20-minute listen David Rybicki and Neil Smith of the law firm K&L Gates came on the Vcheck podcast to discuss the new Department of Justice Safe Harbor Policy for voluntary self-disclosure made in connection with M&A that was announced by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco on October 4, 2023. The new M&A Safe Harbor Policy… Continue Reading RiskWatch: The New Safe Harbor Policy for M&A
17-minute listen Ann Sultan and Alexandra Beaulieu of the law firm Miller & Chevalier came on the show to discuss recent enforcement developments and trends concerning the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In our discussion, we cover a number of important issues such as why the extractives sector continues to pose challenges for FCPA compliance, what red flags to… Continue Reading RiskWatch: FCPA Enforcement Trends & Developments
9-minute listen In this episode of the podcast, Mike Blankenship came back on the show to discuss the IPO underwriting process, the role of due diligence and the state of the IPO market. Mike is a Managing Partner at the Houston office of Winston & Strawn and focuses his practice on corporate finance and securities law,… Continue Reading RiskWatch: IPO Due Diligence and State of the Market
18-minute listen In this episode of the podcast, Vcheck Global spoke with Carrie LeRoy and Charles Walker who are partners at the law firm Gibson Dunn. We spoke about the pitfalls that exist for technology acquisitions and how these can be mitigated through holistic due diligence. We covered a number of areas that encompass the due… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Technology Acquisitions & Diligence Concerns
18-minute listen In this episode of the podcast, Vcheck Global spoke with Laura Black and Christian Davis of the law firm Akin Gump about the Biden Administration’s plans to regulate outbound investment to protect US national security and economic competitiveness interests that would screen and monitor outbound investment from the United States to ‘countries of… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Outbound Investment and National Security
18-minute listen In this episode of the podcast, Vcheck Global spoke with Morgan Lewis Partner Kenneth Nunnenkamp about what the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is and its implications for deal making and financial institutions going forward. For years, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has noted that countries including the United States need to have… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Understanding The Corporate Transparency Act
Direct lending transactions are complicated and deal timelines are only getting tighter, which means that an effective background check and due diligence process is crucial. Continue Reading Due Diligence for Non-Bank Lenders: Painting a Risk Profile
Clare Connellan, Partner in White & Case’s London office and Head of the firm’s Business & Human Rights Interest Group, joins the RiskWatch podcast to share strategies for ensuring compliance with Modern Slavery and Supply Chain regulations, including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and the German Supply Chain Act. This conversation covers:
Vcheck Global, a leader in international due diligence and background check services, is No. 1,537 on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. Continue Reading For the 5th Consecutive Year, Vcheck Global Ranks as One of the Fastest Growing Companies on the Inc. 5000 List
Third-party screening solutions are a must-have for compliance teams amidst supply chain disruptions and rapidly shifting regulatory landscapes. How do you know which third-party automation offerings provide the most bang for your buck? Here are five features to look for when selecting a platform. 1) Risk Indication Third-party risk management is not a one size… Continue Reading Five Third-Party Screening Platform Essentials
Picking a due diligence provider can be overwhelming. Streamline your search while laying the foundation for a long-term partnership with these five considerations: Reputation Due diligence is an essential component of both corporate compliance and decision-making. Having confidence in your due diligence provider is a must. Before ordering your first report, consider running the provider’s… Continue Reading Five Considerations When Selecting a Due Diligence Firm
As a law firm, competitive intelligence pertaining to M&A, beneficial ownership, and litigation is essential. These three legal industry-specific screenings merit consideration from all firms, regardless of size and practice area. Lateral Partner Screening Lateral partners can bring incredible revenue growth potential, yet low retention rates are a constant thorn in the side of firm… Continue Reading Due Diligence for Law Firms: Looking Beyond Litigation Support
Cross-border deals, global footprints, and shifting supply chains make international capabilities a top of mind consideration when selecting a due diligence provider. This presents a different challenge from its domestic counterpart. Effective international due diligence requires a specialized tool kit. When evaluating a due diligence provider’s ability to achieve your international investigative goals, look for… Continue Reading Five Capabilities to Look for in an International Due Diligence Provider
When adverse information concerning an executive comes to light, the reverberations are both damaging and widespread; the trust of customers, business partners, and shareholders is compromised while companies are exposed to legal, regulatory, and financial penalties. Vetting executive-level candidates with investigative due diligence is a proven method for mitigating these risks. Keep these three considerations… Continue Reading Three Considerations for Enhancing Executive Hiring
Vcheck Global, a leader in international due diligence and background check services, is thrilled to announce that their CEO, Julie Peck, has been listed as one of the Top 100 CEOs for Women. Continue Reading VCHECK GLOBAL’S JULIE PECK NAMED ONE OF THE BEST CEOs FOR WOMEN
Founder of Kaya Advisors and former Tilray EU Alliance Manager, Steven Arthur George, joins the RiskWatch podcast to discuss risk and opportunity in the corporate cannabis space, including recreational legalization in Germany and the evolution of third party relationships. This conversation covers: 00:31 – 00:51 Introduction  00:52 – 05:50 Steve’s trans-Atlantic cannabis journey 05:51 –… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Steven Arthur George on Corporate Cannabis Risks and Opportunities
LATAM Sustainable Investing: A Q&A with Randy Bullard of Morrison Foerster Interest in sustainable investing is rising. Climates suited to renewable energy projects, governments welcoming foreign direct investment and diverse deal opportunities have sustainability minded investors evaluating opportunities in Latin America. To provide insight into the region’s markets and due diligence considerations, Vcheck connected with… Continue Reading LATAM Sustainable Investing: A Q&A With Randy Bullard Of Morrison Foerster
Increasing prioritization of social consciousness by consumers and regulators is spurring interest in sustainable investment worldwide and Latin America is no exception. The region’s suitability and pursuit of green energy combined with a growing young, multi-ethnic and technologically savvy population is capturing the attention of sustainability-minded investors in the region and beyond. Success in the… Continue Reading Due Diligence Considerations For Sustainable Investing in Latin America
Interest in franchise opportunities is on the rise in the United States. This is attributed to a shift in American priorities, which triggered the much talked about “Great Resignation.” The opportunity to take charge of one’s career while creating a business legacy to pass on to younger family members has become increasingly attractive to Americans.… Continue Reading Franchise Focused Due Diligence: Informational Advantages for Franchisors and Investors
Randy Bullard, partner in Morrison Foerster’s Corporate Department and Latin America Desk co-chair, joins the RiskWatch podcast to discuss ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing in Latin America. This conversation covers: 00:46 – 01:49 Randy’s work at Morrison Foerster 01:50 – 02:46 Green energy observations 02:47 – 05:16 Overlooked markets and points of entry for… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Randy Bullard on ESG Investing in Latin America
The global economic havoc triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic created unique growth opportunities for certain regions and industries. Ongoing government lockdowns, lengthy quarantine periods and extensive travel restrictions drove consumers globally to embrace the convenience of online offerings, notably internet commerce and delivery services. As employers worldwide convert temporary remote positions to permanent while individual… Continue Reading Southeast Asia’s Internet Economy: Powering Through The Pandemic
Nancy Jacobson, Counsel, Global Compliance and Ethics at United Airlines, joins Vcheck Global’s Seth Harlan to talk third party risk management (TPRM) and the airline industry. Episode highlights include Nancy’s non-traditional career path, how United recognizes and remediates risk, and compliance challenges facing the airline industry. This conversation covers: 0:45 – 02:47 Nancy’s non-traditional path… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Navigating TPRM Turbulence
The United Kingdom has long been criticized for its attractiveness to unverified, and undoubtedly at times, highly problematic wealth from abroad. Withering criticism stems from the UK’s failure to control inflows of cash from oligarchs from Russia and other former Soviet States, who have acquired everything from luxury property to football clubs. Despite years of… Continue Reading New UK Economic Crime Law Targets Oligarch Assets
As businesses and investors worldwide rush to ensure compliance with aggressive sanctions targeting Russian companies and regime-connected individuals, identifying ties to the expansive business empires of Russian oligarchs is a top priority. Tom Stocks, senior investigator with the Organized Crime and Reporting Project (OCCRP) joined RiskWatch to discuss the challenges of tracking oligarch assets including… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Investigating Russia’s Sanctioned Oligarchs
For the third year in a row, Vcheck Global has been ranked among the top 3% of fastest-growing companies in the Pacific region, according to the Inc. Regionals: Pacific list released by Inc. Magazine this month. The  annual list features top companies based in California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and Alaska that are drivers of economic… Continue Reading Vcheck Global Ranks Among Top 3% of 2022 Inc. Regionals: Pacific Businesses
Introduction Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to the imposition of some of the most aggressive, expansive, and coordinated sanctions ever by dozens of countries. These sanctions have come from places widely expected to take such action, including the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, yet also from other countries taking actions almost unprecedented… Continue Reading Russia’s War in Ukraine: New Sanctions, Increased Requirements for Enhanced Due Diligence
Mike Blankenship, managing partner of Winston & Strawn’s Houston office, returns to Vcheck Global’s podcast RiskWatch to discuss de-SPAC due diligence priorities, M&A sectors and regions to watch, and risks facing biotech and digital health investors. You can listen to our first conversation with Mike Blankenship on the RiskWatch podcast here. This conversation covers: 00:42 –… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Mike Blankenship on the Year of the De-SPAC
Hot on the heels of Transparency International’s recently released 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, Vcheck Global’s Seth Harlan speaks with James Cohen, Executive Director of Transparency International Canada and Shanti Salas, VP, North America, for OpenCorporates for the latest episode of the RiskWatch podcast. The trio discuss myriad topics including global corruption concerns, transparency obstacles posed by shell… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Talking Transparency with James Cohen and Shanti Salas
With the Securities Regulation Institute’s 49th Annual Conference underway, Vcheck Global’s Seth Harlan speaks with Elaine Greenberg, Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig LLP and former senior officer in the the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Enforcement Division. Highlights from this RiskWatch podcast episode include anticipated changes in the types of sanctions and relief sought… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Elaine Greenberg Talks Anticipated SEC Enforcement Changes
With the Securities Regulation Institute’s 49th Annual Conference underway, Vcheck Global’s Seth Harlan speaks with Mellissa Duru, Special Counsel at Covington & Burling LLP and former Sr. Special Counsel at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Highlights from this RiskWatch podcast episode include Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) benchmarking standards and disclosures… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Mellissa Duru Discusses ESG Role in SEC’s Policy Agenda
To kick off CRE Finance Council’s January Conference 2022, Vcheck Global’s Seth Harlan speaks with Jack Cohen, President and Chief Innovation Officer of Stronghill Capital, a subsidiary of ArrowMark Partners, and past Chairman of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council for this episode of RiskWatch. Highlights from this RiskWatch podcast episode include property types to… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Jack Cohen Talks CRE in 2022, Real Estate Lending Risk
Entering 2022, reflection on the plethora of challenges confronting the global economy over the past two years, particularly during the spring of 2020, illuminates one bright spot—the rapid ability of certain industries to pivot and remain operational. Especially memorable was the transition of restaurants, within several weeks, to selling groceries and meal kits. In the… Continue Reading Responding to Evolving Client Needs: How Innovation and Flexibility Enhance Investigations
Vcheck Global accelerates market leadership with the key appointments of Katy Thomas as Chief Information Officer and Alex Sorin as Vice President of Global Diligence Markets. “Vcheck Global has been in a sustained period of incredible growth, having demonstrated our dedication to consistently high-quality research, on-time delivery, and turnaround times that meet the needs of… Continue Reading Vcheck Global Appoints Katy Thomas, Alex Sorin to Key Leadership Roles
The rapid disintegration of Afghanistan’s security forces in August left casual news observers aghast. How could forces trained and equipped by the world’s most powerful military collapse within days of President Joe Biden’s April withdrawal announcement? The answer lies in a culture of corruption extending from Afghan forces to American military contractors, cracking the foundations… Continue Reading Corruption from Kandahar to Kunduz: The Erosion of Afghanistan’s Security Forces
A recent Wall Street Journal article spotlighted a series of legal cases with a common aim—requiring private equity firms to accept responsibility for the actions of their portfolio companies. Author Chris Cumming notes that the settlements in these matters “mark a break from the usual practice of treating private-equity firms as passive investors that aren’t… Continue Reading Private Equity Put on Notice: The False Claims Act and Investor Liability
Vcheck Global had the opportunity to speak with Simona Weinglass, an investigative journalist for The Times of Israel, earlier this year about her 2016 investigation into Israel’s binary options industry, The Wolves of Tel Aviv, which was awarded an honorable mention in the Trace Prize for Investigative Reporting competition. Notably, Simona’s work resulted in the… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Investigative Reporter Simona Weinglass Talks Combating Fraud
Brazil’s Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) formally closed Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato), the epic corruption investigation which began in 2014 with a routine money laundering probe of an actual car wash in Brasilia. The investigation, which ended in February, quickly grew into a complex series of criminal prosecutions that snared former-President Lula da Silva as… Continue Reading The Legacy of Operation Car Wash and Brazil’s Compliance Environment in 2021
The 38th International Conference on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is underway, and to highlight the event Vcheck Global’s RiskWatch podcast co-host Seth Harlan interviewed some of the featured speakers at this year’s conference. He asked them about critical risk and compliance issues, including affects from the pandemic, the growing prominence of Environmental, Social,… Continue Reading RiskWatch: 2021 FCPA Conference Speaker Interviews
Sunstone Partners announced today its strategic growth investment into Vcheck Global to accelerate development of products and technology for delivering game-changing due diligence and background investigation solutions. “Vcheck Global has experienced unprecedented growth over the last few years and we have an incredible opportunity to truly change the game for lenders, investors, risk and compliance… Continue Reading Vcheck Global Receives Strategic Investment from Sunstone Partners
The protracted Saudi-led takeover of the English soccer club Newcastle United came to an end last month when a consortium comprising the Saudi Public Investment Fund, PCP Capital Partners LLP, and RB Sports & Media Limited bought the Premier League club for GBP 300 million (USD 409 million). This purchase capped off an 18-month saga… Continue Reading A Hat Trick of Sportswashing, State-Ownership, and Soccer: The Saudi Takeover of Newcastle United
In the ninth episode of RiskWatch, Chelsea Binns and Bruce Sackman discuss their book, The Art of Investigation. Conversational highlights include the benefits of infusing investigations with creativity and cultural awareness, as well as technology’s impact on the investigative process. Chelsea Binns is a Certified Fraud Examiner, licensed Private Investigator, and the author of Fraud… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Soft Skills and the Future of Due Diligence
In advance of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, the head of environmental group Greenpeace raised concerns about attendees “greenwashing” efforts. Greenwashing refers to the practice of intentionally misleading consumers about the environmental benefit of an offering; accusations of greenwashing have become commonplace. Just last month, McDonalds was on the receiving end of climate-related… Continue Reading Patchouli and Power Suits: Activists and Regulators Target Greenwashing
When moving between cultures, learning how to describe familiar things in a new way is a necessity. The thing called an apple, ringo, or pomme will be the same regardless of the word used to describe it, so the challenge becomes learning which word to use in which context. A version of this conundrum arises… Continue Reading Who’s In Charge Around Here? Understanding Japan’s Corporate Hierarchy
A long-standing debate in the nonprofit sector is whether such organizations should operate like businesses. Regardless of one’s stance, few nonprofit professionals and volunteers will dispute the importance of protecting their organization’s reputation. Unfortunately, reputational risk mitigation is frequently not afforded the requisite level of attention required to protect nonprofits against a host of serious… Continue Reading Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth: Risk Management for Nonprofit Organizations
Public records due diligence can be a powerful tool in assessing the reputation and business history of individuals and entities.  An experienced research team can look past surface findings, following leads into corporate registration, legal, and media records, revealing previously unknown information about a subject. Due diligence is more than ticking a box; Vcheck Global’s… Continue Reading The Power of Public Records: Seasoned Investigators Enhance Executive Decision Making
A 2020 client letter by Blackrock CEO Larry Fink which announced the firm’s belief “that sustainability should be our new standard for investing” is notable for bringing environmental concerns to the forefront of investor considerations. Similarly, a recent hiring wave of Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officers by corporate powerhouses highlights the prioritization of DEI (diversity,… Continue Reading DEI Considerations for Investigative Due Diligence
In the eighth episode of RiskWatch, Vcheck Global VP and General Manager of Vcheck Intelligence Rahul Ravi speaks with Roger Jones, Director, Corporate Partnerships for the Cleveland Browns. The Cleveland natives tackle topics including partnership vetting, player endorsements, and community collaboration. This conversation covers: Introduction to Roger 0:50 How the Browns and NFL vet partners… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Reputational Risk Huddle with the Cleveland Browns
For most high school juniors, the college admissions process involves enrolling in an SAT prep course, meeting with their school’s college advisor, and anxiously awaiting the admissions committee’s decision email. As viewers of the recent hit Netflix documentary Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal know, the hurdles of college admissions can be jumped. Hollywood… Continue Reading Degreed Diligence: Reputational Risk Considerations for Higher Education
In February 2021, then-SEC Chair Allison Herren Lee announced the agency’s intent to update its guidance regarding disclosure related to climate change matters initially issued in 2010. Subsequently, in March, the SEC responded to increased investor demand for disclosure information pertaining to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters and climate risks by announcing the creation… Continue Reading The SEC’s Focus on ESG: Implications for American Companies
Illuminating adverse information, regulatory actions, and litigation in complex jurisdictions is vital for companies operating internationally. Yet English language media, regulatory, and litigation checks conducted by ill-equipped investigators often fail to provide a comprehensive understanding of the risks potentially inherent in engaging with individuals who have lived or worked abroad. Vcheck Global’s many experienced researchers… Continue Reading International Due Diligence Capabilities in Complex and High-Risk Industries
Cryptocurrency and its underlying blockchain technology is becoming increasingly mainstream, attracting an uptick in consumer participation in crypto markets and interest from traditional equity firms and institutional investors. However, excitement about the possibilities of this technology should be tempered with an abundance of caution. Digital assets are easy targets for bad actors who can drain… Continue Reading Cryptocurrency: A Regulatory Wild West
A slow-moving wave caused by the buzz generated over The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ (ICIJ) publication of 11.9 million leaked documents on October 3, dubbed the Pandora Papers, may soon wash over regulatory environments. Notable amongst this treasure trove of information was the revelation of South Dakota’s role as a tax haven and the… Continue Reading Peering into Pandora’s Box: Looking at the Data Leak Through a Diligence-Tinted Lens
Vcheck Global’s podcast RiskWatch is back with brand-new episodes! In the seventh episode of RiskWatch, Vcheck Global Senior Associate Seth Harlan speaks with Shanti Salas, VP, North America, for OpenCorporates and Rahul Ravi, VP and General Manager of Vcheck Intelligence, for Vcheck Global. Both Shanti and Rahul have been practitioners in the reputational due diligence… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Data Transparency and its Investigative Impact
The centrality of cultural consciousness within due diligence investigation lies in the reality that hard skills such as research must be paired with effective soft skills such as cultural awareness to ensure a best-in-class investigation.  For example, when initiating a project in North Africa, one must be aware of holidays such as Ramadan which can… Continue Reading Culturally Conscious Due Diligence
As online court records, news articles, and other sources often only extend back to the early-to-mid 2000s, litigation, regulatory actions, and other adverse incidents prior to this time may escape detection by standard research, leaving investors in the dark regarding potential monetary and reputational damages. For example, even in a high-information jurisdiction such as the… Continue Reading Collecting Dust: Uncovering Issues Hidden in Archived News Articles
Suggestions for safely streamlining your business operations What do General Electric, Marriott, and Instagram have in common? Each of these industry leaders were impacted by data breaches involving third parties in 2020.  In addition to the reputational damage to each company, these incidents exposed the personally identifiable information (PII) of customers (Marriott), employees (General Electric),… Continue Reading Minimizing Third-Party Vendor Risk
Putting adverse findings into perspective. Bankruptcy, litigation, and negative press—each of these subjects trigger alarm bells when they appear in a due diligence report. Accordingly, it is important for readers to consider several points when reviewing potentially adverse findings. A helpful starting point for evaluating red flags is to remind oneself of the personal or… Continue Reading Risk for Thee But Not for Me
A lasting effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the investigative due diligence industry is the spotlight on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations. Notably, ESG issues have quickly transformed from a talking point to an action item. Major ESG events since March 2020 include global wildfires, a rapid shift to remote work, and numerous corruption… Continue Reading Incorporating ESG into Investigations
Following a year of record-breaking growth, Vcheck Global continues to rank among fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. as compiled for Inc. Magazine’s annual Inc. 5000 list. “We are distinctly proud to be named this year as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. The honor is especially meaningful after a year that… Continue Reading Vcheck Global Named to Inc. 5000 for Fourth Consecutive Year
Navigating a job search is challenging, especially in a niche field such as investigative due diligence. Adding in emotions including shock and anxiety can make a job search feel insurmountable. Having recently concluded a search for a new diligence role following an unexpected layoff, I would like to pay forward all of the support provided… Continue Reading Strategically Searching for Your Next Diligence Role
A recent survey of anti-fraud professionals revealed a widespread concern that corporate fraud will increase at their organizations over the next 12 months, aligning with further digitalization of consumers and supplier interactions and the growing shift to remote work in the wake of the pandemic. Now more than ever, businesses should implement risk management strategies… Continue Reading Predicted Rise in Corporate Fraud Requires Risk Management
As investor focus rapidly shifts beyond established industries toward emerging industries worldwide, it is imperative that due diligence providers rapidly adapt their tradecraft to ensure that clients are able to invest with confidence. In addition to gaining a thorough understanding of various emerging industries in order to tailor investigations to new sectors, diligence providers must be… Continue Reading Minimizing Investment Risk in Emerging Industries
Stakes are high for hundreds of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) holding investor funds that must be used to complete mergers with private companies and take them public before their window of opportunity runs out.  As shell entities listed in public stock exchanges formed with the intent to use investor funds to complete IPOs for… Continue Reading Pressure to De-SPAC Is Accelerating Demand for Due Diligence
From the global pandemic to the Suez Canal blockage in March, business supply chains have endured resiliency tests over the past year unlike any in recent history. Supply chain weaknesses, plus how governments around the world responded to emergency situations, led to significant struggles for businesses in obtaining raw materials for production, purchasing products to… Continue Reading Supply Chain Resilience Starts with Strong Third-Party Risk Management
Vcheck Global has been recognized for excellent services and rapid growth by The Silicon Review as one of the 30 Fastest Growing Private Companies to Watch in 2021. “Globally there are many companies specializing in delivering enhanced due diligence services, but Vcheck Global stands out from the rest. Vcheck Global is a fast-growing, expert-driven company… Continue Reading Vcheck Global Ranks Among 30 Fastest Growing Private Companies to Watch in 2021
It wasn’t so long ago that Trevor Milton resigned his position as chairman of electric trucking company Nikola after an investment fund accused him of deceiving investors about the company’s technology. These assertions drove General Motors to take a $2 billion stake in Nikola before the company had produced a single truck. This is just… Continue Reading Due Diligence Uncovers a Bribery Scandal Before An Overseas Investment
Vcheck Global has been recognized among The Startup Weekly’s 2021 Business Products & Services Companies to Watch for its strong growth and excellence in 2020. “Our future as a company keeps getting brighter, thanks to our continued focus on keeping our customers at the center of all that we do at Vcheck Global and the… Continue Reading Vcheck Global Receives 2021 Companies to Watch Award
Vcheck Global has announced the appointment of two new executive leadership roles: Ki Lin Tay will take on the critical hybrid role of General Counsel & Chief People Officer, and Jason Tuthill joins the executive team as Chief Revenue Officer. “These two appointments mark a critical milestone in Vcheck Global’s explosive growth and will bring… Continue Reading Vcheck Global Appoints Two C-Suite Executives to Leadership Team
Among the abundance of opportunity for potentially lucrative investments in the healthcare industry lie hidden risks that could cause monetary loss and reputational damage. As part of a recent due diligence investigation, Vcheck Global’s highly skilled investigators identified significant risks associated with a possible medical practice investment and put them into context for the client.… Continue Reading Human Source Intelligence Reveals ‘Questionable’ Industry Reputation of Medical Practice
No employer wants to believe their employees are stealing from them, yet procurement fraud is one of the fastest growing and most widespread crimes globally. Procurement fraud—in its many forms, including fraudulent payment activity and malpractice in vendor onboarding—flies under the radar of many organizations.  The scale of procurement fraud is difficult to embrace because… Continue Reading Ongoing Monitoring of Third Parties May Help Prevent Procurement Fraud
In this episode of Vcheck Global’s podcast, RiskWatch, Vcheck Global Directors Rahul Ravi and Alex Sorin speak with Mike Blankenship, a Partner in the Houston office of law firm Winston & Strawn, and an expert in corporate finance and securities law. The discussion covers why special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) continue to gain investor attention… Continue Reading RiskWatch: SPAC Due Diligence
The federal government recently expanded the Bank Secrecy Act to require firms that lack a federal functional regulator (FFR)—including private banks, trust companies, and non-federally insured credit unions, known as non-FFR institutions—to adhere to the same anti-money laundering (AML) regulations that apply to FDIC regulated institutions, including the creation and maintenance of AML and customer… Continue Reading New Rules Require Anti-Money Laundering Programs for Certain Financial Firms by March 2021
2020 has been the busiest year for special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), helping private companies in buzzing markets such as space travel, electric vehicles, cannabis, and online gaming go public without the constraints of the traditional initial public offering (IPO) process. SPACs have raised more than $67 billion in 2020 and are expected to represent at… Continue Reading IPO Proliferation in 2020 Highlights Need for SPAC Due Diligence
In this episode of Vcheck Global’s podcast, RiskWatch, our host speaks with the author of “Making a Killing: South Sudanese Military Leaders’ Wealth, Explained,” a report published by The Sentry earlier this year. The report uncovers how top military and opposition leaders in South Sudan engaged in what appears to be corrupt business activities and… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Making a Killing – South Sudanese Military Leaders’ Wealth, Explained
Though it may appear that partnerships and M&A across the banking sector have been slowed by the pandemic, a reported uptick in deals closed in August may indicate increased M&A deals in financial services in the remainder of 2020 and across various industries. Moreover, while corporate banks have not been known for risk-taking, the growing… Continue Reading Considerations for Financial Services Partnership and M&A Due Diligence
Just one month before the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists began reporting on what has been dubbed the “FinCEN Files”—an investigation of thousands of suspicious activity reports and government documents highlighting global financial corruption—Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) dropped an important guidance document on August 3 that highlights the serious, ongoing national security and criminal… Continue Reading Bank Customer Due Diligence: New Guidance for Monitoring Politically Exposed Persons
A wave of enforcement actions from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) over the past two years has likely pushed the release of a new sanctions compliance framework—the first ever by the office—and highlights the critical importance of supply chain due diligence to mitigate sanctions risk. Quite often, OFAC violations occur… Continue Reading Supply Chain Due Diligence: Mitigating Sanctions Risk with New OFAC Compliance Framework
Vcheck Global is paying close attention to how this potentially foundational change to the U.S. anti-money laundering (AML) system... Continue Reading Proposed AML Regulations Heighten Scrutiny of Account Onboarding Risk Management
A message from our newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Julie Peck. For those of you whom I have not yet had the pleasure to meet, I wanted to introduce myself. As interim, and now permanent CEO of Vcheck Global, I have spent the past three months getting to know many of you, and working closely… Continue Reading Julie Peck Installed As Vcheck Global Chief Executive Officer
Loan underwriting requires meticulous verification of prospective borrowers’ history to illuminate the risks involved before the pursuit of a lending relationship. A Boston-based client focused on commercial real estate investments is able to thwart untrustworthy borrowers by maintaining scrupulous standards for its underwriting deals and partnering Vcheck Global to uncover illegal activity and mitigate risk… Continue Reading Thwart Untrustworthy Borrowers: Due Diligence for Commercial Real Estate Loan Underwriters
Accomplished operations and business strategist Julie Peck has been appointed interim CEO and will lead Vcheck Global into the next stage of explosive growth. Los Angeles, Calif. – April 23, 2020 – Vcheck Global, a leading provider of business-to-business investigative due diligence background checks, has appointed Julie Peck as interim Chief Executive Officer. Peck has… Continue Reading Vcheck Global Selects Julie Peck As Interim Chief Executive Officer
Today we’re featuring VP of Employment, Erwin Rodriguez. Erwin serves Vcheck Global by leading the pre-employment investigative team. Continue Reading Employee Spotlight: Q&A VP of Employment Erwin Rodriguez
On this episode of Vcheck Global’s podcast RiskWatch, we speak with Global Financial Integrity’s Director of Illicit Trade Channing Mavrellis based in Washington, DC. We discuss her co-authored work— 2018’s Illicit Financial Flows and the Illegal Trade in Great Apes— and cover a number of topics connected to global corruption, illicit supply chains, and the… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Illicit Financial Flows and Illegal Wildlife Trade
The sheer size and significance of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) fines and enforcement actions over the past few years, with 2019 marking a peak year of FCPA enforcement, are good indicators that SEC and DOJ enforcement will continue their upward trend for the foreseeable future. Moreover, the role that third-party risk occupies in these… Continue Reading Avoiding Due Diligence Tunnel Vision: Building Context Through Finished Intelligence Products
Our mission at Vcheck Global is a significant one: to protect our clients by providing more information about the companies and people that they do business with. In the spirit of that mission, we have started an Employee Spotlight series to feature more information about the ambitious, charming, and diligent team working to make Vcheck… Continue Reading Employee Spotlight: Q&A with Managing Director Adam Fromowitz
In a recent interview with Vcheck Global’s Co-Chairman Seth Farbman, our own Rahul Ravi shed light on the critical due diligence required for principles and boards prior to initial public offerings (IPO) and other large capital market transactions. Ravi has been in corporate investigations for about nine years, starting his career at Kroll then worked… Continue Reading Vcheck Global’s Seth Farbman and Rahul Ravi Discuss IPO Due Diligence
In the third episode of Vcheck Global’s podcast RiskWatch, we speak with Jessica Noll, who published a research study in February 2019 examining the history of anti-corruption efforts and institutions in Egypt titled, “Fighting Corruption or Protecting the Regime?”. In our talk, Noll explains how corruption takes hold of societies and the true motivations of… Continue Reading RiskWatch: The Corruption Behind Anti-Corruption Campaigns
In this episode of Vcheck Global’s podcast RiskWatch, human intelligence expert Alex Sorin speaks with Shawn Hauser, partner and chair of the Hemp and Cannabinoids Practice Group at national marijuana law firm Vicente Sederberg in Denver, Colorado. Hauser helps marijuana (cannabis) and hemp businesses navigate intellectual property, investment, regulatory compliance, and state and federal law.… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Navigating Cannabis Compliance
Retired U.S. Ambassador at Large Luis C.deBaca joined RiskWatch for a discussion about modern slavery in corporate supply chains and what is being done to both combat and prevent it. Ambassador C.deBaca served five years in the Obama Administration to monitor and combat human trafficking before serving as the director of the U.S. Office for… Continue Reading RiskWatch: Modern Slavery and Corporate Supply Chains
Our mission at Vcheck Global is a significant one: to protect our clients by providing more information about the companies and people that they do business with. In the spirit of that mission, we have started an Employee Spotlight series, to feature more information about the ambitious, charming, and diligent team working to make Vcheck… Continue Reading Employee Spotlight: Q&A with AVP of Quality Control Dianne Ruiz
Navigating how legal information is gathered, parsed, and disseminated is a challenge as regulatory complexities vary from one jurisdiction to the next, domestic and foreign. Regulatory environments across Latin America are no different, making the job of international due diligence investigators a challenge in complex judiciary systems such as those in Brazil, Peru, and Mexico.… Continue Reading Navigating the Complexity of Latin American Public Records to Uncover Corruption
LOS ANGELES, October 22, 2019 – Vcheck Global, a leading provider of business-to-business due diligence background checks, is delighted to announce the hiring of Adam Fromowitz.   Fromowitz brings nearly a decade of experience in financial, technology, and professional services to his new role as a Managing Director for Vcheck Global. Prior to joining Vcheck Global,… Continue Reading Vcheck Global Hires Adam Fromowitz as a Managing Director for New York Operation
Our mission at Vcheck Global is a significant one: to protect our clients by providing more information about the companies and people that they do business with. In the spirit of that mission, we have started an Employee Spotlight series, to feature more information about the ambitious, charming, and diligent team working to make Vcheck… Continue Reading Employee Spotlight: Q&A with Deputy Chief Compliance Officer Maria Munley
People often change their names or use aliases to disguise their past. At Vcheck Global, it is our standard procedure to unmask changed names or aliases once we start an investigation. Continue Reading Uncovering Aliases: Do You Know Who You Are Doing Business With?
Vcheck Global, a leading provider of business-to-business due diligence background checks, is pleased to announce the hiring of Alex Sorin.    Sorin joins Vcheck Global after having served at a risk and compliance due diligence firm as the Global Head of Human Source Intelligence, where he led the company’s source inquiries product. Sorin is an expert… Continue Reading Vcheck Global Hires Additional Director for D.C. Office, Adding Enhanced Due Diligence Expertise
Our mission at Vcheck Global is a significant one: to protect our clients by providing more information about the companies and people that they do business with. In the spirit of that mission, we have started an Employee Spotlight series, to feature more information about the ambitious, charming, and diligent team working to make Vcheck… Continue Reading Employee Spotlight: Q&A With Vcheck Global's AVP of Quality Control April Kelemen
Even in purportedly transparent democracies such as Canada, real estate has become a tool for evading government scrutiny—a concern Vcheck Global is constantly vigilant of when investigating real estate transactions. Continue Reading Hiding in Plain Sight: Money Laundering in Canada’s Real Estate Markets
Today we’re featuring one of our Senior Associates and recent Vcheck Global Employee of the Month, Sara Bednarcik. Vcheck Global’s first remote investigator, Sara works from her home in the mountains of Montana. Continue Reading Employee Spotlight: Q&A With Vcheck Global's Senior Quality Control Associate Sara Bednarcik
Arabic language research is a key part of Vcheck Global’s foreign language investigations, particularly because many tweets are typically written in Arabizi as opposed to Arabic. Continue Reading The Art of Arabizi: Navigating Foreign Language Social Media
A recent case conducted by Vcheck Global shows the importance of conducting background checks on companies registered in the Cayman Islands. Continue Reading Industry Trend: Increasing Demand for Conducting Due Diligence in the Cayman Islands