THE BUSINESS WORLD

Numerous corporate scandals—from mammoth accounting frauds to undetected Ponzi schemes—underscore the need for parties to exercise an exceptional degree of due diligence before pursuing transactions, especially in today’s globally interconnected marketplace. In this environment, institutions need access to experienced investigators who are not only capable of asking the right questions but are also able to obtain accurate and thorough answers. Such groundwork paves the way for the kind of factual, objective assessment essential to completing a deal, hiring an employee, or filing a lawsuit.

Derrick Wetherell was a senior analyst in the Chicago office of Kroll Associates, the world’s leading risk management firm.  Prior to joining Kroll, Wetherell was an analyst at GlobalOptions, a Washington, D.C.-based risk management firm, and an investigative journalist at The Federal Paper, where he covered law & lobbying.  He began his career at the Center for Public Integrity, conducting research and writing portions of book-length investigations regarding tax evasion and the role of money in politics.

Wetherell graduated from Hofstra University with a B.A. in political science (receiving highest honors) and print journalism.  He has a master’s degree in international public affairs journalism from the American University and a certificate in forensic accounting from City University of New York – Baruch College.  He is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Derrick Wetherell has performed hundreds of due diligence investigations, generally in preparation for anticipated litigation or for a pre-employment background check.  Our efforts have led to numerous successful outcomes for clients, including sizable monetary judgments and favorable verdicts, and have helped to uncover and document employee misconduct.  We have also conducted dozens of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigations, typically as pre-transaction due diligence for U.S.- or U.K.-based companies seeking to do business in other nations.  We also have mined public records to identify and trace assets as part of investigative efforts.