Five steps for every assignment
- Preliminary analysis. We examine the information available and the legal grounds that make the activity lawful. Only concrete indications justify starting an investigation.
- Defining the objective. Together with the client we clarify from the outset which results are really useful, avoiding dispersion and focusing every effort on the expected outcome.
- Planning. We define an operational plan suited to the case, choosing tools, timing and methods that make the work effective and keep costs under control. The client receives a written proposal before anything starts.
- Field work. Investigations are carried out with established methods and up-to-date technology, from direct observation to document analysis, with the aim of producing reliable, verifiable findings and a clear picture of the situation.
- Report and advice. The work ends with a detailed, structured report, and we help the client interpret the findings and choose the most effective next steps with their lawyers.
What we never do
We do not access email accounts, social media profiles, phones or computers belonging to the person under investigation, we do not intercept communications, we do not place tracking devices on private vehicles without a lawful basis, and we do not obtain bank data, health data or information covered by official secrecy. These limits are not a matter of style; under Italian law they make the difference between evidence that can be used and evidence that exposes the client to sanctions.
Working with clients abroad
Every assignment has a single point of contact at DDS, who keeps you informed at the agreed intervals and in the agreed language. We are used to working with legal and compliance departments, insurers' claims managers and investigation firms abroad, and we sign confidentiality agreements when required. Reports are drafted in Italian for use before Italian courts and delivered with a translation into English or German when the client needs it.
Confidentiality and data protection
Personal data collected during an investigation is processed only for the purpose of the assignment, kept for the time needed to establish or defend the client's rights and then deleted, under the supervision of our Data Protection Officer.