Disputes & investigations

We provide critical intelligence in contentious situations. Our expert team of analysts and investigators will unearth the information you need to strengthen your case. 

Disputes Investigations_Practice Card (1)

Managing disputes or internal investigations requires creative strategies and a robust, ethical, and granular approach to intelligence gathering. Our investigations team provides a specialised service.

 

S-RM provided a literal treasure trove of information that formed the core of our application. In addition, the team are extremely professional, accommodating, fast to react, and a pleasure to work with.

They literally blew me away.

Head of Investor-State Arbitration, UK Top 10 Law Firm

Why S-RM?

Industry recognition

Ranked by Chambers and Who’s Who Legal since 2021 for Litigation Support and Asset Tracing and Recovery

Global coverage

Analysts across 8 offices worldwide, speaking 45+ languages and leveraging deep regional knowledge

Litigation support specialists

Skilled at finding court-admissible evidence and contributing to litigation strategies

Disputes-and-Investigations---content

Trusted and specialist investigative support

Our track record of specialist support in high-pressure situations has helped us build long-lasting relationships with leading law firms, businesses, governments and private clients. 

  • Dedicated open source specialists and digital forensic investigators alongside traditional investigators, linguists and regional experts.
  • Global network of contacts and advisors, delivering human intelligence that adds genuine insight and perspective. 
  • Thorough analysis combined with a creative approach to the most complex problems provides solutions tailored to the client’s needs.

Our key services 

 We support clients and their advisors to resolve disputes globally across six key areas: 

Asset tracing & enforcement

We identify assets globally and provide evidence of their ownership. This helps clients determine whether to pursue a claim, where to focus their efforts and how to enforce a judgment or award – as well as securing third-party funding.

Internal investigations

We investigate suspected internal fraud and other white collar crime. We forensically image devices; review key documents and digital data; and conduct in-person interviews.

Litigation support

We provide intelligence and evidence to underpin creative dispute resolution strategies. We are accustomed to working in multi-disciplinary teams comprising lawyers, comms teams, forensic accountants and funders.

Insurance disputes

We help insurers, re-insurers and their advisors understand complex, major losses. We gather evidence from conflict zones, provide granular analysis of the causes of a loss event, and analyse any sanctions risk posed by paying a claim.

Threat attribution

We protect value and reputation by unmasking anonymous threat actors. Using advanced OSINT, forensics, and linguistic and behavioural analysis we defend clients against black PR and smear campaigns in traditional media and online.

Digital forensics

We identify, preserve and analyse digital evidence for use in sensitive civil and criminal investigations. Our experts provide clear, factual findings for our clients.

Read more
Case study

Tracing global assets worth $300 million

Instructed by the GC of a state-owned oil & gas business, S-RM traced the assets of a UAE-based businessman to enforce arbitral awards collectively worth more than USD 300 million. Our expert evidence of asset dissipation led to the award of a worldwide freezing order. 

The team is very strong in the global asset investigation space; they act honestly in the client's interest, execute work very well, and are competitive on pricing.

Chambers & Partners, Litigation Support Guide, 2023

Case study

Insurance litigation

Acting for a global insurer’s outside counsel, S-RM successfully defended a USD 100m claim. The loss took place in a conflict zone in the Asia-Pacific region, but S-RM was able to identify non-public documentary evidence and eyewitness testimony to support counsel’s arguments. 

S-RM is very good at getting human source information. The firm did very well in coming up with the full picture of who the cast of characters were, who was pulling the strings and what the counterparty thought in making their claim. They don’t overpromise and they’re very professionally managed. 

Chambers & Partners, Litigation Support Guide, 2021

Case study

Sanctions investigation

Instructed by the C-suite of a European bank, S-RM investigated the sanctions exposure of an adverse party. Our findings, which were submitted to the local prosecutorial authorities, resulted in the opponent’s designation. 

S-RM is just better than all the others. They are very dependable, set realistic expectations, and you never have comments on their work product because it is always very well drafted. They have become my go-to for the last few years and I am always happy to recommend them.

Chambers & Partners, Litigation Support Guide, 2023

Case study

Internal investigation 

Acting for the CCO of a multinational corporate, S-RM discreetly identified and evidenced supply-chain corruption through research, interviews, eDiscovery and device forensics, leading to the dismissal of the key coordinator. 

The forensic investigation was so deep, we practically knew what the guy had for Christmas dinner last year!

Head of Compliance, multinational corporate 

Case study

Supporting €40bn asset recovery

S-RM has spent over a decade supporting the Irish government’s National Asset Management Agency in its recovery of approximately EUR 40 billion in assets. 

S-RM have been engaged by NAMA for several years to provide asset tracing services. We are happy to recommend S-RM – their reports are of a high standard, provide value for money and are always delivered on time. 

The National Asset Management Agency, Ireland 

Meet our experts

Our senior investigators have decades of experience finding answers to complex questions around the world. We have worked on some of the highest profile legal proceedings before the English courts and supported the recovery of assets worth billions of dollars for our clients.  

Marcus Fishburn
Marcus Fishburn

GloHead of Disputes & Investigations
Septimus Knox
Septimus Knox

Director, Disputes & Investigations
Rich Fogarty
Rich Fogarty

Head of Disputes & Investigations, Americas
Philippa Wilkinson
Philippa Wilkinson

Associate Director, Disputes & Investigations
Ana Pereu
Ana Pereu

Associate Director, Disputes & Investigations
Michael Barton
Michael Barton

Associate Director, Disputes & Investigations
Richard Blaksley
Richard Blaksley

Senior Advisor, Disputes & Investigations
Talk to us today

Find the facts you need to resolve disputes in your favour

We provide intelligence and clarity when you need them most. Get in touch with our team of experts to learn how we can assist you today. 

Speak to our experts
Disputes-and-Investigations-CTA (1)

Related content

Internal Invistigations - Human source
Insight
Internal investigations (part 2): Marshalling ‘internal’ and ‘external’ resources effectively
Read now
Internal Investigations
Insights
Internal investigations (part 1): The crucial role of digital evidence
Read now
Satellite circling earth
Insight
Open-source intelligence: a valuable public tool for handling private disputes
Read now