Sensible Snooping: Practical guidance for hiring and directing private investigators in your law practice

Wes Bearden | Bearden Investigative Agency

Wes Bearden is an Attorney & Licensed Investigator at Bearden Investigative Agency and is not your stereotypical investigator.

Because most of his clients are lawyers and law firms, he went to law school so that he could better understand what his clients need. He is an active attorney licensed in Texas, Louisiana, New York, and the District of Columbia. He understands what is discoverable and what is admissible in court. He knows how to handle witnesses appropriately and ethically, and he can work more easily on investigations that cross into other states.

“People – lawyers – come to me with their client’s problems, and I love solving them,” Mr. Bearden, CEO and Chairman of Bearden Investigative Agency says. “Our clients get a lawyer-led team of dedicated investigators who will fight for them. We uncover the facts they need and work toward the resolution they want.”

Mr. Bearden is proud to lead a full-service agency that has the resources and know-how to respond quickly and effectively to critical situations. The agency is particularly expert in:

Family Law Investigations, White Collar Criminal law, Employment, and Internal Investigations, Surveillance, Deep Background, and Due Diligence Investigations, Computer and Mobile forensics, Expert Witness Testimony, Opposition Research, Complex Civil Litigation, Asset and Financial Investigations, National & International Investigations.

Mr. Bearden knows that experience counts when it comes to tackling tough investigative challenges for his clients. His agency, established in Dallas in 1972, has conducted investigations in all 50 states and more than 40 foreign countries.

“When you hire an investigator, it’s an ‘Oh My God’ moment. You may be facing the loss of your business, your family, your money or your reputation,” Mr. Bearden says. “You are in trouble, and you need expert help to successfully guide you through this crisis.”

He maintains active membership and leadership in a number of private investigative associations throughout the United States. He also previously served for almost a decade as the general counsel of the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI). Mr. Bearden is Past President and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS). Additionally, he serves on the board of the World Association of Detectives (WAD).

Calm, compassionate and upbeat, Mr. Bearden is committed to helping his clients through some of their most difficult life challenges.

I. Review federal and state statutes on privacy, wiretapping & GPS | 2:00 pm – 2:20 pm
II. Familiarize attorneys with common law invasion of privacy law and case law updates | 2:20 pm – 2:40 pm
III. Identify evidentiary issues with surveillance and its use in depositions and hearings | 2:40 pm – 3:00 pm

Break | 3:00 pm – 3:10 pm

IV. Identify potential ethical pitfalls in surveillance and social media issues | 3:10 pm – 3:30 pm
V. Discuss new technologies and their application to current law | 3:30 pm – 3:50 pm
VI. Predict how proposed state and federal privacy law acts like Europe’s GDPR or California’s CCPA will affect private party surveillance | 3:50 pm – 4:10 pm