Bradley Arant recently found itself with a big problem when a lateral hire, Walter “Chet” Little, was indicted on insider trading charges. Little, a real estate and finance specialist, moved to Bradley Arant from Foley & Lardner in July 2016. Unbeknownst to his new employer, Little had been fired from his old firm after an internal investigation found he had violated ethics rules by misusing confidential client materials to trade securities. According to the criminal complaint, Little accessed Foley’s internal database to obtain material nonpublic information on at least seven publicly listed clients—none of which he represented—information that he and a friend used to make more than $1 million in profits on stock trades.

A 10-month FBI investigation culminated in Little’s indictment in May 2017, and the public announcement was the first time Little’s new employer had heard of the matter.

In announcing the hiring, Bradley Arant touted Little’s “leadership and reputable real estate and finance practice,” noting he would “be a tremendous asset to our clients.” Unfortunately, Little’s association with the firm became a significant liability. Firms can help avoid these scenarios by commissioning a trained investigator to conduct the most basic due diligence exercise.

For instance, a simple corporate record check shows Little was a director or shareholder of several Florida companies registered at his home address, suggesting these were independent of his legal practice. At least one was a business set up with his alleged co-conspirator in the securities fraud. Little co-owned another company with a loan officer at a local bank who dealt in real estate transactions. Given Little’s real estate finance practice, his participation in that company should have spurred questions about potential conflicts of interest. By discreetly speaking with lawyers at the partner’s former firm, a law firm could learn the circumstances of why a lawyer left. And a criminal record check on Little would have uncovered several charges, including a conviction for driving under the influence.

While Bradley Arant swiftly fired Little upon learning of the matter, the consequences could have been much graver had Little continued to violate ethics rules and clients’ trust at his new employer.

Examples of why pre-employment screening is imperative extend well beyond the legal industry. In May 2012, four months after having been hired, the CEO of Yahoo Inc. was forced to step down when it emerged he had falsely claimed to hold a computer science degree—a misrepresentation that easily could have been uncovered.

By making pre-employment screening a standard part of the recruitment process, an organization ensures that all senior hires are subject to the same scrutiny. This can avoid any misconceptions that the decision to conduct a background check reflects concerns about a particular individual.

Hiring an objective third party to vet lateral hires can help identify red flags that may otherwise remain hidden. It is money well spent to retain a specialist who has experience investigating complex financial crimes and assessing potential conflicts of interest, particularly for senior or high-profile hires. The vetting process should include at least three elements:

• A questionnaire that asks prospective hires to disclose their corporate interests, any current or historical investigations, and any criminal charges or civil legal disputes.
• A review of public sources, including research into litigation filings and corporate records, a review of media archives and online references to the potential hire, verification of professional qualifications and a criminal record check.
• Discreet conversations with former colleagues, clients and individuals who know the prospective hire and can provide insights beyond what can be gleaned from reference checks.

Lateral hiring is an appealing way to expand a business and bolster a firm’s credentials in certain practice areas. Thoroughly vetting lateral hires is a straightforward and relatively low-cost way to safeguard an organization’s hard-earned reputation and the trust of its clients. The choice is clear: Do you want to vet your prospective hires—or bet your firm’s reputation?

Dan Nardello is a former litigator and prosecutor who, in 2003, founded Nardello & Co., a global investigations firm with offices around the globe. He has extensive investigative experience in litigation support in both civil and white-collar criminal defense matters, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act/anti-corruption investigations and cross-border due diligence. Previously, Nardello served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where he investigated and prosecuted securities and commodities fraud, and a variety of other matters. Prior to that, he worked in private practice at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler.