Frequently Asked
Questions

We work with a wide range of clients across the public and private sectors, including HR Directors, Chief People Officers, in-house legal teams, NHS Trusts, local authorities, family law solicitors, and private individuals.

If you are unsure whether we can help with your particular situation, please get in touch for an initial conversation. We are always happy to discuss your needs without any obligation.

The process is straightforward. Get in touch via our contact form or by emailing contact@phillipsstarr.com with a brief description of your matter. We will respond within 24 hours to arrange an initial conversation.

From there, we will agree a scope of work, provide a fee estimate, and issue our Terms of Engagement for signature. Once those are in place, we can begin promptly.

Absolutely. All initial conversations and enquiries are treated with complete confidentiality. We understand the sensitivity of the matters we deal with and take our duty of discretion extremely seriously.

Formal confidentiality and data processing provisions are included in our Terms of Engagement for every instruction.

Yes. Although we are based in London, we operate nationally across England and Wales. Travel costs are agreed in advance and recharged at cost where applicable.

Many elements of an investigation — including initial scoping, document review, and report writing — can be conducted remotely, which often reduces costs and timelines.

Both of our founders are former Detective Constables holding PIP 2 Accreditation — the professional standard for managing serious and complex investigations in the UK. We are both Enhanced DBS checked and hold an Acas licence for conducting workplace investigations.

One of our founders also holds a specialist CSAM qualification, reflecting our expertise in child safety and safeguarding investigations.

External investigators are particularly valuable in the following circumstances:

• The matter involves a senior employee or director where internal impartiality may be questioned
• The allegation is serious — such as sexual misconduct, fraud, or safeguarding concerns
• Internal HR resource is unavailable or insufficiently experienced for the complexity of the matter
• A previous internal investigation has been challenged or is under appeal
• The organisation needs an independent, defensible process to present to a tribunal or regulator

Using an independent investigator removes the perception of internal bias and significantly strengthens the procedural defensibility of the outcome.

This depends on the complexity of the matter — the number of witnesses, the volume of evidence, and the nature of the allegations. As a general guide:

• Standard grievance or policy breach — 3 to 5 days
• Complex misconduct (harassment, bullying, sexual misconduct) — 5 to 10 days
• Multi-party or fraud investigations — subject to scoping and bespoke timeline

We will always provide a realistic timeline at the outset and keep you informed throughout the process.

Yes. All of our workplace investigations are conducted in accordance with the Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures. Our investigators hold a formal Acas licence for conducting investigations, ensuring your process meets the standards required to withstand Employment Tribunal scrutiny.

Our investigation reports are clear, professionally written documents that include:

• Terms of Reference and scope of the investigation
• A summary of the evidence gathered, including witness accounts and documentary evidence
• An analysis of the evidence on the balance of probabilities
• Clear findings in respect of each allegation
• A Statement of Truth signed by the lead investigator

Reports are written to be understood by HR, legal teams, and tribunals alike — clear, factual, and without unnecessary jargon.

Yes. We offer Due Process Reviews for organisations that have already completed an internal investigation and want an independent assessment before the matter proceeds to appeal, tribunal, or further action.

We review the process, identify any procedural gaps or evidential weaknesses, and provide a clear written assessment of the investigation's robustness.

We provide independent fact-finding services for use in family court proceedings and civil disputes, including:

• Cohabitation verification — discrete, lawful evidence of residency with a new partner
• Lifestyle and asset audits — identifying undisclosed wealth for financial remedy proceedings
• Child welfare observations — neutral documentation of contact arrangements or safety concerns
• Statements of Truth — formal witness statements ready for inclusion in a court bundle

Yes, provided it has been gathered lawfully and ethically. All evidence we collect is gathered in compliance with UK law, including the Human Rights Act (Article 8 — right to a private life), and is accompanied by a formal Statement of Truth signed by our investigators.

As former detectives, we understand the evidential standards required for court proceedings. Our reports are specifically written to be admissible and to withstand cross-examination.

Yes. We work directly with family law solicitors and their clients. If you are a solicitor looking for litigation support, we can provide a capability statement and discuss how we can assist with your current caseload. All enquiries are handled with complete confidentiality.

Yes. We accept instructions from private individuals as well as legal professionals and organisations. We would always recommend involving a solicitor where possible, but we understand that is not always practical.

All initial conversations are strictly confidential. We will always carry out a conflict of interest check before accepting any instruction.

A Due Process Review is an independent expert assessment of a completed investigation. We review the investigation file — including the Terms of Reference, witness interviews, evidence gathered, and final report — and provide a written opinion on its procedural soundness.

This service is most commonly used when an organisation is facing an appeal or tribunal claim and wants to understand the strength of their position before proceedings begin.

An Independent Second Opinion is a fresh expert review of a completed investigation, typically requested by senior leadership who want to validate the findings and process before acting on them. It provides an objective assessment that supports confident, well-informed decision-making.

Yes. For organisations that require regular investigative support — such as NHS Trusts, large corporates, or legal firms — we offer retainer and service level agreement arrangements. These provide access to our investigators at a preferential rate and ensure rapid availability when matters arise.

Please contact us directly to discuss retainer options tailored to your organisation's needs.

Our fees are structured on a daily rate basis for workplace and corporate investigations, and on a fixed-fee basis for many family law and compliance services. We provide a clear fee estimate at the outset of every instruction so there are no surprises.

As a general guide, our day rates for workplace investigations start from £850 per day. Family law packages start from £1,500. Full pricing is available on request.

Yes. For workplace investigations, our minimum instruction is 3 days, which covers initial scoping, the interview process, and report writing. More complex matters will require additional days, which we agree with you in advance.

We aim to begin new instructions within 3 to 5 working days of receiving signed Terms of Engagement. For urgent matters, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your timeline.

Yes. We are familiar with the Legal Aid Agency's rates and processes, including Prior Authority applications for specialist matters. We are happy to discuss how we can support legal aid instructions and can provide the CVs and capability statements needed for funding applications.