Alexis H. Ronickher

Katz Banks Kumin LLP • San Francisco

Alexis Ronickher has accumulated more than 15 years of experience representing workers and whistleblowers in their employment matters. Drawn to the field by a passion for helping individuals seek justice in their workplace, Ronickher has become a managing partner at the San Francisco office of Katz Banks Kumin LLP.

With a focus on tech whistleblowers, she has represented clients in cases involving cybersecurity failures, fraud and threats to democracy, guiding them through the whistleblowing process and even to testify before Congress on critical issues.

"Because of the nature of whistleblowing, many clients face conflicting objectives with tough decisions along the way, particularly because being a whistleblower is emotionally and reputationally hard," Ronickher said. "I use my extensive experience representing whistleblowers to help them navigate those difficult decisions to achieve their specific goals, whether that is to resolve their claims privately in a way that allows them to move on in their careers quickly or to make public disclosures that will impact the public dialogue on issues that are critical to society."

Among her notable clients is Peter Zatko, also known as "Mudge," the Twitter whistleblower and former head of security at Twitter, who was terminated after raising security concerns to senior leadership.

Zatko's testimony before Congress highlighted significant security vulnerabilities at Twitter. Additionally, Ronickher represented Anika Collier Navaroli and another former Twitter employee, shedding light on social media's role in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Ronickher is also involved in significant litigation against the fast-food company Raising Cane's. In the ongoing wage and hour case, Robinson v. Raising Canes USA, LLC, plaintiffs allege substantial wage and hour violations under California Labor Laws, which could lead to significant penalties for the company if proven. Ronickher's dedication to justice and her clients' rights has established her as a formidable presence in the legal field, particularly in the realm of employment and whistleblower law.

When asked about her area of focus and the future, she stated. "As for other trends, as a whistleblower lawyer, I continue to see employees and employers grapple with the breadth and limits of what constitutes protected whistleblowing, particularly around what documents and other data can be taken to support those disclosures and to whom disclosures can be made."