International Investigations

How Can You Help Me Start Trading in Russia?

In Russia, for instance, we can give you an insight into how business is run, market information to inform those aiming to work with businesses or individual people based in Russia, and research, analysis and advice for anyone getting involved in the Russian market for the first time. Recent work in Russia has included due diligence reporting on a high profile US-Russian executive for a potential joint venture partner, checking out commercial opportunities in Russia’s railways sector for an EU-based company, and advising a European law firm how to handle financial crime data linked to organised crime in Russia, pending court proceedings.

Due Diligence is Key to Success Abroad

Due diligence, of course, should be a top priority if you are exploring unfamiliar foreign markets, and you can do a considerable amount of background work yourself. It’s worth reading the second blog on our site, which suggests various websites as your first ports of call, although it adds the important caveat that they are “somewhat hit or miss”. The blog lists various commercial and government online sites describing political and other risk factors, profiling business sectors and individual companies in different countries, and giving general background. However, it does say they don’t give the full picture, such is the complexity of many foreign markets and cultures.

Process Serving Across The World

Due diligence and background checks are at the top of Blackhawk’s “to do” list for clients. Alongside its exhaustive market analysis and background checks, it runs a specialised, fixed-fee service for international process serving, supported by an expert understanding of the legal systems and operation of the Hague Convention.

Blackhawk has worked in the following countries:

Beware The Fraudsters Who Stalk Abroad

As companies look to new markets, stretch their lines of communication and devolve more decision-making to distant local management, corporate rules and regulations become less easy to enforce. Growth in international fraud has been helped by recession-hit companies desperately seeking new, often untried markets to expand into.

The result is a world where it’s become much more difficult for companies to track down hidden bank accounts and assets spirited away offshore. Even if they do strike lucky, the hoops they have to go through in different, often strange jurisdictions means it’s that much more difficult to succeed with commercial litigation.

Cross-Border Intelligence Network

This is where Blackhawk’s vast international investigations intelligence network of trusted on-the-ground contacts gives the agency and its clients a head start in international offshore investigations, background checks and due diligence overseas. We work closely with lawyers at home and overseas to secure bank disclosure and injunctions (powerful freezing and search orders referred to in one particular case as “the law’s two nuclear weapons”).

We rely on tried and trusted relationships with fellow international investigators overseas, have built up particular expertise in foreign market risk analysis, and make it a priority to keep up-to-date with changes in foreign government regulations affecting business sectors overseas. If you are considering a move abroad, please contact us to discuss the potential risks – and the gains.

To find out more about Blackhawk’s international process serving, international background checks or international investigations into offshore companies and/or corporate, call us on +44 (0)20 8108 9317.