Internal investigations are often needed to review complaints or claims of misconduct, non-compliance, and other errors. Companies can perform their own internal investigations before regulatory bodies are involved, and it is frequently useful for a business to hire an independent investigator. By working with a Miami independent internal investigations lawyer, you can better protect your business from governmental consequences.
One of the ways that the government is attempting to reduce the deficit is to increase enforcement of regulatory laws affecting corporations, entities, or individuals perceived to have the deep pockets to pay exorbitant fines. This includes fines for civil and criminal penalties.
Having a Plan
Having a plan in place to mitigate internal non-compliance is essential to saving your business time, money, and stress. Businesses estimated that they spent an average of 25% on compliance costs in 2023.
Compliance plans, which are discussed in another section of this website, are a vital part of any defense of a criminal or civil government action. However, what is not mentioned is an often critical component of a compliance plan for any corporation or entity facing potential criminal or administrative sanctions: an independent internal investigation. With an effective independent internal investigation, you can uncover and address non-compliance preemptively.
Reliable and Dedicated Internal Investigation Attorneys in Miami
At the Law Office of Ramon de la Cabada, we can help you with an independent internal investigation of your company. Our office is available for consultation to conduct independent internal investigations. We have 34 years of experience in regulatory compliance and criminal defense law, giving our firm a well-rounded understanding of internal investigations, regulations that must be followed, and the consequences a company could face without compliance.
Mr. de la Cabada’s experience in criminal and regulatory enforcement as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and compliance attorney has provided him with the knowledge of issues needed to provide a balanced and fair investigation. His reputation from his years of experience as a former Chair of a Florida Bar Grievance Committee and subsequent representation of clients before the Florida Bar for ethical violations is one of commitment to integrity and ethics.
All of these qualities make him an independent counsel with the necessary experience to conduct a thorough and credible independent internal investigation. An internal investigation has to be handled with the utmost care and diligence. The team at the Law Office of Ramon de la Cabada has a strong reputation for quality and dedicated legal care.
The Process of an Independent Internal Investigation
We can use our team of qualified independent internal investigation auditors to comb through your business records so that we can adequately determine your next course of action. We will work with you every step of the way to make sure that you get the results you need and continue to stand compliant. This helps you maintain your business’s integrity and make crucial choices regarding your policies.
Internal Investigations for Companies
The first question is to decide when an independent internal investigation is needed. The second step is to determine the proper scope of the independent internal investigation. There are many areas of regulation compliance that may require review, including:
- Improper reporting or licensure
- Fraud, including government fraud
- Money laundering
- Antitrust violations
- Corruption
- Environmental regulation violations
- Insider trading
- Deceptive and Unfair Practices Act
- Conflicts of interest
Independent investigations are especially important when your business may be at risk of external enforcement or regulatory scrutiny. By conducting a thorough and impartial internal review, our firm can help you identify vulnerabilities and demonstrate good faith efforts to comply with the law. This can mitigate exposure to administrative, civil, or even criminal consequences.
Mr. de la Cabada is available to consult on these and any other issues regarding an independent internal investigation. At our firm, our goal is to conduct discreet and extensive investigations into the relevant area of a business. We understand the complex regulatory requirements in these and other areas of business law, and our firm stays up-to-date on the continually evolving regulatory landscape.
We focus on your objectives as a business, aiming to support your immediate and long-term goals. An independent internal investigation helps you get a clearer picture of your company and enables you to make crucial choices about how you can move forward and address any non-compliance in the business.
Legal Protection for Employees During Investigations
If you are an employee who has been asked to participate in an internal investigation, it’s important to understand your rights. Attorneys hired by a company during an internal investigation represent the company – not the individual employees. Many employees don’t realize this distinction and may unknowingly share information that could later be used against them.
If a corporate attorney interviews you, understand that they are not acting in your personal interest, even if the conversation feels informal. For this reason, it is crucial to consult with an independent legal counsel if you are asked to participate in an internal investigation. Our firm offers confidential, one-on-one representation to help protect your rights and advise you throughout the process.
Navigating Cases in Trial
In some situations, the issues reviewed in an internal investigation will be part of a civil or criminal case, and these cases could go to trial. Our firm has experience in state and federal courts and can help you protect and advocate for your interests. Depending on the conclusions from the investigation, this may mean presenting evidence of compliance or showing the efforts your company made to remain compliant.
Our team can represent you in a trial, whether you or your business is facing administrative or criminal penalties. We use the information gathered in the investigation to better support your case.
Work With the Law Office of Ramon de la Cabada for Effective Internal Investigations
When you need discreet and experienced legal support, our firm can help you. We can conduct independent investigations if your business has received complaints or if you are worried about the potential for governmental administrative, or criminal action. We can also represent individual employees who don’t feel their interests are being represented by corporate counsel. At the Law Office of Ramon de la Cabada, we bring you diligent and ethical legal representation and investigation. Contact our office today for a free consultation at 305-443-7100.
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