An organization’s ability to compete successfully in a Global marketplace is impacted by governing bodies worldwide. Policy makers and influences in every market have the potential to impact a client’s business operations and competitiveness. IGS works with business units, Senior Management and General Counsels to ensure that the organizations policy opinion and concerns are understood and promoted.

• Direct Federal lobbying and legislative advocacy
• International regulatory advocacy
• Effective interaction with U.S. Attorneys General
• Advocacy for Foreign Governments seeking to establish pro-active relationships
• Establishing and managing strategic partnerships and coalitions
• Developing and executing consumer protection and outreach initiatives
• Negotiations

Fred Niehaus leads the IGS State Attorneys General Practice. The focus of this group is to assist clients in navigating issues which cross the line of public policy, government actions and politics.

Attorneys General have a history of establishing precedent in public policy matters. Often, this is overlooked by businesses in their government relations strategies. When state or federal legislatures fail to act, it is often Attorneys General who use the rule of law to encourage agreements and affect public policy.

Mr. Niehaus represents a wide range of industries where he assists in formulating strategies for relationship management and advocacy. He is active in attorney general organizations throughout the United States and abroad and serves as Advisory Board Member to the Conference of Western Attorneys General (CWAG) Alliance Partnerships.

The Alliance Partnership is an international rule of law program which involves the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) the Council of State Governments (CSG) and the U.S. State Department.

Mr. Niehaus draws on his experience as an in house global public affairs executive. From 2003-2010, he was Senior Vice President for Global Public Affairs at the Western Union Company. As corporate SVP and member of the senior management team, he actively engaged and oversaw all activities relating to attorneys general, state legislatures, congress and state/federal regulatory agencies.

Considered an effective negotiator, Mr. Niehaus develops robust approaches regarding interaction with regulators in effectively positioning issues and identifying potential solutions.

Representation across international borders is as much of an art as it is science. The effectiveness of such advocacy is based upon strategic relationships and understanding the culture of a given region of the globe.

Whether it is a FARA representation, party system development or business development and trade, IGS professionals have the depth of understanding and the relationships to have impact.

In providing support of our clients, IGS focuses on the following services:

• Sovereign Representation
• Government Relations
• Executive Branch Campaigns
• Party System Development
• Economic Development
• Strategic Communications
• Foreign Direct Investment
• Risk Analysis and Market Entry

FARA representation is a very precise and strategic form of advocacy. It requires not only legal acumen, but a representative who has established credibility at all levels of government and is viewed as a trusted advisor in matters that count. We at IGS possess this attribute, which serves our clients well.

We also enjoy a formidable reputation as we have successfully represented companies, governments and political leaders throughout the United States, Africa, Europe, Middle East, Latin America and Asia. We also bring experience in working with international institutions such as the European Union and the United Nations.

AFRICA

Two of the most rapidly evolving regimes of the world are Africa and the Caribbean. Bringing Africa to the forefront to achieve its own economic success is a key goal of emerging countries. Identify and provide opportunities for strategic investments will result in job creation, economic revitalization and stability. Ultimately, these actions serve to build a strong and more sustainable middle class within each country. Further, with the Caribbean nations possessing a well-established tourism industry herein lies additional opportunity for economic diversification. A strategic alliance between North America, the Caribbean and Africa is a natural progression of efforts to enhance economic stability with the region.

IGS has established expertise in navigating financial systems and translating economic development opportunities into economic empowerment. In doing so, we remain committed to recognizing the need for African countries to establish individual and unique identities without forsaking cultural priorities.

EUROPE

European political and public affairs are becoming increasingly complex and challenging to those operating in and around the European Union. Key to navigating in this environment is a keen understanding of the inter-country dynamics and in having meaningful relationships with political leaders and public policy influencers. The experience and European presence of IGS partners, provides that establised credibility to assist clients across the region.

LATIN AMERICA

Throughout Mexico, Central America and the balance of Latin America, the challenges as well as the opportunities to conducting business and facilitate trade are significant. IGS partners have extensive experience in operating across North America. Our longstanding relationships provide the opportunity to more accurately and substantively navigate and identify optimum paths of interaction and project management.

IGS partners have extensive experience engaging with both domestic and foreign governments on behalf of corporate clientele. The management and cultivation of such relationships is critical to maintaining lines of communication and dialogue.

IGS assists both U.S. and multinational corporations in entering or expanding markets, be it North American, Latin America, The European Union, Africa or Asia. Competitiveness can absolutely be enhanced or complicated by governing forces.

IGS offers a range of global business services which are based on proven results. It is all about identifying and connecting opportunities for productive partnerships or ventures.

It involves established credibility “relationships” an experienced understanding of the dynamics which result in successful business development. Our global professionals have the expertise and knowledge to forge a successful plan of action.

• Global Business Solutions; market strategies and international advocacy
• Identification and evaluation of global and cross border partnership opportunities
• Business acquisition support including market and regulatory due diligence
• Commodities acquisition relating to natural resources
• Political strategies and campaign support on behalf of emerging or expanding international electoral parties

Economic development incentives and benefits are a relevant component in an ever increasingly competitive business environment. These potential benefits can often impact the bottom line in business locational decisions. However, they are not universally applied across jurisdictions. Most often it requires comprehensive analysis and strategic negotiations to identify the best options. Most importantly, follow through to make certain a company realizes what has been put forth in a project expansion, retention or new location action.

Economic incentives can often become an integral part of the decision to locate, relocate or expand company operations. As both government and corporate entities continue to be more sophisticated in this arena, it no longer is simply a matter of applying for state or local assistance. It has become an extremely strategic process by which corporate requirements need to be articulated in such a way to make a business case that benefits both the company and the public jurisdictions. It often is a matter of not only identifying potential benefits, but to identify unique solutions which can be put forth as exemptions or offsets which economic development professionals do not always consider as part of the overall approach. It is the ability to negotiate effectively and credibly to achieve maximum benefits relating to a given situation.

With the advent of the current evolving political climate, utilization of corporate incentives couples with a firm understanding of tax policy, is becoming increasingly relevant to a company.

The types of services associated with this type of advocacy includes incentive negotiations, government access strategies, site location identification and workforce training. Beyond this, a company will often want to evaluate potential risks associated with relocation or expansion and factor in these elements as part of the overall corporate objective.

We have the experience and ability to conduct these services on a confidential basis until such time as the company, under NDA disclosures with the economic development entities, is comfortable with the options and willing to disclose their identity. This approach offers a client the opportunity to conduct an evaluation of locational options without being subjected to unwanted proposals, workforce interruption and potentially, adverse political impacts.

Reaching out and credibly engaging the diaspora community across the United States and countries of origin can be a daunting task. Actions — not words are everything. Commitment and the ability to introduce realistic and credible initiatives providing mutual benefit are of utmost importance. Many companies attempt to engage and create a relevant partnership. Just as many companies fall in these efforts. The IGS team has decades of in the trenches experience in working hand in hand with these diverse communities.

Diverse ethnic communities often drive the global objectives of corporations as they expand into new markets. To develop an effective targeted outreach program, an analysis must focus on whether corporate spending is effectively aligned with the market and assess the company’s relationship with the community to determine whether it is strong enough to move forward with a creditable plan or whether remedial efforts are required.

Understanding the company’s relationship with targeted communities, be then Hispanic, Black or Asian, is particularly important when managing corporate and brand management as well as customer loyalty. How a corporation addresses these issues can make the difference between realizing success or suffering setbacks in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Reputation management, brand enhancement and customer loyalty are absolute to finding success and this is viewed through many prisms of scrutiny.

Grassroots – political – regulatory – public perception.

Anticipating events – managing relationships – creating alliances before you are in trouble.

• Assessment of in-country needs and existing relationships.
• Targeted outreach programs to strengthen existing relationships and to develop new ones.
• Strategic corporate messaging and visibility to enhance corporate credibility.
• Coalition development and management.
• Development of strategic community partnerships.