Investigations

7BR members lead, assist and advise on a wide range of investigations. Our work ranges from managing significant internal corporate investigations and advising on employment law breaches, to leading major public inquiries and offshore investigations in international financial crime.

Our members offer the highest levels of scrutiny, confidentiality, integrity, and thoroughness. Our multi-disciplinary expertise enables us to efficiently spot and evaluate a wide range of legal issues, and advise accordingly.

We produce independent, impartial, and detailed reports. Our services save crucial management time during crisis periods and support sustainable communication strategies.

We offer the following services:

• leading and advising on internal corporate investigations;
• independent reviews of earlier investigations;
• assisting with interviews and gathering evidence;
• providing advice and training on best practice in employment and company policy;
• advising individuals under investigation;
• sitting on grievance and disciplinary panels, and;
• acting as lead counsel to public inquiries, such as the Lambeth investigation in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, and the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry (2010-2012).

Our investigations clients include multi-national corporations, educational organisations, regulators, government bodies, global consultancies and sporting bodies, health sector companies and trusts, to name a few.

Areas we investigate

Examples of our investigatory work include: fraud, both civil and criminal; anti-money laundering and trading irregularities; asset tracing; bribery and corruption; international crime and multi-jurisdictional issues of law and evidence and; sanctionable practices. We thoroughly examine regulatory and criminal liability, and internal misconduct.

In employment and equality law, our barristers have undertaken investigations within a variety of areas. These include whistleblowing, allegations of discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual assault, breaches of codes of conduct, and performance issues. They have chaired disciplinary and disciplinary appeal hearings. Our barristers are experienced employment and equality law practitioners and are able to anticipate how an employment tribunal is likely to view matters.

Lastly, our members examine serious safeguarding breaches, historic abuse, public services and a host of other, highly sensitive and complex legal issues.