What I Do
I provide independent, judgment-based risk advisory to decision-makers facing high-stakes situations in legally, politically, and culturally embedded environments, where formal rules interact with informal norms, authority, and timing.
Engagements typically occur before irreversible capital is committed, when regulatory or political pressure introduces non-linear risk, or when disputes risk escalation beyond the commercial domain.
My role is strictly advisory. I do not lobby, represent, negotiate, or execute.
My clients typically already have
- Lawyers for black-letter law and litigation
- Big Four or strategy firms for models, audits, and decks
- Security providers for physical and operational risk
What is often missing
- Interpretation of weak or ambiguous signals
- Understanding of non-written rules, cultural norms, and enforcement behaviour
- Anticipation of political or regulatory inflection points
- Translation between Western governance assumptions and local realities
This is where my work adds value.
How engagements work
Mandates are discrete and focused. They may involve structured conversations, scenario analysis, written opinions, or decision framing, always tailored to the client’s context and time constraints.
There are no standard deliverables and no standing retainers. Each engagement is designed around a specific decision, risk, or inflection point.
Geographic focus
Central and West Africa, with particular emphasis on jurisdictions where access to licences, enforcement discretion, and strategic assets sits close to political authority.
Sectors
- Energy – upstream oil & gas, LNG, energy infrastructure, and state-linked energy projects
- Mining – concessions, state participation, export logistics, and political exposure across the project lifecycle
- Maritime – offshore services, ports, vessels, logistics, and maritime administration