Protecting the Protectors: Retaliation, Compliance Independence, and Organizational Integrity

Compliance leaders are responsible for building cultures where employees feel safe speaking up. But what happens when the very professionals tasked with protecting others from retaliation experience it themselves?

New research reveals a concerning reality: 70% of surveyed compliance professionals have experienced retaliation after raising concerns, and nearly half have remained silent at some point in their careers out of fear of retaliation.

Join Case IQ's Vice President of Strategic Compliance Advisory & Partnerships in Sales Bryan Judice and Keith Thomas, FedEx's Lead Counsel, Global Compliance Programs, as they explore the findings of the 2026 Retaliation Against Compliance Officers Report and what they mean for compliance leadership, organizational accountability, and program effectiveness.

From subtle exclusion and reputational damage to career consequences, this discussion examines why retaliation against compliance professionals is more than an individual concern; it's a governance risk that can undermine compliance independence, discourage reporting, and weaken organizational integrity.

Key Takeaways

• Understand the prevalence and often-overlooked forms of retaliation against compliance professionals.
• Recognize how organizational politics, leadership behaviors, and subtle retaliation can compromise compliance effectiveness.
• Explore the challenges of identifying and investigating retaliation, particularly when it involves senior leadership.
• Identify practical considerations for strengthening accountability, protecting compliance independence, and reinforcing a genuine speak-up culture.

Learn why an effective compliance program must protect not only the employees who raise concerns, but also the professionals responsible for addressing them. Fill out the form to watch the webinar for free now.

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About the Speakers

Bryan Judice, Vice President of Strategic Compliance Advisory & Partnerships in Sales, Case IQ

Bryan has more than 28 years of experience helping companies identify, investigate and remediate both domestic and global matters involving fraud, corruption and other significant regulatory related issues. His experience also includes the evaluation, assessment and enhancement of corporate compliance programs.

Bryan's global experience includes matters in more than 71 countries. He has advised and worked with companies in a variety of industries, including, but not limited to, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, technology, entertainment, hospitality, aerospace, financial services, real estate and investment management, gaming, and consumer and industrial products. He has direct experience working on matters involving the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the United States Department of Justice (DoJ), as well as regulators in foreign countries.

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Keith Thomas, Lead Counsel, Global Compliance Programs, FedEx

Keith Thomas is Lead Counsel in FedEx's Corporate Integrity and Compliance Department, where he serves on the Global Compliance Programs team. He brings more than 28 years of legal and compliance experience, including eight years overseeing corporate investigations and managing FedEx's ethics reporting hotline. Prior to this role, Keith spent more than 20 years practicing employment defense and employment compliance.