This service becomes relevant when standard legal mechanisms prove insufficient or too slow. When negotiations reach a dead end, the legal outcome is uncertain, and the stakes are high, a different approach is required — a creative way to resolve the problem.
In reality, this is what our team spends most of its time doing: finding unconventional solutions to our clients’ problems — or, as we see them, tasks. The nature of the issue itself is often secondary. It may be as straightforward as recovering a significant debt, or as sensitive as helping a father restore contact with his daughter when communication has been obstructed after a divorce.
A natural question arises: how is this possible?
In most cases, the answer lies in two key factors:
Leverage through information
Influence through the subject’s environment
As for the first factor — when credible information exists about a person’s actions or vulnerabilities, the nature of the problem itself becomes less important. Such information can significantly influence the subject’s position.
At first glance, this may raise concerns about unlawful pressure or even extortion — particularly in matters related to debt recovery.
Article 163 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — Extortion
Extortion is defined as demanding the transfer of property, rights to property, or other actions of a financial nature under the threat of violence, destruction or damage to property, or the disclosure of information that could harm the victim or their close associates, including information that may damage their reputation or legitimate interests.
Article 330 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — Arbitrary Actions (Self-Help)
This offense refers to actions taken independently and contrary to legally established procedures when the legality of such actions is disputed by an individual or organization and when these actions cause significant harm.
We strictly operate within the law and do not engage in such practices. In our work, what might be referred to as “compromising information” rarely means something scandalous in the everyday sense. More often, it involves the objective documentation of actions — either by the subject or by individuals closely connected to them — that may be legally questionable or otherwise undesirable given their professional role, public profile, or personal circumstances.
In most cases, the issue is not about blackmail but about identifying and documenting an existing legal or reputational vulnerability. The distinction is crucial.
Below are several examples from our practice.
A client approached us with a problem: a supplier had effectively frozen a transaction worth approximately RUB 150 million. The goods had not been delivered, and the funds had not been returned. For six months the supplier had been offering excuses, citing alleged problems with purchasing equipment in a European country, while consistently avoiding meetings.
Our review of the company’s financial standing and asset structure indicated that even if the client pursued litigation, there would likely be little to recover from the company. While legal proceedings could formally be initiated, they were unlikely to produce a meaningful economic result.
This left only one viable option — identifying leverage points that would motivate the counterparty to fulfill its obligations voluntarily.
The breakthrough came from an unexpected direction. An analysis of supply chains using international customs data platforms revealed that similar equipment had previously been imported into Russia through several foreign companies connected both to the subject and to members of his family residing abroad.
This line of inquiry appeared particularly promising, as under EU legislation the supply of certain categories of equipment to Russia in circumvention of sanctions may result not only in administrative penalties but also criminal liability.
As a result, something that typically complicates business operations for Russian companies became, in this case, a point of leverage. The mere existence of such information significantly changed the negotiating position of the parties.
In another case involving the extraction of an individual from a destructive sect, our team gathered sufficient evidence to support the initiation of criminal proceedings against the leader of the organization under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization and participation in such activities).
The maximum penalty for this offense is up to ten years of imprisonment. If law enforcement authorities act upon the materials we have collected, the leader would likely be removed from his position of influence over the protected individual for a significant period of time.
We have described this case in more detail in a separate article in our investigative blog.
There are many similar examples in our practice. Extensive experience allows us to find creative solutions to our clients’ problems by selecting the most effective approach in each specific situation. There are no universal templates in this work.
This is one of the most interesting areas of our work.
In essence, it involves intelligence gathering within the subject’s environment and the careful establishment of trusted relationships. In simpler terms, it often begins with becoming acquainted with the people and circumstances that shape the subject’s daily interactions.
Since approximately 98% of our work involves resolving business disputes — and occasionally sensitive personal matters — outcomes are often achieved through direct or indirect influence on the subject. In some cases, this occurs through spouses, partners, or close associates. In others, it involves obtaining access to information that shifts the balance of leverage between the parties.
The general process typically involves several stages:
It is important to understand that such work requires time, discretion, and a clear understanding of legal and ethical boundaries. It is not a quick tool but a systematic process. In many situations, carefully structured communication alone can lead the subject to make decisions independently, without any direct pressure.
With this approach, many seemingly deadlocked situations become manageable tasks.
The real question is not whether a problem can be solved, but how many resources are required and how important the outcome is for the parties involved.
When standard mechanisms fail to produce results, it does not mean that a solution does not exist. It simply means that the situation requires a different perspective — and an appropriate allocation of resources. Our expertise lies in turning complex situations into manageable tasks.
