Practice 07 · of eight
Private client investigations
Discreet investigation of sensitive identity, conduct, deception, harassment, family and relationship concerns — within strict legal and ethical limits, and with the boundaries stated up front.
- Instructed byIndividuals, families
- Typical duration5–14 days
- Commercial basisCapped private mandate
- Tested byThe client, their attorney
Questions this practice answers
Clients rarely arrive with a service in mind.
- Is this person who they claim to be?
- Is a family member being defrauded or coerced?
- Is this harassment traceable to a source?
- Does this account of events hold together?
What the work involves
Within the ten-stage process.
- Stages 01–03
Intent screening
The purpose is screened carefully; control or harassment motives are declined here.
- Stage 04
Bounded mandate
A capped scope with explicit exclusions, agreed in writing before work begins.
- Stage 05
Discreet enquiry
Identity verification, lawful OSINT and careful enquiries that do not expose the client.
- Stage 08
Private briefing
A plain conversation about what was found, what was not, and what to do with it.
Deliverable
What you receive.
A private written briefing with findings, confidence levels and a clear statement of what was not investigated and why.
- Private briefingPrimary
- Source summaryAnnexure
- Risk noteWhere relevant
- Identity verification
- Lawful OSINT
- Discreet enquiries
- Risk assessment
Limits of this practice
What this work is not.
- No partner or family monitoring for control
- No access to another person's accounts or messages
- No location tracking of individuals
- No work that could escalate risk to the client
Often combined with
Most matters draw on three or four practices.
Confidential enquiries
Start with the question, not the method.
We assess the concern, lawful purpose and available information before recommending a scope.
Request a confidential consultation