Market comparisonWhere Special Projects fits in the advisory landscape
Advisory firms are typically organised by discipline. Business challenges rarely are. Companies seeking external advice may turn to management consultancies, investment banks, corporate law firms, communications agencies, creative marketing firms or risk consultancies. Special Projects works across disciplinary boundaries, combining independent judgement with hands-on execution.
We often work alongside a client’s existing advisers, contributing a distinct piece of a wider assignment rather than replacing them. The following comparison outlines our role within the wider professional services market, including the capabilities we deliberately leave to other specialist advisers.
| Category | Reference firms | Where we come in | What they typically do and we don’t |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management and strategy consulting | McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Roland Berger | Market proposition and growth initiatives, investor relations, media engagement, issues management, creative development, messaging platforms | Enterprise strategy and transformation programmes, commercial due diligence, cost and operating-model work, large-team implementation |
| Investment banking and financial advisory | Lazard, Rothschild & Co, Zaoui & Co | Equity storytelling, proof architecture, investor relations and media engagement between transactions | M&A and IPO execution, underwriting and placement, financing, fairness opinions and regulated transaction advice |
| Corporate law and transactions | Homburger, Bär & Karrer, Mannheimer Swartling, Kirkland & Ellis | Commercial and stakeholder strategy in disputes and regulatory matters: scenario planning, Q&A and sequencing, transaction and litigation communications | Legal advice and opinions, transaction documentation, litigation, regulatory representation, privileged counsel |
| Strategic communications and reputation | Brunswick, FGS Global, Milltown Partners, Farner | Market intelligence, data analytics, technology positioning, investor relations, media engagement, scrutiny preparation, strategic initiatives, concept development | Retained multi-market programmes, public affairs, campaigns, polling |
| Creative marketing and brand development | Forsman & Bodenfors, AKQA, Accenture Song | Commercial case and brand due diligence, agency selection and direction, launch sequencing, AI and search visibility | Full rebranding and visual identity programmes, creative concept and production, campaigns and media buying, digital product and marketing technology |
| Public affairs and policy advisory | Furrerhugi, Rud Pedersen, Flint Global | Data analytics and AI tools, opinion-making, narrative development, media and digital engagement, commercial strategy on policy agendas | Advocacy with legislators and regulators, dossier and procedural work, monitoring and alerts, association and coalition management, access networks |
| Geopolitical and strategic risk advisory | Verisk Maplecroft, Eurasia Group | Market, policy and stakeholder intelligence applied to one company: AI and technology shift analysis, thesis and flagship research, scenario planning and response | Country and political-risk forecasting, proprietary indices and monitoring platforms, source-based intelligence, security risk |
| Investigations, resilience and crisis advisory | Control Risks, S-RM, Kroll | Reputation diagnostics, scenario and Q&A preparation, crisis communications and stakeholder handling in sensitive situations | Forensic and integrity investigations, cyber incident response, security and operational crisis management, asset tracing, threat management |
Reference firms are named to locate each discipline, not to claim affiliation or equivalence.
Common questions
Is Special Projects a management consultancy, a communications firm or something else?
Neither in the conventional sense. Special Projects works across disciplinary boundaries, combining independent judgement with hands-on execution on growth, positioning, investor engagement, relationships and reputation. It does not run enterprise transformation programmes, legal or financial execution, retained multi-market communications programmes or advocacy with legislators.
Does Special Projects replace a company’s existing advisers?
No. Special Projects often works alongside a client’s existing management consultants, bankers, lawyers and agencies, contributing a distinct piece of a wider assignment rather than replacing them.
Which capabilities does Special Projects deliberately leave to other specialists?
Enterprise strategy and transformation programmes; M&A and IPO execution, underwriting and financing; legal advice, documentation and litigation; retained multi-market communications programmes, public affairs and polling; full rebranding, creative production and media buying; advocacy with legislators and regulators; country-risk forecasting and proprietary indices; and forensic investigations, cyber incident response and security.
Can Special Projects engage other advisory firms, and vice versa?
Yes. We help clients identify, appoint and coordinate investment banks, law firms, communications agencies, public affairs advisers and risk consultancies through established relationships across our markets. Specialists are contracted directly by clients or incorporated into our mandate. Other advisory firms can likewise engage Special Projects as a co-adviser or subcontractor, with responsibilities agreed in advance.