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Corporate Investigations · Empire Investigation

Corporate Investigations

Discreet, fact-driven investigations for businesses, executives, legal teams, and decision-makers facing fraud, misconduct, internal risk, and high-stakes uncertainty.

Empire Investigation provides corporate investigation services in Pittsburgh and across the United States, including internal fraud investigations, executive vetting, due diligence, trade secret matters, insider threat investigations, workplace violence assessments, and litigation support.

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When something is wrong inside your organization, you feel it before you can prove it. Revenue that doesn't match your books. A competitor who knows your proposals before you submit them. An executive whose expense reports don't hold up. A key employee who's been acting strangely since you announced the acquisition. Empire Investigation LLC has been helping Pittsburgh businesses, law firms, medical practices, and institutions answer these questions with documented, legally admissible evidence since 1982.

Corporate investigation is not the same as HR inquiry. HR relies on witness accounts, document review, and internal interviews — tools that are valuable but limited, and tools that sophisticated bad actors know how to defeat. A professional corporate investigator brings surveillance capability, financial document analysis, covert operational expertise, background intelligence resources, and the institutional knowledge of having worked hundreds of similar cases. We know where people hide things. We know what they do when they think no one is watching. We know how to document it in a way that holds up in court, before an arbitrator, or in a regulatory proceeding.

Empire Investigation LLC works with Pittsburgh-area corporations, small businesses, law firms, and HR departments on a fully confidential basis. We sign NDAs before any engagement. We work within all applicable Pennsylvania and federal law. And we produce reports that your attorneys, your board, or law enforcement can use.

Whether you're facing suspected embezzlement, a trade secret theft, a harassment complaint that needs independent investigation, or a business partner you're not sure you can trust, Empire Investigation is the firm Pittsburgh businesses call when the stakes are too high for guesswork.

Services

Corporate Investigation Services

Internal Fraud Investigations

Employee theft, embezzlement, vendor fraud, and expense abuse — documented for legal action.

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Workplace Misconduct Investigations

Harassment, policy violations, whistleblower complaints, and executive misconduct.

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Due Diligence & Executive Vetting

Background intelligence before significant hires, partnerships, or transactions.

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Corporate Red Team Assessments

Physical and cyber-physical penetration testing for buildings, executive spaces, private aviation, campus environments, vendor paths, and event security.

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Trade Secret & Information Leak Investigations

Trade secret theft, non-compete violations, and competitive intelligence breaches.

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Insider Threat Investigations

Escalating behavioral risk, workplace violence, and internal threat assessment.

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Litigation Support Investigations

Asset searches, witness development, and pre-litigation intelligence for attorneys.

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Questions

Corporate Investigation FAQs

How do I hire a private investigator for a corporate matter in Pittsburgh?

Call Empire Investigation LLC at (800) 860-6068 for a confidential consultation. We'll discuss the situation, the scope of investigation needed, and provide a proposal. All consultations are confidential and covered by a non-disclosure agreement before any case details are shared.

Can a private investigator help with a business dispute in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Empire Investigation provides litigation support, witness location, surveillance, asset investigation, and fact-gathering services for businesses engaged in commercial disputes. We work directly with your legal counsel or independently as directed.

What is the difference between a corporate investigation and an HR investigation?

HR investigations are internal processes conducted by employees or HR consultants. They rely on interviews and document review, and are often visible to the subject of the investigation. Corporate investigations by a licensed PI firm involve covert surveillance, independent intelligence gathering, financial analysis, and field operations that produce evidence an HR investigation cannot.

Is it legal to hire a private investigator to investigate an employee?

Yes, within legal parameters. Surveillance in public or semi-public areas, background research, document analysis, and related activities are lawful. Investigations must comply with Pennsylvania wiretapping law, employment law, and other applicable statutes. Empire Investigation operates fully within applicable law and advises clients on legal boundaries before and during every engagement.

How much does a corporate investigation cost in Pittsburgh?

Cost depends on scope, duration, and resources required. Call (800) 860-6068 for a confidential quote. Empire Investigation provides fixed-scope and hourly engagements depending on the nature of the case.

Bartender looking suspicious while pouring a drink

Case Insight

Internal Theft

A business experienced ongoing inventory loss without a clear source. Internal systems showed no irregularities.

Through controlled surveillance and investigative strategy, internal activity was identified and documented, revealing consistent theft that had gone undetected over time.

Situations like this often persist because traditional safeguards are not designed to detect deliberate internal behavior.

How We Work

Our Investigation Process

01

Confidential Intake

Direct conversation with a licensed investigator — no forms, no delays.

02

Scope & Strategy

Define exactly what needs to be established and what evidence is required.

03

Field Investigation

Surveillance, digital intelligence, interviews, and document analysis as needed.

04

Documentation & Reporting

Findings documented in formats suitable for HR action, legal, or executive decision-making.

05

Counsel Coordination

Direct coordination with your legal team when required.

Confidential Inquiry

Speak Directly with an Investigator

All corporate inquiries are handled with complete discretion. We work directly with executives, counsel, and HR leadership to scope engagements appropriately.

All inquiries handled with complete discretion.

Why Choose Us

Why Empire Investigation

Over 40 years of investigative experience. Established in 1982.

A+ BBB rated. Licensed, bonded, and professionally recognized.

Featured in national and regional media. USA Today, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh Business Journal, Executive Report, WTAE-TV, WPXI, KDKA-TV, FOX 53, and The Jenny Jones Show.

City's Best Award winner. 2023, 2024, and 2025.