Vantaggi
Alaco is a boutique firm, about 40-50 people in the company but is now part of PE backed US company Sigma 7, operating as its BI platform. Its been around for nearly as long as the sector has existed. The company has a good mix of EDD work and Disputes/Asset Recovery work and you are encouraged to pursue whichever you are more interested in. Cases can be short, a week or two, or much longer running months or even years. The office culture is relaxed, with a flexible hybrid 3/2 WFO/WFH system. The work can get heavy sometimes, but you generally have a very good work-life balance. Good holidays and two weeks of WFH b2b is a nice touch. The office is just in front of Marble Arch, which makes for exciting lunches in Hyde Park when its sunny, and an abundance of restaurants and cafés in the area during the winter. The Founders and Executive Directors are very nice, kind, and approachable, you can walk into their office anytime and they’ll talk to you on a regular basis. Case managers each have their style and you end up generally working with the same people depending on your interests and language skills. Everyone around you is intelligent, most people speak a minimum three languages, and people have different academic/work backgrounds. Overall, its a good place to work, learn, and network. Note: They are very considerate when it comes to religious observances!!
Svantaggi
There used to be no HR department due to the company’s medium size and generally HR related issues and suggestions would be relayed to managers. That said, this is changing and a global company wide HR department has been established since its acquisition.