Corporate Investigations 2025

1. The Decision to Conduct an Internal Investigation

1.1 What statutory or regulatory obligations should an entity consider when deciding whether to conduct an internal investigation in your jurisdiction? Are there any consequences for failing to comply with these obligations or with regulatory expectations? Are there any regulatory or legal benefits for conducting an investigation?

Although there are no explicit statutory or regulatory obligations pertaining to internal investigations in England and Wales, it is often in an entity's best interests to conduct an internal investigation when wrongdoing is suspected, whether this be criminal or regulatory. This will enable an entity to identify at an early stage evidence that might demonstrate whether any criminal offences or regulatory breaches have been committed, and to make informed decisions.