VR Research 1624 Franklin Street, Suite 901 Oakland, California 94612 vrresearch.

com
 Founded in 1995, VR Research has offices in Oakland, California and Washington,
DC with senior staff members in Tulsa, OK, Houston, TX and Milwaukee, WI. The
firm maintains a confidential contractor and retrieval network throughout the
United States.
The following are a representative sample of some of the research completed by
VR in the past twelve months at different locations throughout the United States.

• ASS E T LO CATI O N
VR has worked on multiple matters involving asset identification and location for parties contemplating
litigation. In one such instance a law firm representing a client injured in a motor vehicle accident retained
VR to track the assets of the multi-state trucking company whose driver caused the accident.

• RE S E A RCH O N HI GHLY R EGULATED IND U STRY SEEKING PERM ISSION TO EXPAND

VR was engaged by a property owner to help persuade a permitting authority that a neighbor’s industrial
site expansion request should be denied. VR used state and federal environmental and worker safety data to
document that the neighbor was conducting its business operations in an unsafe manner. Additionally, VR
canvassed scientific journals and government publications to identify health hazards associated with the
neighbor’s product. The neighbor’s expansion request was denied.

• E X P E RT WI TN E SS BAC KGRO UND

VR was retained to review an economist’s advertised credentials. The economist claimed primary authorship of
numerous scholarly articles. In fact, the expert was a second and third author of some of the articles he claimed
and not an author at all in several other instances. VR’s research was also used to demonstrate that the expert’s
familiarity with the type of economic analysis he was paid to conduct was limited and that the group that paid
him to conduct the analysis was funded by firms that would financially benefit if the economist’s views were
adopted. In addition, VR determined that, while the expert claimed membership on numerous charitable and
non-profit boards of directors, he had never served in some of the capacities he claimed.

• P U B L I C CO N TRACTS I N A PR I VATE D ISPU TE

VR reviewed the outcomes of numerous public contracts managed by a building contractor being sued by VR’s
client in a construction defect matter. VR used public contracts and correspondence to research whether the
builder had over-charged public bodies for its work and to learn if the contractor’s performance in the public
contracts was similar to its alleged performance in the case being litigated by VR’s client. VR also helped locate
individuals and outside attorneys with information about the operations and prior record of the contractor.

VR Research 405 14th Street, Suite 305, Oakland, California 94612 vrresearch.com
 BackgroundPlus

BackgroundPlus is designed for clients who need to vet prospective business

partners, executive hires or others. Since 1995, VR Research has conducted this
comprehensive research service for hundreds of clients in the legal, financial,
political, public affairs and public relations sectors.
To prepare a BackgroundPlus report we conduct standard due diligence searches,
then add the “Plus” by expanding our inquiry to less conventional record types
and exploring the research avenues this process suggests. Our final product is lean
and focused, but backed by thousands of pages of hard data.
In our typical due diligence searches we analyze a wide array of sources, including:

• N EW MEDIA, MASS MEDI A, BROA D CAST

We compile, analyze and summarize newspaper, periodical, internet and broadcast references
to research subjects. Our exhaustive searches leave no surprises, creating a clear picture of the

• P U BL IC RECO R DS AN D FI N ANCIA L D OCU MENTS

We conduct electronic and on-ground searches of archives across the nation to document
property ownership, litigation, liens, court judgments and lawsuits involving our research

Once we complete this standard due diligence work, a BackgroundPlus report goes one step further to make
sure the picture we present is as clear and complete as possible. In this step, we follow leads produced by our
preliminary analysis by exploring other resources and record types. For example, if a research subject is a
licensed professional, we review licensing information and professional associations; if the subject owns a
factory in a highly regulated business sector, we contact the appropriate regulators and watchdog groups.

hourly up to a pre-agreed expenditure cap. All employment background research is conducted in compliance
with Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requirements.

VR Research 405 14th Street, Suite 305, Oakland, CA 94612 vrresearch.com

 Candidate and Opposition Research

Since 1995, VR Research has conducted comprehensive candidate research

in over 30 states and at every level of the ballot. From city council races to
Presidential contests, our reports help campaigns formulate effective messages
and winning strategies.
To prepare a candidate research report, we review thousands of pages of material,
which we condense, analyze and prioritize. The final product is the campaign’s
essential reference work and communications tool, with carefully organized infor-
mation that can be used to inform polling, direct mail, television, phone banking
and earned media.
Our analysis reflects the current political landscape, with particular emphasis on
areas that appeal to swing voters, such as hypocrisy, ethics, labor, education, the
environment and women’s issues. Our research covers the following sources:

• NEW M E DI A, MASS M ED IA , BROA D CAST

We compile, analyze and summarize newspaper, periodical, internet and broadcast references
to candidates and pressing issues. Our exhaustive searches leave no surprises, creating a focused
picture of public strengths and liabilities.

• P U BL IC RECO R DS AN D FI N ANCIA L D OCU MENTS

We conduct electronic and on-ground searches of archives across the nation to document
property ownership, litigation, liens, court judgments and lawsuits involving candidates.

documents to reveal key interests, investments and vulnerabilities.

• O F F I C IAL R ECO R DS
We use electronic searches, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and meticulous

funded travel and mailings.

VR Research 405 14th Street, Suite 305, Oakland, CA 94612 vrresearch.com

 Custom Research Reports

VR Research develops custom reports for clients engaged in public disputes who
need in-depth study of an issue, individual, group or business. For fifteen years,
our research has made the difference in closely watched campaigns in the legal,
political and financial arenas.
To prepare each custom research report, we condense and analyze information
from thousands of pages of raw data. Clients use this information in public
outreach campaigns, focus groups, polling, earned media and advertising. Our
custom reports help you find out where you stand and how to move forward to
your goal.
The materials we review include:

• NEW M E DI A, MASS M ED IA , BROA D CAST

We compile, analyze and summarize newspaper, periodical, internet and broadcast references.
Our exhaustive searches leave no surprises, creating a focused picture of public strengths
and liabilities.

• P U BL IC RECO R DS AN D FI N ANCIA L D OCU MENTS

We conduct electronic and on-ground searches of archives across the nation to document
property ownership, litigation, liens, court judgments and lawsuits. We also analyze corporate

interests, investments and vulnerabilities.

• O F F I C IAL R ECO R DS
We use electronic searches, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and meticulous

funded travel and mailings.

VR Research 405 14th Street, Suite 305, Oakland, CA 94612 vrresearch.com

 Research at Your Service sm

Whatever the size of your campaign or business, you can have a dedicated
research department on call with Research at Your Servicesm . We developed this
solution for clients in the legal, political, corporate and media fields who needed
reliable, responsive research but who didn’t want to maintain a permanent internal
research department. Mobile and skilled in both electronic and on-ground searches,
our staff will work like your own to answer queries, retrieve documents and find
key data.
We bill hourly or on a retainer basis, and can perform a host of research tasks:

• V ET TING POTEN TI AL B USIN E SS PARTNERS, EXECUTIVE H IRES

AN D CA NDIDATES
Our research department can perform everything from complete due diligence reports to focused
inquiries about lawsuits, liens or property ownership. Through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
requests, searches of new and traditional media and perusal of p
we can thoroughly vet potential partners or candidates or illuminate other subjects of interest.

• RA P I D R ESPO NSE
In the heat of a legal or media campaign, you need to master the art of the counterpunch – and
Research at Your Servicesm
data that weakens or negates your opponent’s arguments, provide the facts you need to back up
your own case and help you anticipate possible attacks.

• FACT C HEC KING

our research team can keep you covered on jobs large and small.

• DATA RETRIEVAL
If you need to turn a hunch into hard fact, Research at Your Servicesm is on call. From establishing
property valuations to calculating economic impacts, we can work with you to make sure you have
the relevant, focused data you need to make key decisions or formulate persuasive arguments.

VR Research 405 14th Street, Suite 305, Oakland, CA 94612 vrresearch.com