Association of Corporate Investigators
Ashurst was delighted to host the ACi Banking Investigators Forum on 5th October 2023. We enjoyed insightful discussions between banking investigators and key industry figures to analyse the evolving regulatory challenges and economic pressures experienced by banks. A short summary of key takeaways from these sessions is available here for download, which features a number of the thematic issues identified.
This June we are reaching out to members to see if they’d like to get more involved with building the ACi. As you’re aware, the Executive Committee at ACi are all volunteers, who have full-time in-house investigations roles. The popularity of the Association means we are always on the lookout for subject matter experts who are willing to share knowledge and experience, and for investigations professionals who want to give back to the profession by reaching out to their networks to expand ACi’s mission.
The Association of Corporate Investigators was out in force yesterday at Relativity Fest London 2023 as we spoke to a lively audience about our work on the development of the new ISO standard for Internal Investigations. Our panel featured Steve Young, Ashu Sharma (CFE, CFCS), Hannah Clare (She/Her), William Kelly (CISM, CIPP/US) and the moderator was Simon Scales.
The panel explained how the new standard – ISO 37008 – will give organisations a guide as to how to do investigations properly. It will give investigators and their teams a source of best practice that is accepted globally, enabling them to have the knowledge and certainty that they are performing investigations to internationally accepted standards.
The panel said they have been working with a cohort of 37 countries to develop the standard, which is expected to be published later in 2023. The panel said that working collaboratively with investigators from around the world has been both interesting and rewarding. There was a standing ovation at the end of the session.
On Thursday, 10th November, ACi held its Symposium event in London, after having missed two years due to Covid19. It was great to bring our investigations community back together for a day of learning, networking and sharing experiences. This year, we were kindly hosted by Allen & Overy at its London offices offering fantastic views of the city.
Our expert speakers included:
(Event moderator) Simon Scales, ACi ExCo
(Co-Host) Eve Giles, Allen & Overy
(Co-Host) Steve Young, ACi
Stephen M. Kohn, Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto LLP
Howard Wilkinson, Whistleblower
Mary Eastwood Jones, World Trade Organisation
Tim Roberts, The Risk Advisory Group
Christoph Haid, Schoenherr
Jeffrey Giddings, ACi ExCo
Kieran McPate, Relativity
Benjamin Borsodi, Schellenberg Wittmer
Michael Zimmern, Control Risks
Basha Galvin, ACi
Stephen S., Compass Group
Sarah Henchoz, Allen & Overy
Joanne Taylor, K2 Integrity
Patrick Wellens, ACi ExCo
David Wolfe CPA/CFF, The Global Fund
Sam Tate, RPC
Ray Massie, Epiq
Ashu Sharma (CFE, CFCS), ACi ExCo
Manu Hanspal, Compass Group
Trevor D., Haleon
Amanda Raad, Ropes & Gray LLP
Jonathan Brown, Ankura
Bryn Parry-Jones MBE, Lloyds Bank
Alexander Moss, ACi ExCo
Jules Colborne-Baber, Deloitte
Deirdre Carwood, Deloitte
Polly Sprenger, Addleshaw Goddard
Rebecca Chalkley, Red Lion Chambers
Delegates discussed a range of topical investigations subjects – from the rise in prevalence of ESG investigations to questioning whether the human element of investigations will have disappeared completely in ten years’ time. Delegates also reflected on the challenges posed by C-Suite investigations and shared best practices for conducting interviews.
Once again, our MC Simon Scales had the delegates chuckling away with his engaging and witty moderating style.
Feedback from attendees has been fantastic. Here are just a few comments we received:
“Excellent sessions, great panels, really good quality discussions and well held together by a brilliant Chairman.”
“The most tailored and relevant event for corporate investigators I have been to.”
“…it was warm and authentic. People on panels were not overly corporate and despite the large audience seemed comfortable to discuss ‘warts and all’. Also, no question was deemed off limits.”
You can read our full event programme here. Thank you to everyone involved especially our hosts, Eve Giles and Sarah Henchoz, and the rest of the Allen & Overy team. Thanks also to our sponsors Deloitte, Schoenherr, Addleshaw Goddard, Relativity, Ankura, Control Risks, Epiq, K2Integrity and Risk Advisory.
Finally, a special thanks to our MC Simon Scales, to our panellists, and – not least of all – to the delegates who made it such a worthwhile event.
We look forward to seeing everyone next year.
On Friday, 14th October 2022 we held the first part of our Investigating Sexual Misconduct workshop, hosted by Ropes & Gray at their London offices.
Our expert speakers included:
Amanda Raad, Ropes & Gray
Ruby Moshenska, safeguarding consultant
Sharon Tan, Mishcon de Reya
Basha Galvin, ACi
Delegates discussed how corporate investigators can manage complainants, witnesses and employees accused of wrongdoing in a culturally sensitive way, including duty of care to all parties concerned. There was a focus on how to respond to complex sexual misconduct allegations using trauma-informed approaches as part of a robust response, the role bias can play in an investigation, employment law implications and how sexual misconduct investigations link to wider organisation culture discussions.
Feedback from attendees has been fantastic. Here are just a few comments we received:
“A very helpful and thoughtful review of trauma informed approaches.”
“A rarely discussed topic.”
“Practical tips on interviews with complainants/Subject of Concern.”
Thank you to our expert panel speakers and our host, Amanda Raad, and the rest of the Ropes & Gray team. We look forward to our part two of this workshop coming to you in 2023.
On Thursday, 29th September, we held our immersive investigations training workshop, hosted by RPC at their London offices overlooking Tower Bridge.
Our expert speakers included:
Manu Hanspal, Head of EMEA, ACi
Stephen Storey, Compass Group
Sam Tate, RPC
Kelly Thomson, RPC
Jon Bartley, RPC
Ching Liu, Control Risks
Lorna Van Oss, Control Risks
Adam Garside, Control Risks
Delegates were guided through a case study and discussed managing & planning an investigation, identifying and interpreting evidence, managing Whistleblowers and recent legislation, E-discovery, forensic IT and legality of material obtained, establishing investigative conclusions and investigation findings.
Feedback from attendees has been fantastic. Here are just a few comments we received:
“Fantastic inputs from all presenters, very informative tips and shared best practices. I would definitely join next sessions and will recommend ACI events to my investigator colleagues.”
“Excellent, really learnt a lot and loved hearing from different perspectives.”
“Great event. Very good Q & A throughout with good engagement.”
Thank you to our expert panel speakers and our host, RPC. We look forward to launching more immersive investigations training workshops in the future.
ACi is delighted to announce a new partnership with Ankura Consulting Group LLC, an independent advisory firm offering expertise in the areas of change, risk disputes, finance, performance, distress and transformation.
Speaking of the partnership, Steve Young, CEO, ACi said, “As the ACi grows it is important that we find organisations to work with who understand our mission and want to make a contribution to the advancement of the corporate investigations professsion. I am delighted that in Ankura we have found not only expertise but the passion to make a difference.”
“Ankura are delighted to partner with the Association of Corporate Investigators. It’s a fantastic organisation, facilitating knowledge sharing amongst the investigation community. In an era where investigators need to grapple with issues as diverse as fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, human rights abuses in the supply chain, harassment, bullying and unethical behaviour of every kind imaginable, this has never been more important. We look forward to sharing best practices with members and learning from their wealth of experience.”
The Ankura team consists of more than 1,700 professionals in more than 35 offices globally who are leaders in their respective fields and areas of expertise. Its global Risk, Forensics & Compliance practice includes accountants, investigators and former regulators, alongside expertise in gathering intelligence, asset tracing, data analytics, cyber response and the collection, analysis and review of electronic data sources wherever they exist worldwide.
We have an upcoming webinar, sponsored by Ankura, on Bring Your Own Device (BOYD) Investigations. Click here to find out more.
On Thursday, 26th May ACi proudly hosted its first Banking Investigators Forum event, kindly sponsored by Forensic Risk Alliance. The event was attended by banking investigators from 80 different banks and covered a range of issues, all of which had been selected by delegates as points of interest.
Our prestigious speakers included:
During the day, delegates grappled with a range of issues such as whether investigative interviews should always be recorded, the current crypto landscape and what it means for investigators, and skills and tools that investigators should have for successful outcomes.
The day was ably managed by Simon Scales who had the delegates giggling in their seats with his engaging and witty moderating style.
Feedback from attendees has been outstanding. For example one delegate said,
“The event was run really efficiently, the venue was excellent but mostly important the speakers and subject matter was just brilliant. Often I see people on their phones at lot at these events catching up with emails etc but as I looked around, like myself everyone was listening intently. It really was one of the best conferences I have attended in many years (ignoring the pandemic). Thanks to everyone involved, with a little special mention to Simon who I thought was amazing as an MC.Already looking forward to the next one, please keep my details within your database. I will be selling the events for you as I speak with all of my bank investigator contacts throughout the whole industry. So many of them would have benefitted and enjoyed yesterday.”
You can read our event programme here. Thank you to everyone involved especially our sponsor Trevor Wiles and the FRA team, Simon Scales, our speakers and not least of all the delegation who made it such a special event.
We look forward to seeing everyone next year.
ACi’s Steve Young, Mary Eastwood Jones and Manu Hanspal had an exceptional reception at #RelativityFest in London this May, as they revealed the Association’s new Investigations Principles and Guidelines and Investigations Typology (available in the ACi Members’ Area).
ACi is delighted to announce the launch of its new Investigations Principles and Good Practice Guidelines guidance. This is the first wide-reaching practitioner-led Principles and good practice guidance developed for the global corporate investigations profession. These foundational Principles and Guidelines are the culmination of working group discussions with a highly diverse group of corporate investigation subject matter experts, both in-house and external, from various industries and sectors. They are intended to help guide the work of corporate investigators.
The ACi would like to thank all those who contributed subject matter expertise in our working groups, and our group leads Mary Eastwood Jones, Jeff Giddings, Patrick Wellens and content creator Esther-Gail Fraser. The following are some quotes from our members about the importance of our Investigation Principles.
Jeff Giddings, Senior Investigator at OSCE said, “Core principles and guidelines are foundations for a successful corporate investigative function. The ACi Principles and Good Practice Guidelines are fusions taken across the wide spectrum of ACi members. Given the multitude of industries represented in the ACi, it was a challenge in getting consensus for having succinct, yet inclusive, principles and guidelines. To my knowledge, this has never been accomplished until now, which demonstrates the strength and commitment of the ACi and its members. This is truly trailblazing.”
Patrick Wellens, Investigations Expert said,”The creation of the new Principles and Good Practice Guidelines fits perfectly in the mission of the ACi to professionalize Corporate Investigations. It is a major achievement to now have a common set of Standards and Good Practice Guidelines that can be applied across Corporate Investigators in any industry. I am personally very proud to have actively contributed to these documents.”
Ash Sharma, Group Investigations Manager, Anglo American, said, “Corporate Investigation is a unique profession. The Corporate Investigator might be asked to investigate financial crime, physical or psychological safety, health or environmental breaches, data and cybercrime amongst others. Corporation Boards, employees, investors, customers and the wider community expect the highest standards from these investigators. The ACi will ensure these expectations are met by educating, supporting and mentoring their members. The release of the ACi Principles and Good Practice Guidelines is an exciting achievement for the profession. I am proud to be part of this community and support the evolution of the profession.”
Steve Young, CEO, ACi, said, “Investigators are bound by the moral imperative to find the true facts. For me, the ACi principles underpin this obligation, which we all carry as members of the corporate investigations community. “
Mary Eastwood Jones, ED, ACi added, ‘The work we do carries great responsibility to establish the facts ethically- the consequences of a poorly or unfairly executed investigation can be devastating for the people and organisations involved. I am proud to be part of this first practitioner-led foundational project and am so grateful to all in our community who have collaborated and reached consensus to make this possible. The Investigation Principles are integral to conducting robust and ethical investigations, and are essential on our journey to professionalising corporate investigations.’