Private Counsel for CEOs, Shareholders & Public Figures

CEO Shadow Advisor

A discreet counterpart for CEOs who cannot afford blind spots.

Independent counsel to interpret hidden agendas, read power dynamics and map incentives across partners, boards, executives and external stakeholders. I help you anticipate first- and second-order reactions, pressure-test assumptions and evaluate downside risk before decisions become irreversible.

This includes identifying what is being said versus what is being negotiated, where authority actually sits, and which stakeholders can accelerate — or quietly block — an outcome. Work is conducted in strict confidence: a private thinking space where you can speak freely, stress-test scenarios and convert complexity into clear, executable moves.

Private Advisory & Strategic Counsel

A Private Advisor for structural decisions that define control, value and trajectory.

Focused or ongoing counsel for structural decisions that shape value, control and long-term trajectory: growth strategy, reorganisation, shareholder transitions, M&A, investment decisions, latent conflict and strategic resets.

Typical outputs are board-grade and action-oriented: a decision memo, an options paper with scenarios and trade-offs, a strategic thesis, a stakeholder alignment plan, and executable next steps. Engagements can be a short, intensive intervention or an ongoing advisory relationship with clear cadence and deliverables.

Business Scale

Structured growth advisory for founders, owners and private companies.

Business Scale is the structured growth advisory vertical of João Oliveira, created for founders, owners and private companies seeking to build stronger, more structured and scalable businesses. The process starts with a Free Initial Diagnostic.

Crisis & Reputation Risk Counsel

Discreet crisis counsel when reputation becomes an existential variable.

Reputational risk and crisis counsel (public or private) when the situation is time-sensitive and consequences are asymmetric. I help you establish narrative control, define non-negotiable red lines, and structure response options under stress.

The work focuses on clarity and containment: mapping stakeholders and escalation paths, prioritising what must be addressed versus what must be ignored, and sequencing actions to prevent unnecessary amplification. Typical outputs include a risk map, response framework, messaging matrix and an execution plan for critical meetings — with strict confidentiality throughout.

High-Stakes Negotiation & Conflict Advisory

Preparation and support for negotiations where the outcome is material.

Preparation and support for negotiations of high impact: between partners, shareholder entry or exit, governance conflict, negotiation with investors, renegotiation of material contracts, and sale or acquisition. I help you build the scenarios, define your limits and walk-away point, prepare the decision-maker, and stay alongside you through the room.