Eligibility & Vetting Framework

1.0

Categories of eligibility

1.1 Membership is open by application to qualified individuals practising in: (a) licensed investigations; (b) intelligence and analytical services; (c) law (counsel, in-house, prosecutorial, regulatory); (d) compliance, financial-crime, and sanctions roles within regulated institutions; (e) law-enforcement liaison and former-service practitioners now operating in lawful private capacity; and (f) such adjacent professional categories as the firm may admit from time to time.

1.2 Membership is not open to general consumer applicants, unlicensed operators, persons under sanction or designation, or persons whose practice is inconsistent with the firm’s Acceptable Use Policy.

2.0

Threshold standards

2.1 Each applicant must demonstrate: (a) current professional standing — practising licence, bar admission, regulatory authorisation, or recognised institutional role; (b) a substantive professional record relevant to cross-border investigative, intelligence, or compliance work; (c) jurisdictional fitness — no material adverse findings, debarment, or sanction in any jurisdiction in which the applicant operates; and (d) acceptance of the firm’s standing conduct terms.

3.0

Verification steps

3.1 Applications proceed through the following verification: (a) identity verification against government-issued documents; (b) professional-credential check against issuing authorities; (c) sanctions, watchlist, and PEP screening; (d) adverse-media review; (e) conflict screening against the firm’s active matters and existing membership; and (f) reference confirmation where the applicant is sponsored by an existing member.

3.2 Where verification raises concerns that can be resolved with further information, the applicant is given an opportunity to respond. Where concerns cannot be resolved to the firm’s satisfaction, the application is declined.

4.0

Conduct attestation

4.1 Acceptance is conditional on written attestation of: (a) compliance with the Acceptable Use Policy; (b) operation under the Permissible Purpose framework; (c) acceptance of the firm’s confidentiality and data-handling obligations; and (d) ongoing disclosure of any material change in licensing, sanctioning, or conduct status.

5.0

Discretion and decline

5.1 Membership is granted at the firm’s sole discretion. The firm reserves the right to decline any application without giving reasons. Reasons, where given, are issued in summary form and do not constitute a reviewable determination.

6.0

Review, suspension, and termination

6.1 Membership is reviewed at periodic intervals and on event-trigger (including notification of regulatory action, criminal proceeding, sanctioning, or conduct concern). The firm may suspend access pending review. The firm may terminate membership on grounds including breach of conduct terms, failure to disclose material change, or material loss of professional standing.

7.0

Records

7.1 Vetting records are retained under the firm’s Privacy & Data Handling standard, on a separated-access basis from operational matter files.