ABOUT

Knowledge for Professionals

The Diligence File is developed and owned by Knowledge For Professionals Inc. (KFP), a New York corporation founded in 1999.  KFP was founded by Paula Garzon to provide services to professionals in areas relating to diligence and compliance; as well as exploring how to make the internet and specifically the web, work for their businesses and practices (in 1999 the web was still new technology!)  

KFP projects include performing diligence and compliance projects for financial firms, consulting for startups and developing training materials, seminars and courses in the area of law, compliance and technology. KFP also creates subject matter guides to online resources for use by businesses and legal and compliance professionals.  

Performing these projects and spending time with legal, business, and compliance professionals provided the background and experience to develop The Diligence File. The theme of The Diligence File is simplicity and practicality, while taking advantage of the vast amount of knowledge now available on the internet. 

Paula Garzon

I believe in the power of diligence. I also believe that performing diligence has never been so important. Organizations, profit or non-profit, large or small, now work with a flood of information and misinformation at their fingertips in a globally interconnected world. Our businesses and organizations have missions, values, governance standards and regulatory and compliance requirements that need to be supported by good effective diligence.

My interest in diligence is a combination of my formal education and work experiences.

I received my undergraduate degree from Harvard University and my law degree from The New York University School of Law. My work experience includes many years as an attorney in a New York law firm and as in-house counsel for an international banking subsidiary of American Express. I have held business roles in my own company, Knowledge For Professionals Inc., and as the original director of business development for a compliance startup, Regulatory Data Corp. founded by Goldman Sachs and twenty of the world’s largest financial institutions to manage regulatory, legal, compliance and reputational risk. 

My subject matter experience includes working in the areas of correspondent banking, trade finance, contracts, anti-money laundering, terrorist financing, US bank regulations, Foreign Asset Controls, anti-bribery and anti-corruption efforts. I have also worked with federal and state authorities and business organizations on various compliance, diligence and technology related projects.

I enjoy creating courses and materials and speaking on topics relating to diligence, compliance, research and associated technologies so I created the Diligence File to provide practical ideas, strategies and resources for implementing, performing and teaching diligence for use in the areas of compliance and general business.

Please spend some time exploring the Diligence File and I hope you find it useful for your diligence programs and projects. 

Thank you.