InsightX

You've secured internal buy-in. The opportunity stacks up commercially. Conversations have progressed. Time, budget and resource have all been invested. Then due diligence uncovers something unexpected. Perhaps it's adverse media coverage that never appeared in your initial research . An ownership structure that raises questions. A regulatory issue sitting beneath the surface. Or an historic controversy that changes how the relationship is viewed.

M&A activity is building again, with global deal value up around 10% year-on-year, but it’s happening under very different conditions. It’s set against an unpredictable environment; geopolitical tensions, regulatory complexity, economic uncertainty and rapid technological change are all adding layers of risk. There’s also a growing backlog on both sides of the market.

Unlicensed gambling operators could be blocked from sponsoring British sports teams after the UK government announced a new consultation last week. The proposed ban is part of a wider push to tackle the illegal gambling market and strengthen consumer protection. The move could have significant implications across professional sport, particularly in the Premier League, where a number of clubs still currently rely on gambling operators as key kit sponsors.

Teams responsible for partnerships, sponsorships, senior appointments and high-profile collaborations all face the same expectation. Before an opportunity progresses, they need to be confident that early checks have taken place and that decisions are grounded in something more robust than just instinct. Boards, regulators, internal stakeholders and external partners increasingly want assurance that reputational and compliance considerations have been taken seriously from the outset.

In many organisations, early background checks require navigating several systems to gather even the most basic information. Sanctions lists, watchlists, media searches and corporate records often sit in separate places, which means teams spend considerable time cross-referencing and pulling information together before the detailed investigation even begins. If this sounds familiar, you will know how much unnecessary work can be created before full due diligence is even underway.

You’re a partnerships manager at a global brand, preparing to choose a new corporate partner. As a compliance lead at a financial institution, you’re overseeing the onboarding of a high-profile client. Perhaps you’re a legal counsel at a sports federation, reviewing the background of a potential sponsor. Or a risk manager at an insurance firm, assessing a company with politically exposed directors.

After thousands of hours of research and reporting in 2025, our team has identified the shifts we believe will shape partnerships in 2026. The only question now is: which of these trends will define your year ahead? Broadcasters used to be the ones to tell athletes’ stories, but in 2026, there will be an increasing shift away from that. Athletes are setting up their own podcasts, production companies and creative ventures.

In the frenetic world of digital marketing, partnerships between social‑media influencers and global brands have become commonplace and lucrative. Yet the same speed at which partnerships are negotiated can cause marketers to neglect the one practice that ultimately safeguards budgets, reputations and stakeholder trust: thorough due diligence. Thorough background screening is no longer an administrative courtesy; it is a strategic necessity for any brand valuing its hard‑won credibility.

The Women’s Euros 2025 kicked off on Wednesday 2 July, and with England facing France this Saturday, all eyes are on the Lionesses as they look to recreate their 2022 magic. That landmark tournament didn’t just deliver silverware; it also propelled many of these players into stardom and made them dream partners for global brands. Take Lucy Bronze. Since 2022, she’s featured in high-profile campaigns for Visa, Pepsi and became the first-ever face of fashion brand ALIGNE in March 2024.

KSI turned his YouTube fame into music, then boxing, before co-founding the hugely hyped Prime Hydration drink. The Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague rose from reality TV to influencer stardom, before moving into business as creative director of PrettyLittleThing and eventually founding her own tanning brand, Filter by Molly-Mae.