Internal investigations & Compliance
Internal Investigations
From discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, to fraud, bribery, conflicts of interest, and other violations of law or internal policy, VAB brings a confidential, principled, and seasoned voice to investigating and reporting on the facts and risks associated with on issues requiring further inquiry.
VAB conducts independent internal investigations for public and private boards, ethics & compliance and human resources departments, and in consultation with in-house legal departments. Our clients operate within a wide range of industries and run the gamut from nonprofit and governmental agencies to Fortune 500 companies.
We are skilled at analyzing complex factual scenarios involving numerous employees, and we bring our interviewing acumen to every investigation – whether we are meeting with entry-level personnel or those at the highest level of the organization. When document collection is necessary, we bring a targeted approach to the gathering of key documents and our attorneys’ diverse backgrounds provide VAB with a unique lens through which to analyze and synthesize the most pertinent information.
Once we complete our investigations, VAB provides well-supported and timely analyses of whether the conduct at issue raises meritorious claims under relevant law or policies and the risks associated with conduct that may otherwise subject our clients to scrutiny. We readily partner with clients to advise on proposed actions and remedial efforts based on our investigative findings. (Our Management Side Employment Litigation services can be found Management-Side Employment Litigation).
Our representative investigations include:
Independent investigations into whistleblower allegations of misconduct and provide legal advice regarding corrective action and remediation;
Title IX investigations for public and private educational entities;
Harassment and retaliation investigations on behalf of a governmental agency’s investigatory body;
Investigations into violations of a Fortune 100 company’s Code of Business Conduct as a member of the internal ethics department; and
Professional liability investigations for receiver of failed financial institutions.
Compliance
VAB regularly counsels its clients on investigation best practices and compliance with federal or Illinois employment laws.
VAB’s attorneys are also skilled at conducting FLSA audits of all scales, ensuring that employers of every size understand their obligations to classify employees appropriately without penalty.
The Firm also advises and represents member firms during FINRA investigations and examinations, from the first “informal” inquiry through any subsequent enforcement or disciplinary proceedings. We regularly work with our in-house counsel clients to respond to examinations and investigations that do not justify the expense of bringing in costly national law firms. VAB’s FINRA arbitration services can be found here: Financial Services Litigation
