Investigative Due Diligence and Why It Matters?

The term 'due diligence' is so often overused that in present colloquial vernacular, it is used as a quick, easy, and often lazy shorthand way of describing a plethora of background checks - varying from basic, perfunctory desk research to full blown investigations.
To tackle such misconceptions, Daniel chats with #RegulatoryRamblings host Ajay Shamdasani to clarify what “due diligence” actually entails, while describing his own path as an entrepreneur.
Daniel shares his recollections about going to college in the US capital and later pursuing further graduate study - delving into the past of a long-troubled region in Israel.
The conversation goes on to delineate why investigative due diligence is (or should be) of paramount concern to the world’s largest banking and financial institutions and multinational corporations, as well as whether traditional backgrounds such as law enforcement, military service or intelligence work are necessarily the best ways to get into such work in an age when many corporate investigators are ex-journalists or researchers.
Daniel stresses that his firm’s approach to such work is focused on using open sources, public records, and interviews to identify and understand fraudulent behaviour and other risk issue.
The discussion concludes with a reflection on the tragic events following Hamas’ incursion into Israel on October 7, 2023, and Daniel shares his expertise on how, with all the intelligence and technology Israel had at its disposal, even it was taken by surprise.
PODCAST Discussions
3:09 From International Affairs to Due Diligence: Professional Journey
18: 27 Mastering Google and AI in Investigative Due Diligence
26:46 The Role of Open Source and Public Records in Investigative Due Diligence
31:42 Defining Due Diligence: Beyond Background Checks to Comprehensive Accountability
39:01 Contextualizing Risks: Distinguishing Red Flags in Due Diligence Investigations
56:41 Challenges and Rewards of Starting a Firm in the Investigative Field
1:06:46 The Challenges of Intelligence: Israel-Hamas Conflict