Risk Management & Due Diligence
We verify counterparties and partners before contracts are signed, funds are committed or access is granted. Findings are set out in a report that identifies risks, assesses their significance and states the sources on which each conclusion rests.
Scope of work
Counterparty and partner verification
We confirm that an organisation exists, is properly registered and active, and that the information it has provided about itself is consistent with public records.
Verification of directors, shareholders and beneficial owners
We establish who owns and controls an organisation and research the individuals in key roles, within the limits of their business activity.
Pre-transaction due diligence
Before an acquisition, investment, joint venture or significant contract, we assess the reputational, commercial and integrity risks associated with the other party.
Supplier and distributor vetting
We verify suppliers, distributors and agents before they are engaged, and assess risks arising from their structure, connections and history.
Periodic re-verification
For ongoing relationships, we repeat the verification at agreed intervals and report any changes in status, ownership or risk.
Outside our scope
Our work concerns reputational, commercial and integrity risk. We do not provide legal or financial due diligence opinions, which are reserved for lawyers and accountants, and our reports do not replace the customer due diligence obligations of entities subject to anti-money laundering rules. We do not use covert methods, do not access non-public data and do not carry out activities that require a private investigator’s licence.
Areas examined
- Legal status, registration and current activity
- Ownership, control and group structure
- Sanctions lists and politically exposed persons
- Litigation, insolvency and enforcement proceedings
- Regulatory actions and public decisions
- Adverse media and reputational issues
- Consistency of the information provided by the counterparty
- Connections and potential conflicts of interest
What you receive
- A written report with an overall risk assessment
- Findings ranked by significance
- A map of ownership and control, where relevant
- A list of sources for each finding, with the date of access
- Points to clarify with the counterparty or to secure in the contract
Research concerning individuals
Where verification concerns individuals, it is limited to their business roles and activity and to what is necessary for the purpose agreed with the client. Personal data is processed in accordance with the GDPR, on the basis of the legitimate interest of the client in assessing a business relationship or transaction. Further information is set out in our Privacy Policy.
Related practice areas
Due diligence draws on the research methods of our Open-Source Intelligence practice. Where a report identifies points to secure, the relevant contract provisions, non-disclosure agreements or cooperation agreements can be prepared through Law27, our document drafting practice. For new commercial relationships, Counterparty Identification and Counterparty Acquisition cover the stages before verification.
Discuss the scope
If you need to verify a counterparty, a partner or a supplier before a decision, describe the matter briefly. We will reply by email to arrange a discussion and propose a scope of work.
If your matter does not fall within the areas described above, describe it briefly. We will advise whether it is within our scope.