DC Investigations Firm Acquired By Paris-Based Co.
November 16, 2022
By Alison Knezevich, Law360
A Washington, D.C.-based corporate investigations and risk advisory firm will be part of Avisa Partners, a public affairs, risk- and reputation-management company based in Paris, Avisa announced Wednesday.
Forward Risk and Intelligence LLC will be known as Forward Risk (An Avisa Partners Company). Its 30 employees will integrate into Avisa’s U.S. headquarters in Georgetown, said John Procter, an Avisa partner in D.C.
“Forward Risk’s capabilities, its track record and its physical presence here in Washington made it a natural fit not only for our firm, but for our clients,” Procter said in an interview with Law360 Pulse.
Investigations and research “was increasingly critical to the advisory role and the strategies that we’re developing for our clients,” he said.
Forward Risk co-founders Luke DiMaggio, Andrew Wooster and Brendan Foo will become partners at Avisa, whose clients include corporations, private equity and hedge fund investors, and law firms. Forward Risk will retain its website, branding, leadership team and client roster, Avisa said in the announcement. Forward Risk’s services include investigative due diligence, business intelligence research and international risk assessments
for financial institutions, corporations and law firms. Foo said the deal offers growth, stability and a global presence for Forward Risk, which was founded in 2016.
“All of that comes together to help us better serve our clients,” Foo told Law360 Pulse.
The companies declined to disclose the financial terms of the acquisition.
Foo said Forward Risk has worked extensively with law firms on shareholder activism matters. It also conducts investigative research for parties in complex litigation. Avisa opened its Washington location in 2019. More than 300 people work for the company, which also has offices in Brussels, London, Miami and Geneva.
Last year, Avisa acquired 35°Nord, a strategic communications and influence agency focused on Africa.
–Editing by Orlando Lorenzo.