Corporate internal investigations
GoodCorporation offers specialised forensic investigations support to assist companies with the complex and highly sensitive process of investigating corporate misconduct. Our experience allows us to translate highly technical information into clear and comprehensible reports that meet our clients’ needs.
Established reputation
Our specialised teams work on site, interviewing managers and reviewing policies and systems to see how they work. We also review records and documentation to assess how these policies work in practice. Most importantly, we conduct confidential interviews with a wide range of stakeholders that we select, to evaluate their insights into what works on a day-to-day basis.Â
Our experienced teams follow a systematic approach, using forensic analysis, eDiscovery, data-gathering, and witness interviews, amongst other techniques, to gain a deep understanding of the issue and the actions required. We also work with companies facing external investigations providing the necessary support and evidence gathering to help build a relevant defence case. When offering defense support, GoodCorporation does not, and is not intended to, provide legal advice.
Our investigations
expertise
With over twenty years’ experience, GoodCorporation can deploy specialist teams – even in the most remote places – to conduct internal investigations across a range of areas, from bribery and corruption and fraud, through to human rights, safeguarding and workplace misconduct allegations.
We have developed a reputation as a trusted investigations partner, working with organisations and their legal teams to address allegations of fraud, corruption, human rights abuses and other areas of misconduct.
We offer specialised and tailored forensic investigation support to help navigate foreseen and unforeseen challenges, while upholding high ethical standards.
Our value lies in uncovering truth, providing guidance, and fostering a culture of transparency. By partnering with us, clients strengthen internal controls, make informed decisions, and promote accountability.
Key features of our investigations services
Thorough investigations: Expertly conducted, comprehensive
and evidence-based investigations uncover all aspects of any allegation.
Industry expertise
Our experience across a wide variety of sectors brings a profound understanding of potential problems and the solutions needed for the most complex challenges.
ConfidentialityÂ
We deploy a dedicated team for each project who lead from start to finish. Strict protocols are applied to ensure that all information and investigation records stays safe and secure, helping us deliver confidential findings.
Future proofing
Our enhanced compliance, benchmarking and advisory services can be deployed to strengthen compliance frameworks and help prevent future issues.
Customised solutions
We offer a tailored approach to ensure a sensitively handled investigation with proposed solutions that align with your organisation’s culture and empower informed actions.
Impartiality and independence
Our investigation services offer companies impartial fact-finding. Our independence ensures the investigation is free from conflict of interest and undue influence, fostering an environment that allows for objective and unbiased examination. Our findings are supported by evidence, which minimises the possibility of subjective interpretations.
Internal eDiscovery
As part of the forensic analysis, GoodCorporation works with internal IT departments or external partners to identify and search for digital evidence.
We conduct internal eDiscovery by identifying potentially discoverable information and then narrowing it down to the relevant documents. For this purpose, searched media can include e-mails, messaging chats, documents, accounting databases, websites and any other electronic information stored by the organisation.
GoodCorporation uses eDiscovery software which supports the cost-effective and fast review of large volumes of documentation and data within a secure.
Forensic analysis
The investigation commences with the identification of all implicated parties, followed by a comprehensive review of relevant email and electronic records, as well as physical and digital documents.Â
Anomalies are meticulously identified, and cross-checking is performed between other evidence/systems and email records/documents. Leveraging GoodCorporation’s 25-year experience, we conduct witness interviews, drawing on our extensive expertise in stakeholder interactions at headquarters and onsite.Â
Our investigations services
GoodCorporation provides clients with tailor-made and cost-effective investigations support for allegations in a range of high-risk and sensitive areas, including:
Managing monitorships and debarments
orking with a monitor or responding to an actual or potential debarment can be an enormous challenge. For companies facing these difficulties, we use our Anti-Corruption and Integrity Compliance Frameworks to test, strengthen and evaluate compliance programmes. GoodCorporation conducts internal investigations of alleged corruption and works with organisations under investigation. This enables companies to:
Define any failures and their causes
Assess the controls that exist and how well they are applied
Prepare a programme of mediation to embed adequate procedures
Provide the evidence needed to demonstrate sustained and continuous improvement
Frequently asked questions
How to conduct investigations in a company?
A well-managed internal investigation can be critical to maintaining a healthy organisational culture, helping companies identify potential problems and ensure that the correct procedures are always followed. The following six steps are key to conducting an effective internal investigation.
Act promptly and impartially:Â As soon as an issue is brought to your attention, act promptly to start the investigation and ensure an impartial team is appointed.
Collect and preserve evidence:Â Secure all relevant documents, emails, and any physical evidence related to the case.
Maintain confidentiality:Â Internal investigations must be conducted with the utmost confidentiality. Only disclose information on a need-to-know basis to protect the integrity of the inquiry and the privacy of those involved.
Comply with applicable laws and regulations:Â Familiarise yourself with relevant laws and regulations that govern internal investigations in your industry and region.
Interview witnesses and parties involved:Â Interview all relevant witnesses and individuals involved in the matter.
Document everything:Â Maintain comprehensive records of the investigation process, including interviews, findings, evidence, and decisions made.
What are the benefits of investigating misconduct?
There are multiple benefits to investigating misconduct beyond the obvious need to establish what has occurred, take the necessary actions and put systems in place to keep to prevent recurrence.
Conducting an effective internal investigation is increasingly regarded as critical to maintaining a healthy organisational culture. Not only does a well-managed investigation help identify and mitigate any potential problems but it can also help an organisation uphold its code of conduct and ensure compliance with regulatory and legislative obligations. Effective investigations can prevent reputational damage and help mitigate possible legal consequences.
They can also help foster trust amongst stakeholders who see that wrong-doing is not tolerated and ensure that the all the factors that contributed to the misconduct are understood. This helps organisations identify the level of remediation needed to prevent similar events occurring and ensure that the relevant policies and procedures are amended to support this.
For more information, read our blog on The Importance of effective internal investigations.
Why hire an independent third party to investigate misconduct?
When investigating misconduct or other matters of a sensitive nature it is critical to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest, whether potential or actual. As such, appointing an independent third party, not connected with the organisation, can help ensure that the optics are not tainted by any hint of conflict. Choosing an external investigator who has no personal stake in the organisation and who possesses the necessary skills and training to conduct an unbiased investigation adds credibility and fairness to the process.
How to prepare a defence case to support a corporate misconduct investigation
How to prepare a defence case to support a corporate misconduct investigation
Responding to an external investigation into corporate misconduct is a highly stressful time for any organisation. And while every case is unique, there are certain steps that can be followed to ensure that appropriate actions are taken and the right evidence gathered to cooperate fully with the enquiry.
Appoint a crisis team –Â the crisis team is often led by the general counsel but will usually include external lawyers and/or human resources team and a specialist communications team. Often external investigators such as GoodCorporation are also appointed to work with the crisis team to help establish the facts.
Gather evidence – Establishing the facts and gathering all relevant evidence is essential using both eDiscovery and face-to-face interviews. The ability to search high volumes of data to identify anomalies and all available documents related to the allegations is an integral part of any investigation, but particularly relevant when building a defence case. GoodCorporation uses Logikul to provide cost-effective evidence gathering alongside the legal team. Our team is also trained in the sensitivity required to conduct in-person interviews and has vast experience interviewing management, employees and stakeholders.
Test systems – understanding how the misconduct occurred and testing the effectiveness of the systems and processes in place to prevent misconduct is an important part of building a defence. GoodCorporation has expertise at testing and benchmarking the adequacy of procedures, identifying any improvements necessary and helping to implement a remediation programme that can demonstrate a Board’s commitment to improvement.
Corporate renewal – Demonstrating seriousness of intent and transparency is an important part of building an effective defence case. This means showing what has been done to remove or severely sanction those responsible for any misconduct while also reviewing and refreshing the code of conduct and other relevant policies, systems and processes.
To find out more about how we help companies building a defence case, listen to our podcast on “Supporting companies facing a debarment” https://www.spreaker.com/episode/supporting-companies-facing-debarment–47638829Â
Contact Us
Whether you have a question, need more information about our services, or would like to explore how we can help your business, please get in touch.
