Insight and advice on UK and geopolitics.

Helping businesses chart a course through political turbulence.

In today’s world, business leaders need to understand geopolitical risk.

Geopolitical risks are increasing, and they are now affecting some of the largest markets in the world. They impact your business in multiple ways - supply chain disruption, cyber risk, greater chance of government intervention in M&A, sanctions, import/export controls, controversy around ESG, and declining rule of law in some markets. Your people may expect you to react to key geopolitical events, and how you do so will shape your brand.

We offer insight into key geopolitical trends, what is happening in the UK, the US, the EU, the Middle East, China and other key markets from a political, policy and macro-economic perspective, and what it means for our clients.

Who we are


We have worked at the highest levels of government, helping leaders make decisions and deal with their counterparts around the world.

Lord Gavin Barwell PC

Lord Gavin Barwell PC

  • Downing Street Chief of Staff 2017-2019

  • Minister for Housing, Planning & London 2016-2017

  • Government Whip 2013-2016

  • Member of Parliament 2010-2017

  • Chief Operating Officer of the Conservative Party 2003-2006

    Follow Gavin on Twitter

Peter Hill

Peter Hill CB CVO

  • CEO of COP26 2019-2022

  • Principal Private Secretary to the PM 2017-2019

  • Director of Strategy, Foreign Office 2013-2017

  • Office of Security & Counter-Terrorism, Home Office 2010-2013

  • Cabinet of Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner 2006-2009

NorthStar Advisory is a boutique consultancy based in London. We provide confidential and bespoke advice to senior business leaders and Boards, bringing experience and insight to UK politics, geopolitics, climate and energy, and macroeconomic trends.

What we do for our clients


View of an office meeting room with four people in a private meeting

Briefings

We run sessions with Boards, the C-suite as well as more junior executives to help your business understand the environment in which you are operating and think about how to manage political risk.

Close up view of a man writing notes on printed documents

Bespoke advice

We produce bespoke advice on issues of concern e.g. the risk of government intervention in a specific transaction, prospects for a piece of legislation, a review of location strategy, an assessment of supply chain risk, a strategic review of your risk register.

Westminster Bridge with views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben on a bright sunny day

Weekly report

We produce a weekly report for our clients on what’s happened in UK and geopolitics and, more importantly, why it happened, and what might happen next.

Because of our previous roles, we do not lobby government, but if you want to influence government policy we can advise you on who you should talk to, and what arguments are most likely to work.

Why us


Advisors who have been ‘in the room’

Our roles have given us unprecedented insight into UK and geopolitics. We’ve worked with many world leaders and their advisors on multiple occasions, so we can help interpret why they do what they do, and what they might do next.

Personalised counsel

We can’t understand your business - and therefore the political risks you are most exposed to - unless we spend enough time with you to really get to know you. That’s why we only have a few clients. It allows us to provide personalised counsel.

One client per sector

We only have one client per sector. That means you can talk to us about your plans and any concerns, safe in the knowledge we’re not also talking to your competitors.

You work directly with us

We’re not like other firms - we don’t employ a lot of associates, so it will always be one of us you are dealing with.

We’re supported by our advisory council:

  • Alan Milburn

    Alan Milburn

    Former Health Secretary in the Blair Government

  • Theresa May

    Theresa May

    Former UK Prime Minister

  • Lawrence Freedman

    Lawrence Freedman

    Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King’s College London

  • Mehreen Khan

    Mehreen Khan

    Economics Editor of The Times

  • William Vereker

    William Vereker

    Chair of Santander UK

  • Lars-Hendrik Röller

    Lars-Hendrik Röller

    Former economic adviser to Angela Merkel

    Joining soon

  • João Vale de Almeida

    João Vale de Almeida

    Former EU Ambassador to the UN, US and UK

    Joining soon

“Clarity and simplicity are the antidotes to complexity and uncertainty.”

– General George Casey

Contact us

Please get in touch if you would like to find out more about how we can help your business.

NorthStar@northstaradvisory.uk