INVESTIGATING PRIVATE COMPANIES by Genie Tyburski printer friendly version more articles Originally published by Law Office Computing (Feb/Mar 2002) under the title, "Click and Go Seek." Revised to reflect resources and strategies current as of the date appearing at the end of the page. Lawyer X stops and turns abruptly at the sound of his name. He grins as he spies Lawyer A waving to him from a few feet away. X walks toward her and they stand in front missing letters 48 hours investigates of the courthouse chatting. All too soon, thinks X, Lawyer A steers the conversation toward work. It's not that he doesn't enjoy discussing legal issues or research strategies with her. It's that he thought he had finally worked up the courage to tell her how he feels and to ask her out. "I have an interesting assignment from Partner Tenacious," A tells him. "I have to learn as much as I can about our new client, Private Company 48 hours investigates 48 hours investigates XYZ." She explains that Tenacious wants more than the basics about its operations. He wants to impress the client with the lawyers' knowledge of its industry, competitors, customers, products -- especially those that may be in development, and the like. Lawyer A also mentions that she reviewed the memo X wrote a couple of years ago when he investigated ABC Private Company in San Francisco (In Search of ... Everything? Aug/Sep 1999). She consulted several of the sources missing addends 48 hours investigates he had noted. "I have some information about the industry and the company's products, but how do I find competitors, customers, and information about what may be in development? This sounds like competitive intelligence. Shouldn't we hire an investigator?" Hiring an investigator, or a researcher skilled in uncovering business intelligence, is probably overkill for this assignment. After all, the subject is the client. Partner Tenacious could simply ask for the information he wants. But impressing a client never hurts. search engine 48 hours investigates Moreover, Lawyer
