Initial contact with LIFEGUARD is handled through the Private Office. The Private Office coordinates preliminary mandate discussions, conflict review, secure communication arrangements and, where appropriate, the establishment of an appropriate advisory team. LIFEGUARD accepts a limited number of new mandates each year. Initial approaches are therefore considered carefully and subject to preliminary suitability, legal and conflicts review. No highly sensitive personal, operational, classified or commercially confidential material should be transmitted by ordinary email before an appropriate secure communication channel has been agreed.