What due diligence covers
- Individual due diligence — directorships, prior business associations, litigation history (claimant and defendant), bankruptcy and insolvency record, regulatory action, adverse media, sanctions and PEP exposure;
- Entity due diligence — beneficial-ownership tracing, related-party identification, financial filing review, reputational and ESG concerns, sector-specific regulatory review;
- International scope — through vetted partner agencies, we extend coverage to common European and Commonwealth jurisdictions;
- Reporting — graded findings (red / amber / green) with the underlying source material referenced. We say what we found and where we found it.
When clients engage us for due diligence
- A pre-acquisition target needs deeper diligence than a desktop counsel review will produce;
- A senior or regulated appointment is being considered (board, MLRO, head of compliance) and standard pre-employment screening is not enough;
- A new commercial counterparty is requesting credit, an introduction to your customers, or a long-term partnership;
- A regulatory investigation requires evidence of “reasonable steps taken” before a transaction.
For everyday transactions, our guide on checking a company or person is genuine sets out the free checks that answer most questions without instructing anyone.
How we conduct due diligence
Due diligence work draws on lawful commercial and public-record databases, court records, regulatory filings, sanctions lists, and adverse-media archives. Personal data is processed under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, with documented legitimate-interest assessments for each engagement. We do not pretext, we do not impersonate, and we do not access systems we are not authorised to access — see the Computer Misuse Act 1990 limits we operate within.
Reports are structured for use by deal teams, compliance committees, and instructing solicitors. For our full process, see how we work.
Due diligence on a company or on a person?
A company investigation examines the business, its ownership, and the people behind it. Screening an individual focuses on the background relevant to a particular appointment or relationship. The two may overlap, but the question you need answered determines the scope. For an employment decision, see our background checks for senior and sensitive roles.
If you are still deciding whether a transaction warrants professional investigation, start with our guide to checking a company or person before you pay. It sets out checks you can make yourself.
Common questions
How is this different from a standard background check?
Standard checks confirm identity and basic records. Enhanced due diligence looks at litigation history on both sides, insolvency, regulatory action, adverse media, sanctions and PEP exposure, beneficial ownership and related-party links, and explains what the findings mean for your decision.Can you cover subjects and entities outside the UK?
Yes, through vetted partner agencies for common European and Commonwealth jurisdictions. International engagements are managed from our UK office and reported in the same format.How are findings presented?
Findings are graded red, amber, or green with the underlying source material referenced, so a deal team, compliance committee, or instructing solicitor can see what we found and where we found it.More general questions about cost, timescales, and evidence are answered on our FAQs page.