Section I: Membership and participation in the CognoLink Network

1. Who can be part of the CognoLink Network? CognoLink welcomes all individuals with significant experience of a particular sector or industry across any geographic region.
2. How can I apply to become a specialist? You can apply by registering on our website. Alternatively, you can send us an e-mail at contact@cognolink.com and a member of our research team will contact you to complete the registration process.
3. Do I have to pay to register on the CognoLink Network? No. Membership of the CognoLink Network is free.
4. How do I terminate my membership on the CognoLink Network? You can suspend or terminate your membership by giving written notice at any time.
5. My employer's policies prohibit employees from discussing professional matters outside the organisation; does this mean I cannot join the CognoLink Network? You should never participate in the CognoLink Network in breach of any laws, regulations or obligations to third parties. If your employment policy prohibits discussing professional matters externally, you must not participate in the CognoLink Network.
6. How do I know if my employer allows me to participate in the CognoLink Network? If you are unsure about whether your current employment contract permits you to participate in the CognoLink Network, please check with your employer prior to joining. We would be happy to send you a consent letter for your employer to sign.
7. What is a specialist's relationship with CognoLink? A specialist participates in consultations as an independent contractor. He/she acts in his/her own capacity at all times and he/she is not an employee, agent, partner, legal representative or joint venturer of CognoLink.
8. Who are CognoLink's clients? Our clients include some of the world's leading private equity firms, hedge funds, mutual funds and strategy consultancies.
9. Can CognoLink's clients hold me liable for decisions they make based on information I give them? The information you provide to clients is only with a view to stimulating thought and for general information purposes only and should not include any investment, legal, financial, accountancy or medical advice. CognoLink's clients agree that they bear full responsibility for their investment decisions and that specialists will not be liable for any decision made or action taken by the client or anyone else based upon reliance on the information provided during a consultation. You must not, however, provide confidential or non-public information.
10. Will my membership prevent me from being a member of other similar organisations? No, unless specifically agreed in writing, you will not be entering into an exclusive relationship with CognoLink.
11. In the case of a pre-existing relationship with a client, can I still work with this client outside CognoLink? Yes. You are only obliged to use CognoLink to facilitate consultations with clients that CognoLink first introduced to you, and only for a period of one year after the last project provided by CognoLink.
12. Will I work for a client exclusively? No, unless otherwise agreed, specialists are referred to clients on a non-exclusive basis.
13. How will I know if I am suitable for the proposed consultation? At the project proposal stage, we will provide you with details of the main subject of the consultation as well as the key questions our client wishes to ask. Our research team will also be available to answer any further questions you may have.
14. Are the consultations confidential? Yes. Each consultation and any discussions leading up to a consultation are confidential. You must not disclose to any third party the names of CognoLink clients, the content of CognoLink projects, the subject matter of a consultation or any information about our clients' businesses. Similarly, a client must not disclose the identity of CognoLink specialists or any information discussed in consultations without the necessary prior consents.
15. Are there any subjects I should not advise on? Specialists must not provide any investment, legal, financial, accountancy, medical or other advice. In addition, you must not disclose any confidential information, inside information or non public information.
16. How will I know if a subject is confidential? We require our specialists not to discuss their current employer or to share any information about their company. Specialists are engaged by our clients in order to provide them with general information with a view to stimulating thought and increasing understanding of a particular market or topic. If you think the subject matter of the consultation is confidential, you should refuse to participate. During a consultation, if you believe that by answering a question you will divulge confidential information you must refuse to answer the question. Furthermore, your employment contract may prevent you from discussing certain matters. Therefore, please check with your employer to confirm that you are able to participate in a consultation.

Section II: Referral

1. How do referrals work? CognoLink's specialists have the opportunity to recommend new individuals whose expertise is likely to interest our clients. A referral bonus of €100 in your preferred currency is paid once the first consultation is carried out by the referred specialist.

Section III: Payment

1. How are specialists paid? Payments are made by bank transfer and you will be asked for your bank details during the registration process. You also have the option to donate your contribution to any UK-recognised charity of your choice. Please note that CognoLink is unable to pay by cheque.
2. Will I be paid for my preparation time? Due to the nature of the consultations, and the high level of information required, preparation is not necessary. As a result, we only remunerate you for the amount of time spent in consultation with our client.
3. How long after the consultation will I receive the payment? CognoLink will process your payment within 30 days from the later date of (a) CognoLink's receipt of a proper and valid invoice or (b) the client's written confirmation that the consultation took place. As such, you may not receive payment into your bank account immediately.