General information only. This is not legal, tax or investment advice. Check the rules that apply to you with a qualified adviser.
Review public information
Start with what the office publishes about itself, then look for independent records. Useful sources include the office website, regulatory filings where they exist, company registry entries, deal announcements, and interviews with named staff. Note who is named as a decision-maker and in what role.
Check dates and source context
For each fact, record two things: when it was published, and who published it.
- A press release from the office itself is its own claim and confirms nothing independently.
- A news article may repeat an old press release.
- A deal announcement shows what the office did then, not what it wants now.
- Staff pages go out of date. Check the person's own profile for a recent role.
Separate stated facts from assumptions
| Stated | Assumed |
|---|---|
| The website lists real estate as a focus. | The office is looking at real estate deals this year. |
| The office co-invested in a 2023 healthcare round. | It wants more healthcare deals. |
| A named partner spoke at a 2024 conference. | That partner still works there and handles new opportunities. |
Assumptions are fine as long as you label them. Problems start when an assumption is treated as a fact in your notes or your message.
Record the gaps
Keep a simple vetting log so the next person on your team does not repeat the work:
| Column | What to write |
|---|---|
| Firm | Name as the office uses it |
| Source | Link or document |
| Date | When the source was published |
| What it states | The fact, in the source's words |
| Confidence | Confirmed, stated or assumed |
| Gap | What you still do not know |
When to stop and ask
If the gaps matter to your decision, such as who controls the capital or whether the office accepts outside proposals, stop researching and ask the office directly, or ask your own adviser. Public information rarely answers those questions on its own.