Behind The Scenes of a Reputation Enquiry Report

We recently supported a client in the corporate investigations sector in conducting due diligence on a wealthy European businessman in the luxury industry. The subject was a high-profile individual with an extensive media footprint. 

In the first 24 hours, we conducted a feasibility study to assess: 

• The subject’s profile: Is he well-known or has a low online footprint?
• The local jurisdiction’s information landscape: Is it easy to find information about the subject online? Are local sources used to provide commentary for compliance due diligence investigations?
• Our capacity: Do we have expertise in conducting research in this jurisdiction? Do we know sources from previous investigations in the country or the sector? Can we be introduced to relevant sources? 

Based on this feasibility study, we accepted the case. 

In the first phase of the research, we mapped available sources based on two approaches: 

• Open source research: peers, former colleagues, university colleagues, and journalists familiar with the subject, among others.
• Personal networks: pre-established sources of team members in the specific jurisdiction or sector.

The second phase involved contacting the identified sources. Eight sources were available and willing to talk about various reputational issues linked to the subject, from his management style to his ties with the local elite. Three of these eight sources were identified through the team’s personal networks, while the rest were found via open-source research. 

In the third and final phase, we prepared the report, which comprised two main sections: an executive summary tailored to the client’s needs and detailed commentary, including direct quotes from the sources.

This investigation allowed us to confirm the subject was linked to extreme-right parties in the local jurisdiction. Also, several sources described his management style as “unpredictable and unreliable.”