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Before a transaction or relationship
A counterparty, partner, candidate, or asset needs to be reviewed before commitments are made.
Initial Check
We review a counterparty, person, or asset before a specific decision. The client receives a concise analytical brief recording information supported by registries, documents, and other available sources, material relationships, risk signals, and a recommendation for the next step.
Initial Check tasks
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After a risk signal appears
Information about sanctions, litigation, a conflict of interest, or a hidden connection needs to be tested.
03
Before a deeper investigation
The strongest hypotheses, available sources, and a defensible scope for the next stage need to be defined.
The company, its owners, and its risk history
We review registration history, owners and directors, court disputes, insolvency, and sanctions exposure.
We also examine links to high-risk companies and material reputational incidents. This shows which facts can affect a deal, appointment, or counterparty relationship before a commitment is made.
Case studies
Initial Check of Sanctions-Related Supply Chains to North Korea
A review of Inrostopt LLC export operations from 2022 to 2024 identified volumes above the UN cap, payments through UAE companies, and petroleum shipments to two recipients in North Korea.
Initial Check of a Politically Exposed Person’s Network and Assets
A review conducted from 14 April to 5 May 2026 confirmed the subject’s profile, expanded the network of related persons, and identified six Russian regions and four foreign jurisdictions for a full investigation.
What the review covers
Identity and control
We confirm the subject, key companies, beneficial owners, and effective control.
Connections and interests
We look for related people, intermediaries, affiliations, and possible conflicts of interest.
Litigation and sanctions risk
We review litigation events, restrictions, registers, and material regulatory signals.
Reputation and digital footprint
We compare public statements, media, corporate history, and open digital sources.
What the client receives
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Analytical brief
Verified facts, material risk signals, and the limits of the review.
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Relationship map
People, companies, assets, and jurisdictions that affect the assessment.
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Recommendation for the next step
Which questions are resolved and what should be reviewed further.
Inconsistencies that warrant a closer look
We compare registry data, company websites, and the subject’s own claims. We look for undisclosed beneficiaries, frequent legal-entity changes, shared addresses, and recurring directors.
We also examine unexplained asset ownership and links to disputes. Each signal is tied to the source in which it was found.
Who instructs us
Legal and compliance teams
Assessment of a counterparty, person, or individual risk signal.
Investors and M&A teams
Review of material risks before negotiations or a transaction.
Corporate security
Review of hidden connections, conflicts of interest, and internal threats.
Law and consulting firms
A defensible scope for the next stage of client work.
Discuss an Initial Check
Describe the subject, context, and decision you need to make. We will propose a working scope for the first stage.
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