About Us
AI-Enhanced Corporate Intelligence, Delivered with Government-Level Expertise
We are your trusted partner in accessing elite intelligence services tailored to meet your individual and business needs.
Checks & Traces delivers a new class of strategic intelligence, born from the synthesis of elite human expertise and advanced artificial intelligence. We were founded to give corporate and investment leaders a decisive advantage, providing the same caliber of intelligence that governments use to protect national interests. Our unique fusion of seasoned analysts and our bespoke AI automation suite provides the clarity and foresight needed to navigate complex risks, verify high-stakes investments, and secure victory in a competitive landscape.
Our Foundation: A Hybrid Intelligence Model
Our firm was established by leading professionals from military and police intelligence units, whose experience forms the bedrock of our analytical tradecraft. Today, this unparalleled human expertise is amplified by our proprietary AI platform. Every analyst has undergone rigorous government-level training and now guides our AI systems to conduct detailed digital intelligence and cyber investigations in more than 10 languages.
Our Methodology: AI-Powered OSINT
At Checks & Traces, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is our cornerstone, and our bespoke AI suite is the engine. It automates the meticulous collection and analysis of information from a vast array of global sources at a scale and speed beyond human capability alone. This technology sifts through troves of data to uncover non-obvious connections and hidden patterns, allowing our human experts to focus on the most critical element: strategic analysis.
This process is enhanced by our global network of vetted, discreet assets who provide on-the-ground context. This fusion of AI-driven data processing and human-verified intelligence allows us to operate with unmatched speed and discretion from our global hubs in London, Hong Kong, and Cape Town.
Our Team
At Checks & Traces, our team is composed of a diverse array of research and intelligence professionals, each equipped with extensive skills and experience. Leveraging OSINT as our cornerstone, we excel in the meticulous collection, analysis, and dissemination of information sourced from strategic locations worldwide. Every member of our team undergoes rigorous government-level training in intelligence analysis and utilises cutting-edge tools to conduct thorough investigations, leaving no detail overlooked in our comprehensive checks.
James Ellender
CEO
James leads Checks and Traces, Futurum Asia and Africa Training, Operations, and Intelligence, having worked in the risk, intelligence and security industry since 2000, initially spending 12 years in law enforcement as an accredited specialist detective in a UK police force. He is highly experienced in developing covert and conventional investigation tactics, leading complex investigations and fraud cases, and in the design and delivery of specialised training courses.
He holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Risk, Crisis, and Disaster Management from the University of Leicester. Furthermore, James is an experienced interviewer and trainer for conducting victim, witness, and suspect interviews specialised in Behavioural Science, and has been a surveillance, investigations, and intelligence trainer since 2005. Alongside this, he has led the development of a global research and intelligence unit for Non-Government Organisations for Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Exploitation and People Smuggling, additionally delivering regular training in OSINT, data scrapping and intelligence aggregation to assist in the detection and disruption of transnational crime.
Recent advisory projects include Crisis Leadership and understanding the effects of stress on decision making, along with behavioural detection in the aviation, protective security and sporting events. More currently he was the strategic intelligence training advisor for the BIK Indonesian National Police, a role he has held since 2018, along with a member for the Strategic Advisor Board for the International Fraud Group.
Dominic Dias-Sizer
Commercial Director
With over 20 years of experience in international finance and technology consultancy, Dominic has led high-performing, revenue-generating teams across the APAC region. Having spent 13 years in Hong Kong, he possesses deep expertise in facilitating cross-border transactions and developing strategies that navigate the region’s complex business landscape.
At Checks and Traces, he advises on strategy development, fosters key relationships with industry leaders, government bodies, and investors, and engages directly with clients to drive growth and operational success. His strategic insight and market acumen position him as a trusted advisor for businesses seeking to expand and thrive in APAC.
Richard King
APAC Intelligence & Senior Analyst
Richard leads our Asia and Oceania research and data teams, providing reports and OSINT training to our global client base. He has previously had stints working in the startup, sales, and biotech industries for companies and incubators in Hong Kong. In addition to his work at Futurum, Richard is currently completing a Politics and Sociology degree at the University of Auckland.
Specialities: Transnational Investigation, Mandarin & Cantonese Cases, Background Screening, GeoPolitical Analysis, OSINT, Risk Assessment.
Michaela Jahnig
Senior Analyst: Fraud & Disputes
Michaela Jahnig holds a bachelor's degree in humanities with majors in English and political science from the University of Stellenbosch, as well as an LLB from the University of Cape Town where she was a member of the dean’s list for academic achievement. At the end of 2023, she submitted a dissertation for an LLM focused on climate change and refugee law.
In 2021, Michaela qualified as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa. She spent several years in legal practice where she specialised in class action and civil litigation. Michaela worked on high-profile cases involving securities fraud, consumer protection and police brutality, among others. Her work has contributed to large settlements on behalf of thousands of affected individuals.
As a legal practitioner, Michaela worked on several multinational litigation efforts with teams across Europe and North America. She has extensive research experience of a legal and non-legal nature which has been used in litigation, state conferences, investor conferences and academic publications.
Specialities: Legal Research, OSINT, Document Forensics, Environmental Crime Investigation, Risk Assessment.
Maxim Stevens
Digital Forensics & Cybersecurity Expert | Web3/Crypto Investigator
A seasoned IT and cybersecurity expert, Maxim Stevens brings nearly a decade of hands-on experience in network infrastructure, IT system security, and digital investigations. He excels in digital forensic analysis, comprehensive cybersecurity audits, and intricate Web3/cryptocurrency investigations. Maxim uncovers critical digital evidence in security breaches, identifies and neutralizes cyber threats through meticulous audits, and expertly traces illicit transactions across the dynamic blockchain landscape. His proactive, analytical strategies provide clients with clear, actionable intelligence and robust safeguards for their valuable digital assets.
Specialties: Background Screening, Transnational Due Diligence, GeoPolitical Analysis, OSINT, Scam Investigations, Risk Assessment.
Other Researchers & Advisors
It’s no secret that some people in the intelligence and investigation community need to remain…well, secret. Checks & Traces works with a range of specialized investigators, researchers, and advisors who would prefer not to have their identities revealed. We respect their decision, but assure all clients that everyone who works with us has done so for many years and has been vetted to ensure their integrity and ability. Some of these individuals have been trained in open-source intelligence and investigation by our team, and the rest have trained us due to their specialized expertise and experience! Our entire team, including these unnamed partners have access to the same advanced tools and resources.
Our Purpose
Our mission is to empower organizations with the critical, AI-enriched intelligence needed for confident, informed decision-making. We leverage our hybrid approach to provide actionable insights that enable our clients in private equity, law, and corporate M&A to:
Mitigate Investment Risk: Utilize AI-driven data correlation to uncover hidden liabilities and verify opportunities that traditional methods miss.
Ensure Seamless Compliance: Automate the monitoring of complex regulatory frameworks like FCA, ESG, and GDPR due diligence.
Safeguard Enterprise Value: Deploy intelligent systems to protect against financial crime, reputational damage, and sophisticated malicious actors.
We work to provide not just data, but a definitive strategic advantage, transforming uncertainty into opportunity.