I get the whole Red Flags! But, I gotta say there was a reason he chose that firm. Do I know what it is? Nope. Why not run in the other direction from a practice with even a hint of negative dealings? I don't have that answer. But I am sure he does. Maybe you are right, he didn't do his DD, personally, and relied on a reco from someone he trusted. Big OOPSIE if he missed this, though.