---
name: research-client
description: Investigate an AEC prospect or client using Builtgraph project, organization, and relationship evidence. Use for account planning, client briefs, project portfolios, procurement patterns, incumbent teams, relationship paths, or meeting preparation.
---

# Research Client

Read [../query-builtgraph/references/live-mcp-playbook.md](../query-builtgraph/references/live-mcp-playbook.md)
before live research.

## Workflow

1. Clarify the target organization, relevant geography or business unit, user's firm and role, decision context, and as-of date when not already known.
2. Resolve the target and plausible affiliates using the current MCP schemas; preserve alias,
   shell-company, and legal-control uncertainty.
3. Gather only the relationships needed to map relevant owners, managers, projects, buildings,
   firms, financing, and people. Compare observed portfolio history with current activity when that
   distinction matters.
4. Investigate important buildings, teams, or planning activity when they materially improve the
   account brief. Surface repeat teams, active former clients, and related projects as adjacent
   findings, not implied opportunities.
5. Analyze relationship concentration and potential warm paths. Treat co-participation as familiarity evidence, not a personal relationship or endorsement.
6. Use official client sources for material portfolio or leadership gaps when needed, and label those claims separately from Builtgraph evidence.
7. Use `$visualize-builtgraph` for a network, timeline, or portfolio view when it improves the decision.

## Output

Lead with an executive snapshot and the strongest few account insights. Then show the observed
portfolio/activity, recurring team patterns, useful relationship paths, evidence gaps, and
meeting-ready questions. Include record IDs near material claims and state the relevant scope.
Describe an active pipeline or procurement pattern only when the evidence establishes it.

Do not infer an upcoming procurement, budget, decision maker, or relationship that the available evidence does not establish.