A new book about corporate investigators, Broker Trader Laywer Spy by Eamon Javers breathlessly groups everyone in our industry into a “secret world of corporate espionage” wielding a “dangerous and combustible” hold over international business.

The usual allegation?

Regular visitors to this website know well how important we think it is to conduct thorough investigations. Quick and dirty can work if you’re lucky but it can also end in tears. BeenVerified.com, currently airing a polished commercial on national TV, is a shining example of what we mean to avoid.

It’s among the worst nightmares for corporate counsel and their human resources departments: a company hires a person without doing an adequate background check. While on the job, the employee injures or kills someone, and the company faces a lawsuit for negligent hiring.

You’re in a job that’s solid and pays fairly well, but you’re not moving up. Along comes a small but dynamic firm that badly wants you to join their team. You visit their tastefully-decorated house converted into an office, a few blocks from an Ivy League university campus. They appear to have great clients and happy employees and they’re promising big money if things work out.

If you think spending $2,000 on due diligence is too expensive, you are probably overpaying to insure your house.  

You’re getting divorced or alimony payments are late, and the question often comes up: how much does the other person really have?

The best online dating sites all say the same thing: check out the person you met on our site, because due diligence is not the business we want to be in.