Tag: investigations

ACi Symposium 2025

The ACi Symposium serves as the premier annual gathering for professionals within the investigations community. This flagship event offers a distinguished platform for learning, networking, and the exchange of expertise. It is a valued occasion to reconnect with long-standing colleagues and to forge new relationships across diverse industries and global regions.

This year we are kindly hosted by White & Case in London.

Topics we’ll explore include:

AI and Investigations
Bribery and Corruption
eDiscovery, Managed Review and Investigations
Social Media and OSINT
Investigating Risks to the Corporate C-Suite

Click here for the agenda.

Click here for the speaker line-up.

 

Register

 

Hosted by

Sponsored by

Safety For Investigators

Investigators face unique security challenges when operating in unfamiliar environments, from criminal threats like armed robbery and kidnapping to terrorism, targeted criminality from competitors or government actors, and environmental risks including medical emergencies and civil unrest. Our free webinar sponsored by  Control Risks provides essential knowledge and practical strategies to keep you and your team safe while conducting investigations in challenging locations worldwide.

The webinar covers three key areas:

  1. Personal Security Fundamentals (including ISO 31030 travel risk management standards, threat assessment, preparation protocols, situational awareness techniques like Cooper’s Color Code and OODA Loop, profile management, and digital footprint security)
  2.  Working with Armed Security Teams (featuring a real-world case study from a Somalia deployment with detailed convoy procedures, emergency protocols, and coordination with local security professionals),
  3. Interactive Q&A Session where participants can get specific questions answered by security experts.

Join investigators and security professionals from around the world in this essential training session led by Control Risks’ industry-leading security professionals with extensive high-risk environment experience. Learn critical skills including secure communication protocols, emergency response procedures, pattern of life analysis, cultural sensitivity, and equipment preparation.

Don’t compromise on security – equip yourself with the knowledge needed to operate safely in challenging environments.

 

Register

 

Webinar Sponsored by

 

Matt Newman is an Associate Director with a background in the provision of close protection and crisis security consulting. Matt leads in the development and delivery of Control Risks’ security training courses from our UK Training Centre and other international delivery locations. Prior to this, Matt spent several years as an embedded crisis security consultant to a Multi-National Corporation operating out of Libya and Iraq.

 

 

Oleg Kozlov is an Associate Director in Control Risks’ forensic investigations practice in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He is a forensic accountant with over nine years of experience in fraud and anti-bribery and corruption investigations and compliance advisory engagements across a broad range of geographies and sectors.

 

 

 

Categories
News Research

Challenges to Corporate Investigations Survey

🌐 Challenges to Corporate Investigations – Survey Launch

Corporate investigations across all sectors face increasingly complex challenges that can significantly impact outcomes. To better understand these critical pain points, we are conducting a comprehensive benchmarking study, supported by Forensic Risk Alliance, to identify the most prevalent internal and external factors that can compromise investigation effectiveness.

This industry-wide initiative will establish baseline insights across sectors and geographies, enabling the development of evidence-based best practices that strengthen investigation outcomes. We hope the resulting report will serve as a vital resource for the corporate investigations community.

We welcome participation from professionals who conduct internal investigations in organizations of any industry, size, or location:

👉🏻 Investigators
👉🏻 Compliance managers
👉🏻 Internal auditors
👉🏻 HR managers
👉🏻 Other risk professionals and specialists

Your confidential input will contribute to the first comprehensive study of its kind, helping to elevate standards across the profession. The Association of Corporate Investigators, with research support from FRA, is committed to delivering actionable insights that benefit the entire community.

Take part here.
Survey closes: 21 September.

ACi Swiss Health Care & Life Sciences Investigations Forum

Join leading investigations and compliance professionals from across the healthcare and life sciences sectors for an intensive half-day forum exploring the cutting-edge intersection of technology, regulation, and investigation practices.

This exclusive gathering brings together legal experts, compliance officers, investigators, and technology specialists to address the most pressing challenges facing the industry today.

 

Register

 

Key Topics

Regulatory Intelligence & Enforcement Trends Gain insider perspectives on evolving regulatory landscapes and law enforcement priorities in healthcare and life sciences, with expert analysis of what investigations professionals should anticipate in the coming years.

AI-Powered Investigation Capabilities Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing investigation practices, from advanced data analytics to automated compliance monitoring. Learn about the latest tools, practical applications, and tomorrow’s emerging technologies from industry leaders including Relativity and other cutting-edge providers.

Cyber Resilience Strategies Understand the critical role of cybersecurity in modern investigations, with comprehensive coverage of threat landscapes, incident response protocols, and the essential collaboration between legal, compliance, and security teams. Features insights from CrowdStrike and other cybersecurity experts.

Interactive Format

  • Expert Panels: Moderated discussions with industry leaders sharing real-world experiences and best practices
  • Case Study Analysis: Practical examples of successful technology implementation in investigation scenarios
  • Q&A Sessions: Direct access to specialists for addressing your specific challenges
  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers facing similar challenges across the healthcare and life sciences ecosystem

Who Should Attend

In-House Legal Counsel – Navigate complex regulatory requirements and leverage technology to enhance investigation outcomes

Compliance Officers – Strengthen compliance programs with AI-driven investigation capabilities and cyber resilience strategies

Heads of Investigations; Heads of Litigation & Investigation Professionals – Master next-generation tools and methodologies for conducting thorough, efficient investigations

Chief Information Security Officers – Integrate legal and compliance considerations into comprehensive cyber resilience frameworks

Risk Management Executives – Develop future-ready investigation capabilities that protect organizational assets and reputation

Regulatory Affairs Leaders – Stay ahead of evolving enforcement expectations and regulatory trends in healthcare and life sciences

Data Privacy Officers – Balance investigation needs with data protection requirements in an increasingly complex regulatory environment

Corporate Security Directors – Align physical and digital security measures with legal and compliance investigation requirements

Expert Faculty

Learn from distinguished practitioners representing leading pharmaceutical companies, top-tier law firm Baker & McKenzie, technology innovators  and specialized consultancies.

Confirmed Speakers include:-

  • Steve Young, Patrick Wellens & Sean Donaldson, ACi
  • Christoph Kurth, Bryant Isbell, Simon Ntah, Baker & McKenzie
  • Trevor Dickey, Haleon
  • Joe Limb, Icon
  • Karin De Witt, Lonza
  • Joe Agyei, Mundi Pharma
  • Robert Braun, Novartis
  • Lisa Griffiths, Vantive

This forum offers a rare opportunity to explore the convergence of three critical areas shaping the future of investigations: regulatory evolution, technological advancement, and cyber resilience. Attendees will leave with actionable insights, expanded professional networks, and a clear roadmap for enhancing their organization’s investigation capabilities.

The intimate setting at Baker & McKenzie’s Zurich offices ensures meaningful dialogue and relationship-building opportunities with fellow professionals who understand the unique challenges of healthcare and life sciences investigations.

Click here to view the agenda.

 

Register

ACi Whistleblowing Investigations Forum

Our special one-day event, kindly hosted by A&O Shearman, brings together leading experts in whistleblowing, corporate investigations, regulatory compliance, and legal frameworks to explore best practices, challenges, and emerging trends in handling whistleblowing disclosures. The programme offers a comprehensive exploration of whistleblowing investigations, looking at regulatory perspectives and global investigation management to real whistleblower experiences. It features  sessions covering cyber-whistelblowing, sexual harassment investigations and a debate around whistleblower rewards.    The event offers invaluable insights for investigators, legal and compliance professionals seeking to enhance their whistleblowing programmes and investigation capabilities in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

Following the formal programme, attendees will have valuable networking opportunities from 16:30 to 18:30, allowing for continued discussion of the day’s insights and the formation of professional connections. This networking session provides an ideal setting for participants to share experiences, discuss common challenges, and explore potential collaborations.

View the agenda at a glance here

Register

 

Sponsored by

 

Categories
News

ACi wins Multi Stakeholder Collaboration Award

We are delighted to announce that we have won the International Compliance Association’s 2025 Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Award. The presentation took place at the ICA Awards Dinner in London on 27th June. We would like to acknowledge our fellow shortlist finalists, Calathea Solutions, Clue software and the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, ECPA and Tenet.

Our CEO, Steve Young, said ‘This award is recognition of a multi-stakeholder collaboration with over 50 corporate investigations practitioners to author and produce the ACi Corporate Investigators Handbook (1st Edition) in association with our publisher, Global Investigations Review. I would like to acknowledge our editor, Barry Ellis, and Ashu Sharma our global head of projects and advisory for putting forward the ACi  submission against such prestigious competition. I add my congratulations to the shortlisted finalists. The ACi continues to serve the global corporate investigations community, and this award is further recognition of that mission. My final word goes to the amazing ACi Executive Committee and staff whose passion for the association knows no bounds’.

The ACi Corporate Investigators Handbook (1st Edition) is free to download at https://globalinvestigationsreview.com/guide/the-aci-corporate-investigators-handbook-in-association-gir/first-edition or to buy the hardback edition visit the ACi website https://my-aci.com/.

Investigating Corporate Misconduct, Bullying, Harassment and Victimisation – An ACi Immersive Workshop

Are you ever asked to support, lead, direct manage or investigate matters in the HR and Employee Relations space where misconduct is the key concern or allegation?

If so, then this interactive training session is perfect for you! Learn about the fundamentals of conducting misconduct investigations at any level of the organisation, provided by professionals with detailed knowledge of the key techniques required for dealing with matters of Bullying, Harassment, Victimisation, Intimidation and Retaliation. Through two detailed and focused 90-minute sessions, participants will gain essential understanding and basic practical skills to begin approaching sensitive misconduct investigations thoroughly and effectively.

 

Register

 

Workshop Structure

Session 1: Foundations & Theory (90 minutes)
January 13 2026 – 10.00-11.30 (UK time)

Explore the fundamental principles of workplace investigations, including legal frameworks, evidence gathering protocols, and maintaining objectivity throughout the investigative process. Learn to navigate complex organisational dynamics while ensuring fair and thorough fact-finding.

Session 2: Applied Practice – Cognitive Interviewing (90 minutes)
January 20 2026 – 10:00 – 11.30 (UK time)

Learn the relevant cognitive interviewing techniques, using trauma-informed approaches for sensitive workplace situations. Practice foundational skills that support effective information gathering while prioritising participant wellbeing and psychological safety.

Who Should Attend

  • Investigators from the Corporate, Charitable and NGO sectors
  • HR and ER Professionals and People Operations Leaders
  • Compliance and Ethics professionals
  • Legal Professionals handling workplace matters
  • Managers and Senior Leaders
  • External Consultants conducting workplace investigations

Key Learning Outcomes

  • Gain foundational understanding of the legal and ethical framework for workplace investigations
  • Learn structured approaches to evidence collection and analysis
  • Understand trauma-informed interviewing principles and basic techniques
  • Discover how to create psychologically safe environments for sensitive conversations
  • Build initial confidence and awareness for handling complex situations
  • Establish foundational best practices for maintaining investigation integrity

 

Register

 

Course Trainer:

Simon Scales, Chief Education & Training Officer, ACi.

Simon’s extensive international experience in corporate investigations includes significant Employee Misconduct, Fraud, Bribery, Corruption, Antitrust & Competition, AML, Sanctions, Market Abuse and commensurate preventative/remedial measures. His 30 years of expertise in major investigation management, covert and overt intelligence gathering, relationship and stakeholder management, Ethics / Compliance / Integrity related investigations and reviews demonstrate his proven ability to facilitate consensus through negotiation and collaborate with senior management across all geographies.

Tools & Techniques to Speed Up Your Investigations

Making the most of the latest tools and techniques (including gen AI) to speed up your investigations

Are you aware that the latest investigatory tools and techniques to deal with large data volumes and for speeding up investigations ARE within your reach, without a long commitment or large price tag?

Are you missing out on using the latest AI-powered technology and analytics techniques for forensic investigations because you think they’re not commercially viable or you simply don’t have the requisite skills?

Think the most advanced tools are only available to the big forensic investigator firms? Think again.

Join the panel on 2nd July at 12:00 UK time to find out about the latest tech developments and for a practical insight into what’s available to support investigations today.

 

 Register

 

David Fisk, Managing Director at Salient Discovery will share his insights on the latest methods of data extraction and analysis available to all, for both unstructured and structured data sets.  Moderated by Ashu Sharma , Group Investigations Manager, Anglo American Plc and board member of the ACI, the panel will draw on real life examples from various clients’ investigative work and explore practical use cases of the technology and techniques that are available today to accelerate your investigations.

Wilmari Janse van Rensburg – Abacus Financial Crime Advisory: Wilmari has more than a decade’s experience as a forensic accountant.  She started her career within investigations for a Big Four consultancy and is now associate partner in a specialist corporate investigations firm.  She has extensive experience leading financial crime investigations for a global client base.

Geoff Budge – Blue Top Consulting: Geoff brings 30 years+ experience as a fraud and forensic investigator to the panel.  During his career, he has worked in the area of forensic technology for global consulting firms, supporting clients with data analytics, digital forensics and eDiscovery challenges.  He now runs his own corporate investigations consultancy business with a wide range of clients, operating across jurisdictions and in multiple industries.

The discussion will cover:

  • the AI-powered tools that help at each stage in an investigation
  • the visualisation tools that can help to provide focus and clarity in  investigations
  • dealing with different types of data, including:
  • Unstructured sources (e.g. WhatsApp, social media, text messages, email, loose documentation, etc.); what’s possible and what’s not
  • Structured sources; how to manage large volumes and tools for finding the needle in the haystack
  • how you can get access to the latest tech and as importantly, the skills to get the most from it

Firmly rooted in real case studies, we’ll share experiences of the practical acceleration of investigations to help investigators large and small remain competitive and relevant in the ever-evolving technology landscape.

 Register

Crypto Investigations Demystified

Cryptocurrencies present unique risks given its susceptibility to illicit activity and ability to enhance anonymity and obfuscate the flow of funds. Despite these challenges, the inherent immutable and permanent nature of the blockchain provides an opportunity for investigators to understand the digital footprint of on-chain transactions to identify potential unusual activity.

 

Register

 

This webinar, sponsored by FRA, will address:

  • Managing complex compliance and regulatory obligations of a regulated crypto platform
  • Addressing bespoke crypto typologies and recent investigation trends
  • Enhancing investigation strategies through the use of blockchain analytics and forensic capabilities
  • Creating a safe digital asset ecosystem from suspicious activity reporting to law enforcement cooperation.

Panel

Thomas Hyun (FRA) is a Director, Cryptocurrency Compliance in FRA’s Washington, DC office. He brings years of industry experience as a compliance leader, with a focus on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance in emerging payment technologies across the blockchain and digital asset ecosystem. Prior to joining FRA, Thomas was the Director of AML and Blockchain Strategy at PayPal for four years, where he established PayPal’s financial crime policy and control framework for its cryptocurrency-related products. His earlier roles include Director of Compliance and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Officer of Paxos and Vice President of Compliance at Mastercard as a dedicated compliance officer for its consumer products portfolio. He also spent over seven years within the forensics practice at Ernst & Young, working on a variety of FCC investigations for US and foreign-based financial institutions.

Oliver Van Zant (PayPal) is PayPal’s Director of Compliance Investigations for the Americas, where he oversees suspicious activity investigations including those involving cryptocurrency.  Prior to joining PayPal, Oliver worked at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office as a blockchain investigative analyst helping to pioneer early cryptocurrency investigations.  In his position at PayPal, Oliver is dedicated to integrating new technologies into effective compliance solutions, enabling the company to conduct top-tier investigative work.

Sercan Karapoyraz (Crypto.com) is the Vice President of Compliance (Global Financial Crimes), where he leads key initiatives in customer due diligence, risk assessment, transaction monitoring, enhanced due diligence, and escalations. An ACAMS-certified professional, Sercan brings a thoughtful and solutions-driven approach to financial crime operations and compliance process optimization, helping organizations stay ahead in an ever-evolving regulatory landscape.

 

Register

 

Webinar Sponsored by

 

ACi Training: Investigations Fundamentals

Our popular short course: Conducting Workplace Investigations is for those new to investigations. We are  running the course again in June/July 2025.

 

Register

 

Workshop 1: Investigation Fundamentals

🕤 Tuesday 24th June; 14:00 – 17:00 UK time, online Teams

This workshop introduces participants to:

✍🏻 Responding to whistleblower reports
✍🏻 Triaging, Assessment, Planning & Scoping
✍🏻 Investigation Principles
✍🏻 Relevant best practice and ISO frameworks
✍🏻 Introduction to gathering and assessing evidence
✍🏻 Cognitive Interviewing Models
✍🏻 Case Study

Workshop 2: Interviewing & Documentation

🕤 Tuesday 1st July 2025, 14:00 – 17:00 UK time

Covering key topics including:

✍🏻 Case Study review and planning
✍🏻 Communicating with (and managing) stakeholder expectations
✍🏻 Fundamentals of investigative interviewing
✍🏻 Memory, Recall and Non-Verbal Communication
✍🏻 Report writing essentials
✍🏻 Understanding thematic learning, process improvements and case closure

Workshop Learning Goals: These sessions aim to help participants:

✅ Understand the core components of workplace investigations
✅ Recognise typical challenges in the investigation process
✅ Learn about a structured six-step investigation approach
✅ Explore methods for gathering and assessing information
✅Develop foundational investigation planning skills
✅Gain an introduction to investigative interviewing principles

 

This workshop will take place on Teams and delegates will receive a diary invite after registration.

Click this link to view a short video with real delegate feedback

Your trainer

Simon Scales, Chief Education & Training Officer, ACi