hearings to testify in support of the protection and improvement of whistleblower laws, and we have played a significant role in drafting statutory amendments to federal laws and promoting the adoption and strengthening of state false claims acts.

Each year TAFEF presents a national conference dedicated to serving those who represent whistleblower clients, bringing together key players, including federal and state government attorneys, agency officials and other experts, and providing substantive and timely resources for our members’ continuing legal education needs. 

On a daily basis, our members enjoy access to a vibrant community of colleagues on the TAFNET intranet listserv, which is managed by TAFEF staff with the goal of providing up-to-date information on all aspects of whistleblower law. The listserv, together with the TAFEF website and a variety of publications, supports and promotes the effective representation of whistleblowers before the courts  and the Congress, and provides a space for members to share information in order to assist one another in bringing strong cases to the attention of government enforcers at the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the offices of state Attorneys General.

TAFEF member attorneys practice across the country and represent plaintiffs in whistleblower-initiated cases and related employment law actions.  The current membership rate is $775 per year and is due upon approval.

Membership benefits:

Access to the TAFNET listserv, dedicated to keeping the whistleblower bar updated on FCA, IRS, SEC, CFTC and MVSWA developments. TAFNET also serves as a clearinghouse for information uniquely pertinent to our bar, providing a forum for discussion of unsealed cases, litigation strategies and experiences, and legal issues affecting whistleblowers.

• An online subscription to the False Claims and Qui Tam Quarterly Review, the nation’s only law journal devoted solely to False Claims Act litigation developments. 
• Access to the Legal Zone, TAFEF’s members-only document database. Legal Zone houses relevant judicial opinions from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Circuit Courts of Appeal, and federal and state trial courts, as well as copies of underlying complaints, motions, briefs, and settlement documents. 
• Subscription to our Bi-Weekly False Claims Act Case Summaries, compiled and edited by TAFEF’s Director of Legal Education and Public Interest Advocacy Fellow, which provide brief synopses of significant recent judicial opinions.  
• Access to TAFEF’s staff for consultation on membership and legal resources.
• A listing on our public Members Directory webpage, if desired.
• Discounts and access to early registration for TAFEF’s annual conference.
• Opportunities for participation in projects undertaken by TAFEF’s committees and working groups.
• For those who qualify, participation in the Young Lawyers Division of TAFEF members -- learn more here.

Incentivized integrity programs are under constant threat from the strongest and best-funded interests in the country, and TAFEF has for decades maintained its position on the other side of this battlefield.  Our member lawyers, and our whistleblower clients and friends, remain committed to strengthening and expanding laws that protect the American taxpayer.

If you are interested in becoming a member of TAFEF, access to our online membership application is available below. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact TAFEF staff at (202) 296-4826.