Russia
S-RM tackles Russian crypto crime

Ukraine, United Kingdom
London stock exchange group to include Kyiv sanctions in its database

Ukraine has made a breakthrough in the UK regarding its push for European partners to broaden the direct or indirect sanctions they impose: London Stock Exchange Group's database now includes 'international sponsors of the war'.

United States
Blockchain intelligence experts much sought after by US financial intelligence services

In the United States, public bodies fighting cyber crime and financial fraud are going all out to increase their blockchain investigation capacities, bringing in local contractors to boost their firepower.

Spotlight | Russia, United Kingdom
Londongrad divided over use of SLAPPs and GDPR in lawsuits

Private investigators and lawyers representing foreign executives, particularly Russian, East European and Central Asian oligarchs, are bracing themselves for bitter fights over libel and privacy cases.

The Corporate Intelligence Gazette
Wallbrook, Ankura in with State Dept, JS Held develops crypto investigation, Alaco ditches security, Axiantis hires Egypt expert

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: each week, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community. This week, we go to Washington, London and Paris.

WashingtonAnkura close to Biden administration.

WashingtonJS Held gets into crypto-investigation.

LondonAlaco closes security practice.

LondonWallbrook loses ESG director.

ParisAxiantis hires Egyptian major Middle Eastern contracts veteran.

Russia, Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine expose each other's intelligence agents in their efforts to win propaganda war

The Russian and Ukrainian intelligence services are happy to showcase information about their own activities when they make arrests or score counter-intelligence successes but revealing the identities of the other side's intelligence agents is another well-tried weapon in their propaganda war.

Spotlight | Ukraine, United States
Kyiv wants encrypted satellite communications channel from Washington

The Ukrainian minister of digital transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, has tasked his team with finding secure communications channels and satellite access. They have turned to a New York-based company to help source these vital tools for Ukraine's war effort.

Europe, Russia, United States
Buoyed by Russian sanctions, Chainalysis corners European crypto probe market

With its Reactor software, the New York-based company which has helped US authorities with several high-profile investigations, is the top supplier to European cybercrime agencies. Its competitors on the continent have tended to shy away from tender calls deemed not profitable enough.

The Corporate Intelligence Gazette
Athena in crypto, Dominic Armstrong, Control Risks

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: each week, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community. This week we go to London and Geneva.

London Ex-Aegis Armstrong launches Horatius Advisory.

Geneva Athena Intelligence makes crypto debut.

London Control Risks has limited 2021 damage by cost cutting.

Spotlight | United Kingdom
Oligarch crackdown shakes up private investigation sector

The wave of sanctions against Russian oligarchs in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine is having a big impact on the corporate intelligence world.

Spotlight | United Kingdom
Sanctions race generates new market for investigation and assistance work for oligarchs

Londongrad has gone into a frenzy since the start of the Western riposte to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. The entire ecosystem which has grown up around the oligarchs is working to help them escape sanctions and limit the reputational and financial damage they are expected to cause.

France
Arrest of French cybersecurity agency volunteer calls cyber ransom negotiation into question

As in the "real world", the payment of ransoms in cyberspace is of concern to governments and insurance companies, as the recent arrest of a French 'ethical' hacker has highlighted.