Investigations Case Studies

The case studies below provide examples of the type of work Quest conducts for its clients. For further information about the type of work Quest can undertake, contact the company at info@quest.co.uk or telephone on 020 7224 4004.

Major Inquiry into Alleged Irregularities within the Sporting Industry
In 2006, the Premier League instructed Quest to investigate alleged irregular football player transfer payments. The Quest Inquiry, overseen by Chairman Lord Stevens, involved the detailed scrutiny of 362 transfers. Quest worked with the Premier League, The Football Association, Clubs, Agents and other stakeholders. The investigation involved interviews and questionnaires, forensic analysis of accounts and in depth analysis of documentation obtained from organisations and individuals based in several different countries. Quest provided regular reports to its client, the Premier League, and also made a small number of public statements, as agreed with the Premier League, in response to the strong media interest in the investigation. The reports detailed Quest’s observations regarding various shortcomings in the way transfers were conducted. By December 2006, the Quest Inquiry had ‘signed off’ all but 17 of the transfers. At this stage, it was also made public that Quest had provided certain information to the Authorities. The final Quest Report, publicly available, made extensive recommendations in relation to how processes and procedures should be improved to protect the industry from reputational damage in the future. The Premier League Clubs fully considered Quest’s recommendations and agreed that 31 out of the 38 recommendations had either been or should be incorporated into Premier League or FA Rules. The remaining recommendations have also been addressed in alternative ways.  Quest is currently conducting audits of the January and Summer 2008 Transfer Windows on behalf of The Football Association.

Uncovering Internal Fraud
The Head of Audit at a FTSE 100 company asked Quest to investigate his suspicions regarding a Divisional Sales Director giving unauthorised discounts to customers in exchange for cash. His suspicions arose when anomalies were showing in the group accounts. A covert copy of the individual’s PC was analysed along with a covert office search.  Documentation was found that required further investigation and the individual was put under surveillance.  Initial findings appeared to show a lifestyle in excess of known income and revealed the existence of undisclosed business ownership.  The individual was suspended and warned not to approach suppliers or customers.  Surveillance showed an immediate violation of this instruction and provided further evidence to support disciplinary action.  The individual was ultimately dismissed and a civil action recovered the misappropriated assets.

Computer Forensics & ediscovery
Quest was engaged by a law firm involved in a high profile dispute to support them with Computer forensics and ediscovery.  The law firm was acting for a client who believed sensitive commercial information had been stolen from the company and given to a key competitor.  Quest was able to confirm that the competitor was in possession of the data and, as the dispute was resolved, was instructed to forensically identify and destroy all stolen data on the competitor’s system.  Quest provided expert testimony to confirm that the data had been erased as part of the dispute resolution process.

Evidence Gathering
A law firm acting for a foreign government instructed Quest to help them identify assets belonging to an individual and assess whether this individual was continuing to benefit financially from these assets.  Quest investigated the ownership status of the assets and was able to gather evidence discreetly showing that the individual was still earning money through them.  The law firm was subsequently able to recover several millions of pounds on behalf of its client.