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First Advantage/Sterling Check

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The parties successfully completed this $2.2 billion merger.

First Advantage and Sterling Check, companies that provide employment background screening and identity verification solutions to employers around the world, announced their plans to merge in February 2024. Prior to the announcement, counsel for First Advantage retained Kostis Hatzitaskos and Cornerstone Research to help analyze the competitive implications of the merger.

The Cornerstone Research team conducted competitive effects analyses and assisted in responding to agency inquiries and reporting requirements, including helping both First Advantage and Sterling Check in complying with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Second Request. Cornerstone Research ultimately helped both clients navigate the review process in front of three enforcement agencies: the DOJ, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

In October 2024, the parties successfully completed the merger.

LLM-Assisted Document Review

Cornerstone Research’s Data Science Center team used the firm’s in-house large language model (LLM) to conduct a comprehensive review of sensitive data in a secure, on-premises environment. Maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of our clients’ data was of utmost importance.

The team analyzed free text in a large database. Given the enormity of the dataset and the expedited timeline, manual-only review would have been impractical or even infeasible. Leveraging our LLM, the Data Science Center team delivered the analysis in a timeframe that enabled our client to meet their deadline.

The Data Science Center’s work in this matter exemplifies the value of Cornerstone Research’s investment in cutting-edge technology infrastructure. Our top-of-the-line servers ensure confidentiality and control over sensitive data, while also accelerating our ability to deliver complex analyses.

Learn More

For more information, contact Kostis Hatzitaskos or Brad Howells. Other team members who worked on this matter include Chris Bruegge, Bryan Pine, and Andrew Sfekas.

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Kostis Hatzitaskos
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Kostis Hatzitaskos

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