Confidentiality & Engagement Principles
How GSSI approaches first contact, client materials, analytical independence and the boundaries of an institutional mandate.
Start with the problem. Protect the sensitive material.
A first enquiry should contain enough information for GSSI to understand the nature of the matter and whether the relevant Desk is a suitable fit. Highly sensitive, privileged, market-sensitive or restricted documents should not be sent through the public website form.
Once an engagement is being considered, GSSI can agree an appropriate channel, scope and information-handling arrangement before substantive materials are exchanged.
Independent work. Defined scope. Clear boundaries.
Information received for an engagement is used for the agreed work and handled according to the engagement terms, applicable confidentiality obligations and any specific information-handling arrangements agreed with the client.
GSSI is retained to examine, test and challenge. Fees relate to the agreed analytical mandate and deliverables, not to confirming a preferred conclusion.
The engagement should identify the decision, exposure, transaction, dispute or conclusion to be examined, the material available, the intended output and the relevant decision-makers.
Where the nature of an engagement creates a material conflict or an independence concern, GSSI will raise it before accepting the mandate or before receiving substantive confidential materials.
Material factual errors should be corrected. A client's disagreement with an independent analytical conclusion does not, by itself, require the conclusion to be changed.
GSSI examines the sovereign, political, institutional and geopolitical dimensions within the agreed scope. The client's authorised decision-makers remain responsible for the underlying investment, credit, insurance, legal or strategic decision.
A professional mandate, not outsourced commentary.
The purpose of an engagement is to produce decision-useful analysis against an agreed question. Depending on the mandate, that may include client materials, independent source work, interviews, adversarial challenge, written findings and senior discussion.
The precise scope, deliverables, permitted reliance, confidentiality arrangements and commercial terms are agreed for the individual engagement.
Bring us the problem before you send the sensitive material.
A short first-contact description is enough to determine the appropriate next step.