PROTECTING THE WHISTLEBLOWER

摘要

On 21 May 2014, the UK Supreme Court handed down its judgment in Clyde & Co LLP and another v Bates Van Winkelhof. While the case involved a law firm, this significant decision will affect all limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and extends protection against retaliation from whistleblowing to hundreds of members of accountancy firms. The Supreme Court held that members of LLPs can be 'workers' for the purposes of the whistleblower legislation. This ruling chimed with the underlying purposes of the whistleblowing rules. The protection that employees already enjoy is now extended to partners in the event that they blow the whistle on unlawful conduct. So, if a partner blows the whistle on work-related matters and then suffers reprisals as a result, including being expelled from the LLP, they will have a right of recourse.