insurance
CII International Network: Surveys in 50+ Countries
When a disaster extends beyond France’s borders
Claims occurring abroad, insured parties residing outside France, witnesses located in several countries, transnational fraud schemes: cases with an international dimension present unique operational and legal complexities. An investigation conducted remotely, without a local network, is rarely useful.
Generalist French law firms rarely handle these cases: they lack reliable local contacts, the necessary language skills, and a thorough understanding of foreign legal frameworks. The result is often a superficial investigation, an inconclusive report, and a net loss for the company.
The Aquila Group relies on the Council of International Investigators (CII) for its assignments outside metropolitan France—a structured professional network covering more than fifty countries, with harmonized methodological standards and a controlled admission process.
Access to the CII is not simply a directory of correspondents: it is a regulated membership that requires its members to adhere to professional standards and ethical guidelines. For companies that engage the firm, the assurance is tangible: the partner mobilized abroad is not a service provider found online, but a colleague recognized by peers and vetted by the network.
What the CII Actually Offers You
- There is only one point of contact in France: Victor de Villeblanche, who coordinates and drafts the report.
- Project management in French and a deliverable that complies with French standards.
- Local partners verified and monitored by the CII network.
- The ability to operate in more than fifty countries across the major continents.
- Adaptation to local legal frameworks by national partners.
- A clear fee schedule: French fee schedule + actual expenses upon submission of receipts.
What the CII Network Offers
Access to the CII translates into concrete international operational capabilities that can be mobilized under the firm’s leadership in France.
Operations in more than fifty countries, with approved and verified local partners.
Coordination from France by the Insurance Investigation Division, which oversees the entire mission from start to finish.
Methodological standards harmonized within the CII network, aligned with international best practices.
Documentation that complies with French legal requirements.
Ability to mobilize quickly in most European, American, and Asian countries.
Adaptation to local legal frameworks by national partners, while respecting legal sovereignty.
Language Coordination: French translation provided, with local documents attached and translated as needed.
ANONYMIZED CASE STUDY
Cross-border Feature
: France, Italy, and Switzerland
A claim filed in Paris involves property located in Milan and witnesses residing in Geneva. Our initial assessment simultaneously engages our Italian and Swiss CII partners, coordinated by the Insurance Investigation division in France. Field operations are conducted in parallel in both countries over a four-week period, with weekly reporting to the French office. The evidence collected locally (interviews, photographs, documents) is transmitted along with their certified translations. The final report, drafted in French by Victor de Villeblanche, incorporates all cross-border findings and is submitted as part of the French legal proceedings without difficulty. Total duration: six weeks.
How Is an International Investigation Conducted?
The initial planning phase is more demanding than for domestic missions: it is necessary to identify the countries involved, engage the right partners, and anticipate timelines.
01
Framing
Coordination with the commissioning company: scope, countries involved, measurable objectives, and tentative timeline.
02
Selection
Selection of qualified CII partners in the target areas and verification of their availability.
03
Coordination
Operational coordination by the Insurance Investigation Division from Paris or Toulon, in French.
04
Deployment
Field deployment by local partners, with regular reporting to the French firm.
05
Consolidation
Compilation and drafting of the final report by Victor de Villeblanche, in French, in accordance with French admissibility standards.
Our integrated national network covers mainland France and Monaco.
Why is the CII a key differenti
?
Few French private investigation firms have structured access to the CII. The network requires its members to adhere to standards of practice, undergo admission screening, and make a formal ethical commitment. Partner investigators are vetted, and their work is guaranteed by the network’s framework.
For companies handling international projects, this offers a rare operational advantage: a single point of contact in France, project management in French, and deliverables that comply with French standards—but with the ability to operate in more than fifty countries. This approach radically simplifies the contractual management of a cross-border project.
Victor de Villeblanche, the division’s director, personally served for six years as a close protection officer in Southeast Asia. This international experience is reflected in the ease with which he coordinates complex cases involving diverse legal and cultural frameworks.
The firm’s experience with international cases also provides a nuanced understanding of risks. Not all countries are suited to the same types of investigations: some jurisdictions strictly limit private investigations, while others require prior cooperation with local authorities. Our initial assessment systematically takes this dimension into account to provide companies with a tailored and legally sound approach.
- A structured, regulated professional network with harmonized standards.
- Centralized management from Paris or Toulon, in French.
- Final report prepared in accordance with French standards and admissible in court.
- Billing based on the French rate schedule + actual expenses (travel, lodging, meals).
- Management of the division with experience in an international context.
The CII (Council of International Investigators) is the leading international professional organization for private investigators.
To discuss a case with international implications, please contact our firm directly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
More than fifty countries across the major continents: Europe, the Americas, Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania. An operational availability check is conducted as early as the scoping phase.
The French rate schedule applies to production and writing. In addition, actual expenses incurred by local partners (travel, lodging, meals) are billed based on supporting documentation.
The final report is written in French by Victor de Villeblanche. Local documents are attached in their original language; a certified translation can be arranged upon request.
Claims occurring abroad; investigations into the activities of expatriate policyholders; searches for witnesses or vehicles abroad; cases of transnational organized fraud.
Yes, provided that local and French legal frameworks are complied with. The coordination provided by the division ensures that due diligence is conducted in accordance with French fair evidence requirements.
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