The energy transition involves widespread political and geopolitical changes that create both risks and opportunities for companies and investors. These can manifest through legal and fiscal mechanisms, but they can also take the form of broader and less defined political trends or ESG expectations.
In political terms, the energy transition presents both transition risks (those arising from changing technologies or policies that could devalue or strand assets over time) and liability risks (those arising from society's expectations, either legal or based in public opinion). This means that 'political' risk in the energy transition is not just governmental or official in nature, but can stem from a much wider set of stakeholders.
Helmsley Energy provides specialist political risk services to ensure our clients understand the people, policies and processes that could affect their interests. We work with energy sector investors (LPs and GPs), boards, executive teams and corporate affairs units in domestic and multi-market settings.
We support clients' political risk analysis in several ways:
- Political due diligence: We support buyers, sellers and lenders in assessing the ways in which public policies, decision makers or political trends might affect a transaction or assets under consideration. This can include merger control, regulatory action and legislative or electoral risks that might affect the value of an asset or relationship.
- ESG strategy: We help companies to understand the rapidly evolving Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) landscape as it applies to their own risk profile. We support engagement with the key organisations and reporting frameworks, as well as communications and political risk strategies to help clients to articulate their ESG approach.
- Supporting expansion: We map the political and regulatory terrain ahead of market entry or launch so that our clients understand the key political figures, organisations, policies and risk factors on the horizon. We can combine political risk analysis with strategic counsel, guiding wider corporate strategy.
- Measuring public or target audience opinions: We help clients to understand how they are perceived among key audiences, including highly targeted political influencers such as Members of Parliament. Using qualitative and quantitative research, we build a clear picture of an organisation’s brand profile, including any vulnerabilities and strengths.
- Ongoing risk and corporate oversight: Several of our clients have been non-UK-based organisations, who require independent political monitoring to inform their boards and senior leadership teams. We provide timely insights and bespoke political monitoring services regarding their assets and operations.
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