Test the counterparty before exposure becomes loss.

Before exposure becomes loss

• A transaction, investment or appointment needs a confidential look at the counterparty first.
• You need to know whether material claims, insolvency or sanctions concerns exist.
• You want a realistic view of whether a future judgment is likely to have practical value.

When another route may be better

If the question is already a live claim, a regulatory investigation or a private prosecution, those pages describe the work. Pre-litigation enquiry is for a defined legal or commercial purpose. It is not a licence for unlawful surveillance or a smear.

Lawful basis, privacy and proportionality

Open-source and registry research is not a licence to process personal data without a lawful basis under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. If the output later becomes litigation or a prosecution, it has to have been obtained in a way that can be explained. We do not use methods we could not defend.

How a confidential review is scoped

1. Pre-transaction and pre-appointment enquiries. The purpose, the questions and what we will not do are agreed before work starts. Covert steps are taken only on instruction and only by lawful means.
2. Counterparty and beneficial-ownership research. Filings, connections and control are examined so far as the public and paid record allows.
3. Litigation, insolvency and sanctions checks. Published lists and related records are searched. Screening is only as good as the list and the identifiers you give us.
4. Pre-action asset assessment. Whether a future judgment is likely to have practical value is part of the note, with the limits of the record stated.
5. Lawful basis, privacy and proportionality. The enquiry is scoped for a defined purpose. A visible step is identified before it is taken.
6. How findings are reported. What is established, what is inference, and what the records do not show. Sources and limitations are recorded for legal review.

Principal risks

• Public records are incomplete. Absence of a hit is not proof of virtue.
• A visible step can tip off the subject. We say so before we take it.
• Overseas data can be thin, delayed or unreliable.

Fees

We agree the scope and charging basis before substantive work begins. Most matters are charged by reference to time; a fixed fee may be available for a clearly defined preliminary review. Full rates and terms are on the Pricing page.

Who is responsible

Each matter is supervised by a named solicitor. Specialist investigators and forensic professionals are introduced where their expertise is needed, with their role and status explained. Job titles on this site are not a reserved-activity authorisation. Confirm current authorised individuals on the Regulatory information page and the public SRA record.