How to Prepare an Investigation Brief for a Case in Israel

A useful investigation brief explains what you need to establish, why the matter involves Israel and what information you already hold. For a law firm abroad, preparing these details can make the initial discussion more focused and help identify questions that need clarification before investigative work is proposed.

Frid Investigations is a licensed private investigation office in Israel serving international clients. Initial case details can be provided remotely, and the investigative scope is reviewed before work begins.

This guide explains what to include when requesting a preliminary assessment of an Israel-related matter.

Start with the Factual Question

Describe the question you need answered in one or two sentences.

“Investigate this company” leaves considerable uncertainty. A more useful brief might ask whether a named Israeli company appears to operate from the address shown on a contract, or whether two differently spelled names refer to the same individual.

Explain how the answer would assist your next decision. If there are several objectives, place them in priority order. Identify the essential question and those that could wait for a later phase.

This helps define an initial assignment with a clear purpose.

Explain the Connection to Israel

State the known Israeli connection. This could be a company registration, property address, former residence, business relationship or another relevant lead.

Explain where the information came from and when it was last confirmed. Separate verified details from assumptions: an address printed on an old agreement is a lead to assess, but it does not establish current activity at that location.

If the Israeli connection is uncertain, say so explicitly. The initial review may need to address that uncertainty before broader inquiries can be considered.

Identify the People and Companies Clearly

Provide names exactly as they appear in the documents available to you. Where known and relevant, include:

• Full names in the original language.

• Hebrew spellings and alternative English spellings.

• Former names or trading names.

• Company registration numbers.

• Known addresses and the dates associated with them.

• Relevant connections between the parties.

For each identifier, record its source. Distinguish a company number shown on an invoice from one confirmed in a registration document.

Label uncertain spellings and alleged relationships clearly. A suspected connection should be presented as a question to examine, rather than an established fact.

Organize the Supporting Documents

A short chronology and a numbered document list can be more useful than a large collection of unexplained attachments.

Give each document a descriptive name and identify the passage relevant to the investigative question. Supporting material may include agreements, correspondence, prior reports and records already held by your client.

Keep original-language documents alongside any translations, and indicate whether a translation is informal. Separate client statements, third-party allegations and independently verified information.

If earlier research produced conflicting results, include both versions and explain the discrepancy. This gives the investigator a specific issue to examine without assuming that either account is correct.

Provide only relevant material that you are authorized to share. Before sending sensitive documents or a complete case archive, ask how the material should be submitted.

Match the Inquiry to the Information You Need

Different objectives require different investigative scopes.

A referral concerning an Israeli business’s identity, ownership or activity may involve company checks and due diligence.

A matter involving potential assets or business interests may require discussion of asset tracing in Israel.

Avoid assuming that one assignment will answer every question in a dispute. Describe the immediate factual need and ask which elements can be assessed within a defined first phase.

Further inquiries can be discussed after the initial findings, where appropriate.

State Your Deadlines and Reporting Requirements

Identify any relevant deadline and distinguish a fixed procedural date from a preferred internal date.

The time required depends on the scope, available information and practical requirements of the proposed work. Ask for an estimate after the initial details have been reviewed.

Explain who will review the findings and whether an English-language report is required. If material may be used in proceedings, identify any documentation requirements raised by legal counsel at the outset.

For matters involving witness location, factual verification or local documentation, see our investigative support for foreign litigation.

Findings may assist counsel, but their admissibility depends on applicable rules and the relevant court or tribunal.

Clarify Authorization and Contact Restrictions

Identify the person authorized to approve the investigative scope and expenditure.

State whether any proposed contact with named individuals or companies requires further discussion and written authorization. Explain any circumstances that may affect how an inquiry should be planned.

Include budget parameters for the initial phase where available. This helps focus the discussion on the priority question and the work that may reasonably be proposed.

Checklist: What to Include in Your First Inquiry

Before sending your brief, check that it includes:

• Your firm’s name, contact person and role in the matter.

• The main factual question and its priority.

• The known connection to Israel and its source.

• Relevant names, identifiers and spelling variations.

• A short chronology and document index.

• Previous inquiries and unresolved discrepancies.

• Important information gaps.

• Deadlines and reporting requirements.

• Contact restrictions and approval arrangements.

• Any budget parameters for the proposed first phase.

An incomplete brief can still support an initial discussion. Make missing information visible so that the preliminary review addresses what remains uncertain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreign law firm begin the process remotely?

Yes. Initial case details can be submitted from abroad. Frid Investigations reviews the information before proposing investigative work in Israel, and reporting can be provided in English.

Must every document be translated before the first inquiry?

Begin with a concise English summary and identify the languages of the supporting documents. Ask which items require translation before commissioning translation of the complete file.

What if we only have partial identifying information?

Provide what you have and explain its source. Missing identifiers may affect feasibility, scope and cost. The preliminary review can help clarify whether further information is needed before work can be proposed.

Does a preliminary assessment establish the facts of the case?

No. A preliminary assessment helps clarify the request and possible scope. Factual verification depends on the investigative work subsequently agreed and the information lawfully available. No specific investigative outcome can be guaranteed.

Can an investigator obtain confidential banking records?

Frid Investigations does not obtain private bank balances, bank statements or confidential transaction records. Investigative work is limited to lawful methods and information that may legally be obtained.

Request a Preliminary Assessment

Does your matter involve a person, company or potential asset in Israel?

Send Frid Investigations a brief summary, the key factual question and any relevant deadline. We will review the information and discuss the possible investigative scope before work begins.

Contact us to request a preliminary assessment of your Israel-related case.