CORPORATE & LEGAL INVESTIGATIONS

Internal company enquiries involving suspected wrongdoing by staff such as:

a.	Theft
b.	Fraud
c.	Misappropriation of intellectual property.
d.	Removal of customer information.
e.	Contract disputes between employers and employees.
f.	Restraint of trade agreements between a former employer and an employee.

INVESTIGATIVE METHODS

i. To investigate these matters the firm will tailor its approach to the client's requirements and may:

a.	Use covert electronic surveillance of staff both at the workplace and in their private lives if considered lawful and relevant.
b.	Plant a 'mole' in the work force.
c.	Interview all the client's relevant staff on a 'one to one' basis.
d.	Use forensic handwriting examiners, fingerprint experts and IT specialists to identify those responsible.

ii. The firm checks on prospective business associates by:

a.	Making routine credit reference and business checks.
b.	Conducting due diligence enquiries
c.	Interviewing anybody who may appear to hold significant information.
d.	Instigating surveillance when the client is suspicious of the activities, motives or behaviour of business associates or potential associates.

iii. The firm provides a Pre-employment vetting and Staff Screening Service in respect of job candidate
and current staff. This vetting will be carried out as specified by the employer and may incorporate:

a.	The verification of academic qualifications from school to University.
b.	The verification of claimed specialist professional qualifications.
c.	Credit reference checks.
d.	Contact with previous employers to determine the true roll of the subject with regard to position, responsibilities and area of expertise and if possible the competence achieved.
e.	Facilitating criminal record checks through the Criminal Records Bureau.
f.	Conducting any 'skeleton in the cupboard' personal interviews with applicants or current staff members.
g.	Obtain details of any directorships that the applicant may hold and establish whether the applicant is a disqualified director.

PLEASE NOTE

a.	Many job applicants withdraw as soon as they are advised that vetting is to be carried out.
b.	The firm can provide a long list of horror stories about staff members who have not been vetted prior to appointment. Their offences range from theft to murder and major multi-million pound frauds.
c.	The most common fraud by applicants is to claim that they have received a higher degree than that actually obtained.
d.	Proper vetting procedures ensure that the correct employee is in the right job. This in turn makes for more efficient business and prevents employee 'churn' and the accompanying costs of recruiting and retraining staff.

iv. For legal clients the firm provides the following services:

a.	Criminal Defence Enquiries particularly in relation to allegations of fraud, organised crime or sensitive matters (including acting on behalf of trade unions) and incorporates:
i	In depth interviewing and statement taking.
ii	Surveillance where it is pertinent to criminal defence.
iii	Company searches, both nationally and internationally.
b.	The same services as described in section B i. above for corporate clients where the corporate client wishes solicitors to have control of those enquiries.