Use official records
Check the company’s name, identifier, address and status to avoid confusion. An Italian company register extract provides official information, but is not a certificate or guarantee of solvency.
Check authority, not just job titles
‘Director’ alone does not settle signing powers. Representation may have conditions or limits. Articles of association, powers of attorney and decisions of the appropriate bodies may matter.
Use current documents
An old copy may no longer reflect the company’s arrangements. Compare dates, later changes and the proposed transaction. Have significant agreements checked before signing.
An imagined example
Two people run a company. One usually handles email, but that does not establish authority to make a major commitment alone. Friendly dealings do not replace checking powers.
Record the reasons
Keep checks, authorisations and the final contract so decisions can be traced. For overseas companies, identify the registers and documents appropriate to their legal system.
