Due Diligence

Corruption might occur in many different ways. It need not be outright bribery, but just the use of connections or facilitation payments to smooth business dealings. In some parts of the world, these practices are widespread and normal, but companies can be held accountable for them in the UK. Before using local partners, it is therefore essential to carry out due diligence on both companies and individuals in order to mitigate the risk of compliance violations.

MACCS carries out discreet investigative due diligence on behalf of our clients to reduce their exposure to reputational and commercial risks deriving from working with third-parties in emerging markets. Menas Associates has carried out hundreds of such investigations over the past 25 years, leveraging the expertise and extensive contacts of our network of external consultants.

Most investigations undertaken by MACCS concern individuals – potential representatives, agents and business partners – but we also carry out due diligence into organisations and companies. Our clients are typically primary investors, their lawyers or financial backers, who come to us when they are involved in difficult non-OECD jurisdictions.

We not only carry out the basic due diligence – to provide all of the statutory information on a company and its directors - but the majority of our investigations focus on establishing the true reputation and track record of individuals or entities seeking to do business with our clients. Our investigations seek to establish whether their claims have substance, what advantages such contacts confer, and alternative routes to reach the decision makers.

We recognise the sensitive nature of this work and operate under conditions of strict discretion and absolute confidentiality. We are particularly careful to operate 'Chinese walls', so that no-one except one or two MACCS directors knows who our client is. We always ensure that the 'target' individual or company is also unaware that they are being investigated.