A company investigation of any sort can be daunting for everyone involved. Even if you’re pretty certain that you’re innocent, the outcome isn’t guaranteed to swing in your favor, especially if you don’t take the right steps to protect yourself or your business in light of the accusations.
There’s not much you can do about an investigation that has already been launched, but you can at least respond as professionally as possible to minimize the reputational effects. Here, we’re explaining which three mistakes you should absolutely to avoid if you’re facing a company investigation.
Mistake 1: Speaking to Investigators Without Legal Advice
If you’ve never been on the other side of a company investigation before, you might not know that even informal conversations can still count as evidence. With that in mind, be wary of speaking to investigators without first seeking legal advice, since everything you say will most likely be recorded and could, in a worst-case scenario, later be used against you in court.
You might think you’re making well-meaning explanations, but these can create the kind of contradictions that you, as someone who isn’t a legal professional, probably won’t see coming. Speaking to a lawyer can be incredibly helpful here, as they can offer advice on how to control the flow of information and protect your position from day one.
Mistake 2: Not Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer Early
Speaking of hiring a lawyer, be aware that you’re likely to lose leverage if you only hire one once charges are officially filed. Getting the input of a legal professional, such as the team at the Texas Criminal Defense Group, can have a real influence on how the investigation develops.
A good lawyer will engage with investigators on your behalf, as well as controlling how information is handed over and stopping investigators from going beyond what they’re legally allowed to do. If you put off hiring a criminal defense lawyer until the last minute, you’re more likely to end up missing deadlines or, even worse, making damaging statements.
Mistake 3: Failing to Control External Messaging
Chances are, you’ve never had to deal with something as serious as a company investigation before. That naturally means that you’re unlikely to be prepared for the reputational damage that can be caused by external messaging that you simply failed to control. If you allow information about an investigation to spread, your customers and partners could well hear rumours before they hear the facts, causing them to quickly lose confidence in your business.
All it takes is one poorly worded public statement or casual social media post. So be careful—the last thing you want is to end up attracting more attention and raising unnecessary questions. Even if your investigation is done confidentially at first, you can easily turn a private legal issue into a public crisis with careless communication. Hire a professional PR advisor if you need one, particularly if the damage is already done.
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