Today, companies face an unprecedented risk of allegations of discrimination, workplace harassment, fraud and theft, not to mention increased scrutiny when it comes to ways in which management and employees conduct themselves in the workplace. Government oversight, heightened reporting and recordkeeping obligations, coupled with increased media attention, have forced companies large and small to consider preventative actions to avoid serious liability.

Reger Rizzo & Darnall’s Internal Investigations Team assists companies, boards and management with responses to allegations that call a client’s conduct into question, as well as voluntary investigations and audits. When conducted in conjunction with corrective actions, these audits can be vital in preventing costly litigation and governmental investigations.

We assist clients in their response to allegations of wrongdoing as well as those looking to proactively conduct an audit of current policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, Reger Rizzo & Darnall’s Internal Investigations Team has the experience needed to identify potential liabilities so that you can focus on what matters most: your business. 

Our team of experienced attorneys conducts internal investigations to minimize our clients’ liability. We have extensive experience conducting investigations relating to a wide range of areas, including sexual harassment and other forms of workplace discrimination, safety investigations, regulatory compliance, financial issues, whistleblower claims, corporate/securities-related issues, ERISA, claims processing issues, anti-trust issues in a non-litigation context, and claims of corporate fraud.  

Our attorneys are well-versed in the investigation process and work closely with clients through each step of the investigation process:

• We prepare for each investigation by working with corporate executives to define the scope of the investigation, conduct a thorough review of the company’s current policies and procedures, and collect the necessary documents and evidence that will be used during the investigation. 
• We start the investigation by reviewing all pertinent evidence, recording the investigation’s progress, providing timely updates to management, and conducting witness interviews regarding the complainant and the accused. 
• When the investigation is complete, our team will analyze the evidence and provide management with our conclusions and recommendations for actions based on our findings, provide an investigation report and communicate the results of the investigation to the complainant and the accused, if necessary.

Certain investigations require the assistance of additional experts, such as financial advisers. For some firms, that means consulting with outside agencies at an additional expense to the client. However, at Reger Rizzo & Darnall, our team includes Philip W. Fisher, Chair of the Firm’s Corporate & Business Services Group who previously served as a Certified Public Accountant for a large, Philadelphia-based accounting firm where he was a member of their audit and tax group. Mr. Fisher adds an additional layer of insight and experience when corporate investigations require the need for forensic accountants, particularly where the issue might involve accounting or financial-statement functions. In this regard, we can examine our client’s financial records from both a legal and financial perspective to further investigate claims of fraud and wrongdoing, at no additional cost to our clients. At the conclusion of an investigation, our Internal Investigations Team can assist clients with the development of internal policies and procedures that will aid in preventing employee misconduct in the future. In conjunction with attorneys from our Employment Practices, Corporate & Business Services and Litigation Groups, we provide clients with a comprehensive, 360-degree approach to proactively conducting internal audits and designing a clearly defined compliance program that will aid in safeguarding a company against possible sanctions from government entities and in avoiding costly litigation.