Historical Investigations

Our multidisciplinary team of PhD and MA-educated historians, researchers, archivists, and subject-matter experts pride ourselves on delivering insight and perspective on the most difficult factual research questions.

Government Contract Searches

HAI’s expert Litigation Support team utilizes our unsurpassed knowledge of federal, state, and local records systems to identify and locate government contracts. Our team uses contextual information such as contract numbers, dates, and the contracting agency to efficiently locate historical contract files. Knowing the terms and context of these documents has helped our clients to resolve a variety of long-standing environmental, toxic tort, product liability, or contract claims issues.

Federal and Military Specifications Research

The HAI team employs a systematic process to review legacy government, military, and commodity specifications for products, equipment, or chemical compounds. We maintain a specialized in-house library of specifications pertaining to the use and application of asbestos, trichloroethylene (TCE), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and perchlorates. These materials provide our clients with valuable context on the relationship between private companies and regulatory agencies and help to reconstruct the development of specific products.

Slavery Era Disclosure Research

Slavery disclosure research documents historical ties to slavery within organizations or institutions. The HAI Litigation Support team assists clients in understanding their historical connections to slavery through detailed investigations of corporate records, property ownership histories, and corporate or familial genealogies. By partnering with HAI for slavery disclosure research, clients can navigate sensitive historical legacies with integrity, veracity, and responsibility.

Legislative and Regulatory Histories

HAI’s skilled historians provide crucial support to businesses, policymakers, and legal professionals navigating complex legislative landscapes. Our team conducts comprehensive investigations into the development, evolution, and impact of laws, regulations, and policies at the federal, state, and local levels. We review committee reports, hearings transcripts, regulatory filings, and archival materials to trace the legislative intent, amendments, and enforcement history of statutes and regulations. We provide detailed reports of our findings that support informed decision-making with accurate and reliable information.

Water Rights Disputes

HAI’s expert Litigation Support team provides comprehensive research and legal support to address complex environmental and property issues. Our team conducts detailed investigations into riparian rights and water allocations, historical usage patterns, and regulatory frameworks governing water resources. In coastal erosion disputes, we locate maps, dredging and filling records, and Army Corps of Engineers permits to document shoreline changes over time.