Fact Gathering

During Disputes

Opponent Research in Legal Proceedings

For over 25 years, Mintz Group has been finding admissible evidence to help litigators prevail in court and at the negotiating table.

Experts in Litigation-related Investigations

We do work for roughly half the law firms in the AmLaw Global 100, on a regular basis, and across many practice areas. That experience has taught us that what we learn — and how we learn it — must be proper, and can be cross-examined at any time.

Our first assignment is often to investigate an opponent, whether before or after litigation commences. We look not only for relevant vulnerabilities but also for patterns of behavior, in concentric circles of relevance, such as how they have pursued previous disputes. And we routinely take assignments to prove an opponent’s “footprint” in a particular jurisdiction.

Information that Stands up to Cross Examination

As litigation proceeds and opposing fact and expert witnesses surface, we gather cross-examination material on them as well.

We have particular expertise in learning litigation-relevant information from an opponent’s former employees. Our secret weapon? A highly effective sequence of steps: figuring out who was involved in relevant events, identifying who among them has scattered over the intervening years, locating them, and knocking on their doors for information.

Indeed, our range of tactics is quite narrowly focused. Basically, we chase down obscure paper trails, because documents can go straight into evidence — and we approach people, because litigation is often won by bringing forward third-party witnesses. We think of ourselves as professional interviewers.

We collaborate with clients, many of whom are themselves investigative, through to-do lists, budgeted scopes, rehearsal of any outreach, and a no-surprises ethos.

Track Down & Interview

“This time, Intuit tried to make sure it could back up its claims [by hiring] The Mintz Group, [which] tracked down and interviewed 25 former employees of the three companies.”

Evidence For Its Suit

American Booksellers Association’s counsel “argues that the practices violate Federal antitrust laws because chains and independents work off different promotions schedules. To gather evidence for its suit, the booksellers’ association has hired a private investigator, the James Mintz Group of New York.”

Attic Full of Business Records

“Mintz was hired by the Beatles to find out if, as they suspected, Capitol Records had cheated them by secretly selling millions of albums. Using database and old newspaper stories to find people who had worked in the record business 30 years ago, Mintz found the widow of a wholesaler with an attic full of business records. After hours of sifting through boxes, Mintz discovered a check confirming the secret sales. Capitol settled the suit for a reported $80 million.”

Talk to one of our specialists

Ian Casewell
Partner and Co-Head of Disputes Practice
London
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Christopher Weil
Interim co-CEO
Washington, D.C.
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Jen Cherner
Partner and Co-Head of Disputes Practice
Washington, D.C.
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Liza Baron
Managing Director
Washington, D.C.
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