How to brief an investigator on a commercial matter.
A useful brief starts with a question, not a request for a particular technique. Explain the decision you need to make and what you cannot yet establish confidently.
Keep first contact proportionate
Use the initial enquiry to describe the type of matter and request a conversation. Do not attach a case file or include sensitive information about other people. The appropriate way to exchange further material can be discussed after the initial assessment.
Explain your role
Are you the person making the decision, a representative or a professional adviser? Establish who has authority to instruct, who should receive updates and who will use the findings. A representative does not need to identify their client in the first website form.
Define the unanswered question
Separate what you already know from what you suspect. Identify any deadline and explain what action the information may inform. The investigator should be able to discuss whether the objective is suitable and what limitations may apply.
Agree the work before it begins
Review the proposed scope, reporting, communication arrangements, fees, expenses and payment terms. Clarify how any change to the work would be agreed. A website enquiry is not, by itself, an accepted instruction.
Explain any intended legal use
Where a solicitor or another professional adviser is involved, raise that early. Reporting requirements can then be discussed in context. Do not assume that every piece of investigative information is automatically suitable for every purpose.
Starting with ASE
You do not need a finished brief to contact Paul. A general outline of the question is enough to begin assessing whether ASE is the right fit.