IFC Review, The Great Homogenisation What if the OECD and FATF got what they wanted, international tax Homogenisation? … Read More

From Farm To Face – Food Safety I was quoted in a HK FinTech news site on food satiety and the use or not use of blockchain as a tool to trace food from farm to face. … Read More

Due Diligence is required on Charities, Foundations and NGOs. IFC Review. https://www.ifcreview.com/articles/2020/october/our-noble-deeds-and-a-wee-bit-of-due-diligence-on-charities-foundations-and-ngos   PDF … Read More

Hayek Global College How to deal with corruption in your business with Burke Flies – Profit Talks #01 An interview with myself on addressing corruption. … Read More

Shock-Covid winners and losers Pre-Covid to Post-Covid economies and weathering the Shock-Covid reality. An article on the winners and losers by myself in IFC Review. … Read More

FinTech Article in IFC Review By L. Burke Files https://www.ifcreview.com/articles/2020/august/fintech-offers-multinational-innovation/ By L. Burke Files PDF … Read More

Malta Chamber of Commerce – Conference on Governance to be held 27 of May 2020 L. Burke Files will be the keynote speaker. Maltese Chamber of Commerce – Conference on … Read More

Sustainability and Hedge Funds This is my look into the concept of sustainability requirements for investors and my findings. Beware of Pigs in Frog Suits. … Read More

How To Deal With Know It Alls I was one of the contributing authors to a segment on How To Deal With Know It Alls on UpJourney … Read More

Alternative Fund Due Diligence, by L. Burke Files … Read More

Workpuls Interviews L. Burke Files … Read More

Training Event 06-09 April, Lusaka Zambia Due Diligence Certified Traning event in Lusaka, Zambia. April 06-07 for Due Diligence Certified credential April 08-09 for Anti-Corruption Certification credential. Please … Read More

Foreign Policy – US banks and Deutsche Banks Mr. Files was quoted in Foreign Policy on the relationship between US Banks and Deutsche Bank. Foreign Policy Feb 2020  –   Foreign … Read More

IFC Review – The 5th EU AML Directive An article in the IFC Review 2020 on the impact of the 5th EU AML Directive https://www.international-due-diligence.org/ifc-review-5th-eu-aml-directive/ Access to the full … Read More

Due Diligence Certification April 29-30 2020 in New York City For more information … Read More

Advanced Anti-Money Laundering Class April 27-28 in New York City For more information Registration   … Read More

Business Security Audit and Review is my 6th book with co-authors Gamal Newry, CIRM, CCM and Ibrahim Yeku, CCEP-I, CAMS, LLM titled Business Security Audit and Review directed at security professional to grow their … Read More

Fortune, L. Burke Files, President IDDO Quoted As the OECD tries to close corporate tax loopholes more emerge. The Sisyphean task is doomed to fail – again. The sharp people are not at the OECD but in law firms, … Read More

Cryptocurrency and Flight Capital In this article, I am quoted discussing some views on cryptocurrency price drivers including political instability and flight capital. … Read More

Banking Risks, Red Flags, and A.I. This is a simple discussion on the severe risks associated with having a relationship with only one bank. … Read More

New York City  will combine 3 of the 4 classes currently taught by the IDDO, Due Diligence Certification November 4-5,   Anti-Money Laundering Bootcamp, November 6, and Advanced Anti-Money Laundering, November … Read More

Advanced Money Laundering – Nassau Bahamas 28-29 March 2019 The event was hosted in conjunction with Preventative Measures and we received a very nice mention on The Bahamas Tribune. There over 60 delegates who … Read More

June 20-21 Due Diligence Certification, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Hosted by Legal Phobia, Port … Read More

May 8-9  Due Diligence Certification, New York City, NY  Hosted by … Read More

May 6-7 Advanced Anti-Money Laundering, New York City, NY Hosted by … Read More

March 28-29 Advanced Anti-Money Laundering, Nassau Bahamas Hosted by … Read More

Deutsche Bank and Trump in Newsweek The President of the IDDO, Mr. Files, was quoted in Newsweek on the issues with Danske Bank and Donald Trump’s relationship with the … Read More

IDDO Director Gary W. Craig at AMAA Summer Conference Gary W. Craig moderated a panel presentation at the Alliance for Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA) Summer Conference in Chicago last month. Gary, … Read More

All to often, people launch, run and try to grow businesses without clear business and brand strategies. While some businesses eventually fail their way into success, and some get lucky, at the end of the day, it … Read More

I was asked to contribute to an article on Sale Side Due Diligence. It is an overlooked fact that businesses who take the time to prepare for the eventual sale and prepare themselves through sale side due diligence … Read More

Manners matter, even in the simplest of things. … Read More

IDDO Certification TAMU 06 January 2017 [caption id="attachment_5759" align="alignleft" width="300"] Mr. Files is to the left of sign and Dean Morriss to the right of the sign.[/caption] Texas A&M University … Read More

IDDO Certification Lagos, Nigeria 08 December 2016. International Due Diligence Organization and its host Absolute BME hosted a training event in Lagos, Nigeria and attracted delegates from Nigeria, Benin, and … Read More

IDDO Certification Port Harcourt, Nigeria 05 December 2016 [caption id="attachment_5757" align="alignleft" width="208"] L. Burke Files DDP and Ibrahim, Yeku, Esq.[/caption] International Due Diligence … Read More

The Sins of Ann Twomey The point of the story is really what happens when leadership lacks transparency and become an oligarchy with no accountability.    A very sad tale for the union members of the HPAE in NJ. … Read More

Again our very own L. Burke Files is quoted in Free Malaysia Today on the 1MDB Scandal. … Read More

NY Post / Swiss Bank Linked to Malaysia Scandal I have a nice small quote in a big story. … Read More

Playing with Ebola Pdf in English I had a nice quote in a amazing story of how the Mob continues to operate and bring mischief everywhere is goes – this time with the help of the UN and a $200 billion dollar bait. … Read More

Customer Due Diligence Requirements for Financial Institutions It can be said to be no big thing, unless you are now subject to the rules. The new inclusion of investment advisors, financial planners, pension … Read More

Our very own L Burke Files was quoted today in the Sarawak Report.   He was commenting on the lack of due diligence exhibited by Goldman Sachs in the hiring and or retention of Timothy Leissner the lead broker for … Read More

The Financial Times was kind enough to publish a letter to the editor on crimes and cash and the elimination of the  €500 note. … Read More

In this podcast L. Burke Files explores aspects and considerations to look at and consider before signing a commercial lease agreement. [powerpress] … Read More

What is it worth? Most people don’t realize they have a need for an appraisal. The need for the appraisal is usually an event, such as insurance, loss, or value for division or liquidation, and you have sadly … Read More

Our very own Burke Files was quoted today in the Washington post discussing international finances, banking, and money laundering. The article begs the question about the direction of international tax policies and … Read More

DUE DILLIGENCE, APPLICATION AND CHALLENGES IN WEST AFRICA I have decided to consider West Africa in its entirety in the above mentioned theme, but will narrow down to Ghana, my homeland. I also appreciate the fact … Read More

Mr. Files was asked a series of questions on the impact of the Banca Privada de Andorra scandal as well as what is in the future for Andorra as an OFC.  As he say Andorra is not Switzerland – but Switzerland is … Read More

Due Diligence and  The $50.00 background check. You have seen them on the web, you get offers them in the email.  Quick easy solutions for your hiring needs.  Enterprise solutions and pricing … Read More

January 4th – 9th • Fort Worth, Texas IDDO Certification Class Details coming … Read More

September 30th – October 2nd • London, UK IDDO Certification Class Location and specifics coming … Read More

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and charities have slowly evolved, under the radar, to become significant channels for laundering money. The veneer of decency used to hide mischief. Charities alone in the US … Read More

I have spent the last two months traveling around Europe, the Middle East and Africa looking at trends in finance. I have been looking at the economies shaping finance, how customer demands are shaping finance and … Read More

Speaking Engagements – June.01.15 July 31 • ComplianceOnline How To Know When Your Information Is Bad … Read More

Business Environment We run a scenario for the DDP class that is as follows: You are buying a Fixed Base Operation in Puerto Rico. What are all of the factors you need to take into consideration when you as a … Read More

What You Need To Do After the OPM Breach The breach of security at the UP Office of Personal Management is not bad, it is worse than you ever could know – and then a bit more. 14 million SF 86 Forms and … Read More

Dress Run though a list of any of the top 500 pictures of executive protection people on the web under images and you will see nearly the same thing – knuckleheads in black suits that do not fit, trying to look … Read More

FATF Guidelines on Virtual Currencies The FATF has published a paper on Guidance for Virtual Currencies. http://www.fatf-gafi.org/media/fatf/documents/reports/Guidance-RBA-Virtual-Currencies.pdf According to the … Read More

Greece Without Banks From Anastasios Avranas, CEO International Association o f Financial Management. With the majority of the world holding its breath around the “Greek” issue here’s a list of notes why we … Read More

UK Beneficial Ownership We have been sharing with our readers for 5 years that a time will come when beneficial ownership – back to human beings, will be required. The UK has taken the first step in that direct … Read More

Secure Mobile – True Encrypted Communication Voice interception is not an if, it is a where and when. If you think otherwise – your thinking is very faulty. So you say your calls are not interesting enough to … Read More

Last month, I saw an advert for a firm who said ‘They know Africa’ and that they could help with any research in Africa. This sort of puffery for anyone who has spent time in Africa is laughable, but for those … Read More

Disinformation, by Lt General Ion Mihai Pacepa and Professor Ronald J. Rychlak. ISBN 978-193648860-5 Pacepa was the former Chief of Romanian Intelligence who defected to the West. In this book a chilling … Read More

GONGO – Government Owned NGOs. Money laundering is shifting from little nits deposited into accounts to larger and larger sums moving under the colors of governments. The biggest offenders have been Government … Read More

Banned Apps Not only do manufactures ban apps, so do countries. More countries run by heavier despotic rules are banning social networking applications. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn are just a few of many social … Read More

Travel and Illness Last year I covered 174,500 miles and went around the globe not once but twice. I hate to say this but gut disruption will always be part of the game of travel. Different foods, different times … Read More

Nairobi Post Attack Just 15 days after the attack on the school Nairobi was on an even higher alert. We encountered a random check by the police, as well as many road diversions. The diversions were created to make … Read More

Defense Against Executive Recruiters Executive Recruiters are an essential part of businesses looking to find the right person for the right job at the right time. While this is fine if you are hiring, it is not so … Read More

Color of Information We just finished working on a case, which astounded not only our experts but the experts on the other side. The matter here in not specifically important, but it is generally important. In … Read More

We have just finished a series of three very difficult cases. The common theme in each case involved either a “survey” on trade dress issues or scientific studies supporting the opposition’s claims. In any … Read More

As a CEO you go to an investment banker and you say, “gee I think I am going to acquire a company for US$N per share. Do you think it is a good idea?” What are the chances they say no? If they say no, you get … Read More

How did we come to this? How did we come to this oppressive weight of regulations and regulators? I did some high end sleuthing and plied my subjects with wine, fatty food and cigars to loosen their lips and tell … Read More

Thank you to everyone that came and showed interest, and lended their support to our first bay area event held February 6th in San Mateo at the Marriot. Our flier of the event. Handout from the event. … Read More

March 11th – 12th, New York, NY Anti-Money Laundering fmwonline.squarespace.com/anti-money-laundering April 15 th to 17 th • Mombasa, Kenya AACI – Anti-Corruption Manager Certification … Read More

Carbon Credit Due Diligence Carbon credits were created as a tool intended to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. All parties to the Kyoto Protocol receive these carbon credits, which are redirected to final … Read More

CI and M&A It is a fact of life that many companies prefer to steal their ideas for products as opposed to license them. Every manager is looking for their edge. Add to that the massive intelligence gathering … Read More

Transporting High Value Items We see it in the movies and it happens in real life. The transport trucks arrives the paperwork is in order, the truck has all the right markings and the cargo is loaded. Guess what? … Read More

Big Data on Fraud Whether it be security fraud, insurance fraud, billing fraud, or even unemployment fraud, big data and our ability to crunch big data is an important tool. As so much is not automated anymore, we … Read More

Selling Your Business At one time or another all of us who own our own business will need to sell the business. So what does the small operator need to do to sell a business? Well, it’s a lot like selling you home. … Read More

DOJ Warning of FCPA Legacy Liability The Department of Justice – Opinion Procedure Release 14-02 (the “Opinion”)[1] The Opinion stands for the proposition that the DOJ will not penalize a company subject to the … Read More

eBonds In Bloomberg I read about this idea for a new Hybrid security: it’s called an eBond. It would pay credit default into the corporate debt make even some of the worst debt – AA – investment grade, tier … Read More

The International Due Diligence Organization held its first Certification program in Fort Worth Texas on January 4th. 20 Future lawyers are now certified in IDDO due diligence. … Read More

Due diligence is about asking questions until you get the answers you need. It is a quest for information upon which to make choices. Many of the questions should be based upon current circumstance and future … Read More

February 06th 2015, San Francisco Bay Area IODD Open House and Introductions http://www.international-due-diligence.org February 19th – 20th, Luxembourg FATCA www.interfima.org March 11th – 12th, New York City … Read More

Banks Required To Rely Less on Ratings Agencies Since 2010, the ECB has been trying to break banks reliance upon credit rating agencies. In 2011 Jean-Claude Trichet ranted and raved against the influence of … Read More

Spying On Start Ups If you want to get an idea of what a competitor is doing, start with their web page and internet presence. Check the pages for the code and look for the key words being used by the pages. Look … Read More

The Use and Abuse of Drones They are here and like any weapon, they can be used by you and against you. The old Dirty Harry movie, the “Dead Pool”, has Dirty Harry chased by an RC car that was going to explode. … Read More

Green Cars Are Not That Green I was asked by one of my daughters “How much better is an electric vehicle over a gas engine? Dad what is your favorite green car?” A good question for a young lady leaning to … Read More

Background Checks The IDDO – The International Due Diligence Organization was launched last month and almost immediately had several people requesting a spot to speak at our launch event in San Mateo this … Read More

178 Billion in Fines 2014 has set a record for fines. According to an article in the Bank Rate 2014 has been the most expensive year on records for fines levied against banks and financial instructions around the … Read More

New Rental Cars I recently rented several different cars in several US cities and I came to the sound conclusion – I detest them – I detest them all. Speaking of a sound conclusion; how do you get one of these … Read More

Due diligence investigations into the assets of a fraud feasor is delicate work. Even proposing to do some research into a potential fraud feasor to see what can be done to recover assets, that is if there are any, … Read More

Economic Citizenship – Do Your Due Diligence By Burke Files, President, FEE Inc, United States Citizenship is a privilege granted by birth, heritage, or earned over time. Economic citizenship is a privilege … Read More

Due Diligence Failures The most dramatic example of a failure to date has been the BNP Paribas debacle. The due diligence was good but management overloads what they were told. So how does due diligence work in … Read More

OPSEC Best Practice By John McCarthy, CCP and OPSEC President When conducting OPSEC assessments and surveys for Department of Defense (DoD) and other Government acquisition programs include Supply Chain Risk … Read More

Censored! Censorship, as Mark Twain said, “…is telling a man he can’t have a steak because a baby can’t chew it.” I got my first taste of censorship when I was younger, when my parents started to argue over … Read More

Effective Mobile Security in the Post-Snowden Era The revelation in October 2013 that the US National Security had monitored the mobile phone calls of Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel started alarm bells ringing … Read More

Appropriate Due Diligence Could this be the “Miss Manners” edition on due diligence? No – never! But it is about what is appropriate given the circumstances and time. We cannot get all of the information in … Read More

Over Reporting A new hot topic is AML and SAR over reporting. Bankers and financial managers are both so spooked about not filing SAR’s and have such little knowledge of their clients that as soon as something … Read More

Check Them Out! Background Checks, Step-by-Step, by William Hermann Follow this link to the amazon page: … Read More

Speaking Engagements – December 2014 January 7th – 11th, Texas A&M Law School IODD – Due Diligence Certification http://www.international-due-diligence.org January 26th – 27th, Dubai FATCA www.interfima.org … Read More

The topic is as fascinating as it is complicated, not just complex. I am sure; at least for me that is why I find the work fascinating. The first step is to understand the nature of the target of your research. … Read More