WHO WE ARE

Located in London, Milan and Zurich, we are a team of experts with a proven track record in the fields of corporate intelligence, investigations and regulatory compliance.

We are specialists in complex, often contentious, and seemingly unsolvable matters. We take rigorously researched yet unconventional paths to produce actionable information and advice that allows our clients to make better decisions and achieve successful outcomes.

Our deep knowledge and experience of the regulatory environment and its expectations enables us to provide innovative solutions to manage our clients’ exposure to financial crime.

We apply the same dedication, coupled with the know-how acquired from decades of experience working on some of the most complex matters in our industry, to every project we do. We see opportunity where others see roadblocks.

WHAT WE DO

We inform our clients’ business activities and strategise ways out of fast-changing or contentious situations.

SUPPORTING INVESTMENTS

Finding critical information to support our clients' investment decisions, such as strategic intelligence and enhanced due diligence on investment partners and targets.

READ MORE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Providing evidence-driven support and developing strategies for successful dispute resolution in the context of litigation, arbitration and asset recovery.

READ MORE

INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS

Mitigating the impact of corporate wrongdoing and protecting business integrity by conducting forensically driven internal investigations.

READ MORE

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

Helping our clients navigate the rapidly shifting global regulatory environment and manage their exposure to financial crime, including AML, fraud & corruption and sanctions exposure assessments.

READ MORE

DEFENDING REPUTATION

Defending our clients’ reputation from unfair competitors, rogue actors or unjust institutional scrutiny.

READ MORE

Team

Charles Carr
Charles is the founder of C&F. He has spent over 25 years managing countless assignments worldwide for multi-national corporations, global investors and high net-worth individuals, specialising in high stakes contentious situations and crisis management. Charles speaks Italian and Spanish.
Matteo Bigazzi
Matteo has 20 years of industry experience, mainly focusing on commercial disputes, misconduct and regulatory investigations, asset recovery and litigation support. He has broad experience in Europe, the former Soviet Union and the Middle East and speaks four European languages, in addition to his native Italian.
Chris Cowin
Chris is C&F’s lead on regulatory compliance. He has 20 years of experience advising financial institutions and other firms on regulatory and financial crime matters, including Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Bribery & Corruption, fraud and sanctions. Prior to joining C&F Partners, Chris was a Director in PwC’s Forensic Services practice where he led engagements both in the UK and overseas.
Petra Vujnovic
Petra is C&F’s lead on financial investigations. For over 12 years she has advised lawyers, corporations, investment funds and private individuals in connection with internal investigations, instances of fraud and anti-corruption issues. Petra has extensive experience in litigation and arbitration investigative support and speaks English, Slovenian and Italian.
David Evans
David’s area of expertise is Asia-Pacific, with a focus on China. He specialises in cross-border transactions and cyber security. Prior to joining C&F Partners, David worked for a private equity energy fund in China. David speaks fluent Mandarin and has working knowledge of several Asian languages.
Christina Marinou
Christina is experienced in research, political risk assessment and media relations. She was previously a researcher for a non-profit organisation focusing on water-crisis eradication. She speaks fluent German, as well as her native Greek.
Joe Mooney
A specialist on the former Soviet Union, Joe’s projects in the region have included litigation support, internal fraud inquiries and the vetting of candidates for senior hires. He speaks fluent Russian, with a working knowledge of Ukrainian, Polish, French, Spanish and German.
Jacques Rouyer Guillet
Jacques specialises in complex disputes, litigation support and asset tracing and recovery, covering jurisdictions in MENA, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining C&F Partners, Jacques taught Middle Eastern History at SOAS and worked at an intelligence and strategic advisory services firm in London. He speaks fluent French and Hebrew, with a working knowledge of Arabic, Spanish, and Japanese.
Jonathan Bucks
Jonathan spent ten years as a journalist in London, including five with the Mail on Sunday newspaper where he had a particular focus on complex investigations. He speaks fluent French and Spanish and holds degrees from the University of St Andrews, the Sorbonne and City, University of London.
Irina Pasechnik
Irina specializes on former Soviet Union affairs. She graduated from Bocconi University in Milan with a degree in International Economics and Management. She later graduated from European Business School with a Master degree in International Business. Irina speaks Russian, Ukrainian and Italian.
Rennie Akoni
Rennie has experience in conducting complex and multi-jurisdictional business intelligence, and integrity and reputational due diligence assessments across a wide range of sectors in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly West Africa and francophone Africa. Prior to joining C&F, Rennie worked as a compliance, forensics and intelligence consultant with a global risk consulting firm. She also has work experience with The Nigerian High Commission, London and with the UK International Citizen’s Service. Rennie holds an MSc in International Development (Africa) from The London School of Economics (LSE) and a BA in Politics from the University of York. She speaks intermediate French.
Previous
Next

CONTACTS

Contact us for more information about C&F services.

HEAD OFFICE

4 CAVENDISH SQUARE
LONDON, W1G 0PG

+44 203 947 3900

enquiries@candfpartners.com

VIEW ON MAP

PRIVACY POLICY

If you want to read more on our privacy policy click here. If you have any queries regarding this Privacy Policy or wish to make a further request relating to how we use your Personal Data as described above, please contact us on: enquiries@candfpartners.com

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

If you want to read about our Terms and Conditions click here
If you have any queries regarding this Privacy Policy or wish to make a further request relating to how we use your Personal Data as described above, please contact us on: enquiries@candfpartners.com

SUPPORTING INVESTMENTS

Enhanced due diligence on Southern European bank

We were engaged by a prominent UK alternative investment fund to support their due diligence in connection with the acquisition of a financial institution in a Southern European country. Our research identified a number of risk areas – including political exposure, potential links to local organised crime and conflict of interest stemming from self-dealing – that informed our client’s negotiation strategy, helped determine the correct price and led to the establishment, post-acquisition, of new management and procedures at the bank.

Market entry assessment in West Africa

C&F was engaged by a large US investment fund to examine the political, geostrategic and economic implications of China’s investments in an extractive industry of a West African country. We provided detailed stakeholder mapping and on-the-ground intelligence of the current state of affairs and its potential impact on the fund’s investment plans.

Strategic intelligence on beleaguered partner

A Hong Kong based investment fund hired C&F to assess the legal standing of its business partner, a politically exposed Chinese HNWI, who was placed under investigation for fraud and money laundering in a Western European country. Our task was to assess if the client’s partner – an adversary of the current Chinese Communist Party leadership – was targeted by the authorities in the Western European country following political pressures by China. Our investigation concluded that the case against the client’s partner was based on solid evidence and that no political consideration played a part in its initiation.

Strategic intelligence to support an infrastructure project

A leading US investment fund engaged us to garner intelligence in the context of the fund’s ongoing negotiations with the local government for the development of a large-scale infrastructure project in a major European city. Our intelligence gathering and analysis enabled us to accurately map out all relevant stakeholders, understand their position vis à vis the project and pinpoint both objective and subjective roadblocks to its progress. Constant, real-time updates on the evolving situation on the ground allowed the client to be better prepared for key milestones as well as to fine-tune their approach to the negotiations and tweak the development plans accordingly.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Politicised expropriation of an East European asset

C&F was engaged by the UK legal counsel of a HNWI whose investment into an extractive asset in Eastern Europe was de facto misappropriated by the local government. In preparation for international arbitration, our team mapped out the stakeholders involved in the situation and analysed underlying dynamics that motivated the local government’s unfair actions. We also identified hidden corrupt practices at a local commercial court, which enabled inappropriate meddling into the judicial processes by the executive. In addition to providing supporting evidence for our findings, we also authored an extensively researched report on the ways to exercise political influence over the judiciary in the said East European country, which was to be used in the context of the arbitration.

Asset search in the context of a non-performing loan

C&F was engaged by a Moscow-based law firm on behalf on a high-profile technology investor who was considering legal action to recover a non-performing loan to a local IT company. Our mandate was to rapidly identify assets owned outside of Russia by the shareholders of the debtor company. Our thorough research and intelligence gathering efforts identified luxury real estate and other significant assets owned by the shareholders, located across eight jurisdictions and two continents. Through detailed document analysis, we also identified a valuable portfolio of financial investments that the debtor company’s shareholders jointly held in Switzerland. Documentary evidence collected throughout our investigation was ultimately used by our client’s legal counsel to negotiate a beneficial debt settlement agreement.

UHNWI family dispute

We informed the legal strategies of UK and US based team of lawyers acting on behalf of a UHNWI involved in a high-stakes inheritance dispute and concerned about the misappropriation of the family’s assets. Through detailed analysis of the client’s own information about the family’s joint asset holding structures, and meticulous work to cross-reference the client’s information with the findings of our independent research, we managed to identify a new offshore trust structure, set up by certain family members without our client’s knowledge or approval. On the back of this finding, the client’s legal team intervened to prevent the transfer of valuable family assets to the new trust structure.

Financial fraud investigation and evidence submission in the High Court

A leading independent oil trading company engaged us to undertake an internal investigation into fraudulent commercial activities conducted by the director of one of its Central Asian subsidiaries. We performed an exhaustive forensic review and analysis of data and records in the client’s possession to determine the extent of the fraud and to provide a strong evidential platform to support legal action. Our findings were included in an affidavit and a subsequent witness statement which were submitted as evidence in the High Court and resulted in a successful worldwide freezing injunction and various ancillary orders against the rogue employee.

INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS

Asset manager sabotaged by former employees

We were engaged to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sudden resignation of several key executives of a Northern European asset management firm following the latter’s acquisition by an international investment fund. We established jurisdiction-specific investigative protocols, forensically acquired all relevant data and reviewed thousands of records using advanced analytics software. Working alongside legal counsel, we helped shape and inform the client’s strategy aimed at minimising losses to the business deriving from solicitation of customers, theft of proprietary data and breach of non-compete provisions.

Internal compliance review of a natural resources’ giant

C&F was appointed by a global natural resources group with widespread operations in high-risk jurisdictions to assist its internal review of the company’s third-party agency and intermediary agreements. Our work ensured that the company’s compliance framework and processes were aligned with international regulations and best practices, and that its international third-party relationships adhered to the organisation’s own strict ethical standards.

Multimillion-dollar fraud at a financial institution

The president of a major European financial institution called in C&F to help recover tens of millions of dollars that had been fraudulently misappropriated from his institution prior to his appointment. Our team of experts combed through vast amounts of internal records, liaised with the relevant regulators and engaged with the global banking partners of the institution to assemble proof of the fraud and collect evidence admissible in court.

Complex international fraud at a global oil major

A multinational oil major, engulfed in a criminal investigation, hired C&F to support the company’s efforts to prove itself a victim of a complex international fraud. Our research combined the retrieval of records from dozens of opaque jurisdictions with careful analysis of relevant financial and accounting flows. On the basis of our work, the client’s legal team was able to present a strong defence narrative to the Public Prosecution showing how a group of company executives misused the company’s resources to – together with an obscure middleman – set up a fraudulent business scheme with serious money laundering ramifications and in potential breach of international sanctions on Iran.

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

Skilled Person review of financial crime systems and controls

C&F conducted a Skilled Person review under Section 166 of the Financial Services and Markets Act for an electronic money institution. Our review was mandated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We assessed the effectiveness of the overall financial crime framework, including the related systems and controls. We considered both the design and operational effectiveness of the controls. Our report made recommendations for enhancement, which the firm needed to address in order to avoid further regulatory action. Our recommendations were proportionate to the size of firm and its business model. We worked collaboratively with the firm and FCA, maintaining our independence and objectivity throughout.

AML review of an acquisition target

C&F conducted extensive due diligence for a London-based private equity group on a financial institution it was planning to acquire in Italy. Our regional experts were deployed to perform an onsite review of the bank’s exposure to money-laundering risks, which combined quantitative data analysis with an in-depth check of internal controls, processes and staff. Using C&F’s research, the client was more able to assess the risks attached to the investment.

Expert Witness on AML matters

C&F was appointed as an expert witness on anti-money laundering by a plaintiff in an international arbitration relating to a Baltic country’s banking sector. We conducted a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the relevant country’s AML/CTF regulatory regime, and stress-tested our client’s internal AML/CTF compliance system and controls. Our report formed a key element of the proceedings.

Compliance audit of distributor’s operations following allegations of possible wrongdoing

A world leading producer of power generation equipment engaged C&F to conduct a compliance audit at one of its main distribution partners operating in Pakistan and throughout the Middle East. Our independent assessment and testing of the adequacy of the relevant internal controls and processes, combined with extensive external research, did not identify any material compliance breaches or reputational issues. This gave our client the confidence and comfort to continue its longstanding commercial relationship with the distributor without putting their own integrity at risk.

DEFENDING REPUTATION

Rogue business partner

C&F acted on behalf of a UHNW private investor who found himself a victim of deception and systematic fraud by one of his closest business partners. Our thorough multijurisdictional investigative efforts identified the rogue business partner’s involvement in highly complex illicit financial activity conducted via a network of more than 200 opaque offshore vehicles. In preparation for legal recovery, we traced hundreds of millions of pounds of funds misappropriated from our client to various investments and assets located on four continents.

Reputational defence

We were hired by a HNWI who felt unjustly treated by his bank, which denied its services to our client due to unspecified compliance risk concerns. Through an independent investigation of his origins of wealth and business activities, we were able to put together a conclusive narrative that explained our client’s career trajectory and provided accompanying documentary evidence to the bank. This led to a reversal of the bank’s previous decision and reacceptance of our client as its customer.

Unfair competitor

Our client, a large privately-owned extractive business, believed that it was the target of an aggressive “black PR” campaign orchestrated by an unfair competitor, and aimed at causing devastating damage to our client’s business interests. Our team was tasked with assessing these allegations and finding proof of the competitor’s unfair practices. Our research not only managed to confirm our client’s concerns, but also pieced together extensive evidence of the competitor’s aggression. Consequently, our client was able to successfully press charges against the competitor, and effectively expose the false nature of their allegations.