Companies are increasingly frequently having to undertake internal investigations, either for regulatory defence reasons or as a matter of good corporate governance, perhaps following whistle blower warnings. We advise clients on the operational and strategic aspects of conducting such investigations.

    The drivers for this activity include:

    • more aggressive regulators in the financial services, competition and sector specific areas;
    • fraud or corruption allegations or concerns;
    • changing ethical and governance standards; and
    • accounting or other reporting misstatements, or failures to disclose material adequately or sufficiently promptly to the capital markets.

    The ways in which investigations are conducted and the standards expected of them are evolving and becoming more recognised. As investigations become more international, we are seeing significant technical and judgmental challenges around such issues as self-reporting, capital market disclosures, employee relationships, privilege and waiver, authority, accountability, independence and reporting, data protection, definitions of scope and ways to terminate an investigation.

    UK Bribery Act

    Latest information and updates on the UK Bribery Act
    View the section

    Documentary risk control

    A guide on how to handle the disclosure of information in relation to arbitration, civil and criminal proceedings and regulatory investigations in each of the major jurisdictions around the world.
    Access our documentary risk control tool

    Contact

    News

    Elie Kleiman appointed Managing Partner for the Freshfields Paris office View

    Freshfields scores major win in Energy Charter Treaty arbitration View

    Awards

    Regulatory team of the year - JUVE Awards (2009)

    Dispute resolution law firm of the year - JUVE Awards (2008)

    View all awards