Global Counsel is a strategic advisory firm that supports businesses developing in new markets.
Based in London, our team of advisers has experience of business and government at the highest level. We focus on providing rigorous research-based advice to our clients, working alongside their own strategists and senior leadership to inform their decision making processes.
Global Counsel is a partnership founded by Lord Mandelson and Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, and WPP plc.
Lord Mandelson, Chairman
A former European Trade Commissioner and British First Secretary of State. He was European Trade Commissioner between 2004 and 2008, during which time he negotiated trade agreements with many countries and led European negotiations in the WTO Doha World Trade Round. He was Minister without Portfolio, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Northern Ireland Secretary and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in the British government under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown between 1997 and 2010. He was Member of Parliament for Hartlepool in the UK from 1992 until 2004 and Director of Campaigns and Communications for the Labour party between 1985 and 1990. He is also President of the Policy Network think tank and Chairman of Lazard International.
Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, Managing Partner
Has a background in media and politics. His most recent role was as a co-founder and Director of Corporate Development of SUP Media, a Moscow-based digital media company. Before moving to Russia in 2007 he was Director of Strategic Communications in the office of the British Prime Minister from 2005 to 2007. Prior to this he held a number of commercial roles at the Guardian newspaper.
Stephen Adams, Partner
Has a background in financial services and international public policy. He was a policy adviser to senior politicians in Brussels and London from 2003 to 2010 and then worked at Goldman Sachs in the City of London, where he advised on political and regulatory risk.
Geoffrey Norris, Senior Adviser
An expert in energy and industrial policy and has been at the heart of business policy-making in the UK for the last decade. He was one of the key architects of Britain and Europe’s current approach to energy policy and climate change. He worked for more than ten years as the principal business adviser in 10 Downing Street to Prime Minister Tony Blair and then Gordon Brown. Most recently he was a special adviser at the UK Department of Business in Whitehall.
Dan Conaghan, Senior Adviser
Has extensive experience in corporate finance and asset management. Previously he was a director of Glendevon King Asset Management, a London-based investment management company specialising in fixed income funds. Before joining GKAM, he was a director of KC Capital, a corporate finance company focusing on healthcare and leisure transactions. Prior to this he was a director and member of the investment committee of NewMedia Spark PLC (now Spark Ventures PLC). In addition to his role as a Senior Adviser he is also a Director of Global Counsel Advisory Ltd.
Duncan Buchanan, Adviser
Has a background in trade and investment, particularly in Asia. His most recent role was head of the South Asia team in UK Trade & Investment in London, prior to which he worked for UKTI in Beijing and the UK Department of Business between 2008 and 2009.
Alexander Smotrov, Adviser
Has a background in political, international and business journalism, covering energy, EU-Russian relations and Russian businesses across the globe. His most recent role was chief UK correspondent for the leading Russian news agency RIA Novosti between 2003 and 2013, prior to that he worked for RIA Novosti in Moscow.
Matthew Duhan, Associate Adviser
Researches European and Asian industrial trends. He has degrees from Oxford University and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.
Miranda Gilbert, Associate Adviser
Researches European and Russian media and political trends. She has lived and worked in Russia and has a degree in Russian from Oxford University.
Maree Glass, Executive Office Manager
Has a background in politics and event management. She worked in the private office teams of Tony Blair in office between 2005 and 2007 and after he left politics in 2007, and for Lord Mandelson in the UK Department of Business between 2008 and 2010. Prior to this she had a number of roles in the UK Labour Party and events management for the 2005 General Election campaign and worked as a Parliamentary Assistant. She was educated at Royal Holloway, University of London.