K2

United States
K2 expert and JS Held come to SEC's aid in case against Queens real estate tycoon

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has accused property developer Richard Xia of pocketing $229m from real estate scams in New York. Financial intelligence consultants are helping to investigate the securities fraud case.

United Kingdom
Idesus, Fitzroy Tavern, BGR and Governances

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, Washington, Paris and Tashkent.

Spotlight | United Kingdom
Accountants go after corporate investigators

As well as tracking down Russian clients, the UK's business intelligence community has found itself attracting interest from the world's leading accounting firms keen to develop their scope in the sector.

The Corporate Intelligence Gazette
K2, Jonathan Benton, The Ambassador Partnership, Talos

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 New York, London, Paris and Kyiv.

New YorkK2's NY office has busy agenda.

LondonAnti-corruption investigator Jonathan Benton sets up foundation.

Paris/LondonESL & Network teams with Britain's The Ambassador Partnership.

KyivCisco Talos mobilised to counter Russian cyber activism in Ukraine.

Spotlight | Europe, United Kingdom, United States
ESG investigations - mirage or growth opportunity for investigation firms?

For more and more business intelligence companies, having an operational social and environmental governance investigation service is becoming a necessary accessory for the 2021-2022 autumn-winter season. Is the rise in demand for these investigations, which is driven by tighter regulations in a number of major countries, just a passing fashion or could it mark the start of development of a substantial new market?

Spotlight | United States
Stone Point at the heart of Kroll versus Kroll legal battle

Behind the legal battle being fought over the Kroll name by the leading business intelligence companies, Kroll and K2 Integrity, there are major financial considerations. The trial has revealed that, despite the fierce competition between them, the two firms came very close to merging under the leadership of Stone Point Capital.

Spotlight | Hong Kong, United Kingdom
Boris Johnson consults corporate intelligence firms on China

As it puts the finishing touches on its new Investment Security Unit, set up to prevent attempts at economic predation on UK businesses, especially from China, 10 Downing Street is turning to corporate intelligence firms to help with the task.

Spotlight | United States
Kroll versus Kroll, the 2021 round

Kroll group has reopened old wounds dating to the creation of K2 with its latest attack on founder Jules Kroll before a US court on 10 November.

Europe
FATF guidance on crypto-assets opens path for crypto compliance specialists

By calling for stricter compliance requirements, the Financial Action Task Force's latest recommendations should see more traditional finance investors turn to crypto-assets by reducing legal uncertainty. It will also open the playing field for crypto-assets compliance specialists to rival established compliance specialists.

France
FTI's French investigations team falls apart

FTI Consulting is the latest in a string of big US and British firms to fail in the French marketplace. With the departure of its head of investigations, Stéphanie Lhomme, the Parisian consulting firm has been turned upside down.

United Kingdom
Jason Wright reteams with Krolls at K2, marking end of Argo Associates

Hong Kong private investigation veteran Jason Wright is closing his firm Argo Associates to join K2 Integrity in London.

France, Russia
Russian Geographical Society sets up in Paris under the aegis of soft power experts

For the inauguration of its new centre in Paris headed by academic Darya Loyola, the powerful Russian Geographical Society called in experts in Russian-French relations, as well as professional promoters of Russian policy for compatriots abroad.

France, United States
BNP forced to double down on anti-corruption efforts

With the French Anti-Corruption Agency breathing down its neck, the French bank will call on a service provider to help improve the transparency of its processes worldwide.

United States
Under pressure from DoJ, cryptocurrency sector beefs up financial intelligence

In response to increased scrutiny by US authorities, cryptocurrency platforms and suppliers are strengthening their internal teams, with outside help from old and new compliance experts.

Singapore, United Kingdom
Temasek's ISTARI backs cyber companies of former intelligence officers

ISTARI, a company created by the Singapore state-owned fund Temasek, is investing in cyber firms run by former intelligence agents. Its latest investment, Prevalent AI, was co-founded by former GCHQ boss Iain Lobban and his former deputy Andrew France.

France, United Kingdom, United States
Wall Street's biggest users of private investigators settle their scores in battle over Universal

The future of music industry giant Universal will be settled in Paris tomorrow by "activist" investment companies. All the protagonists, who include Daniel Loeb and Bill Ackman, are big users of private investigators for their corporate raiding operations.