Cherie Blair's international consultancy to become ABS

A legal strategy consultancy chaired by Cherie Booth QC is among the latest firms to have ABS licences approved by the SRA.

The Sunday Times reported in February last year that Omnia Strategy, based in the West End, had advised the government of Bahrain on legal reforms following violent protests in the country by the Shia majority against the Sunni royal family.

The consultancy said in a statement at the time that its work aimed to help Bahrain implement reforms which would protect human rights.

On its website, Omnia said the firm was a “legal strategy consultancy that helps you achieve your international goals through our integrated expertise in law, governance and economics.

“We specialise in tackling complex problems that require an innovative and multi-disciplinary approach.”

Cherie Booth QC, better known as Cherie Blair, is profiled on the website as chair of the consultancy.

“She has over 35 years’ experience as a leading barrister specialising in public law, human rights, employment and European Community law, arbitration and mediation.

“Highly reputed worldwide, she has appeared in the European Court of Justice and in Commonwealth jurisdictions, and also lectures internationally. Mrs Blair is highly sought after for her mediation and dispute resolution skills.”

Omnia is licensed to cary out litigation only. When its licence application goes live on 21 January, its COLP will be Julia Hulme and COFA Peter Wilson.

Wilson is described on the website as “an economist and governance expert, specialising in institution building in developing countries.

“He is the former COO of Coffey International Development Ltd, directing major governance and economic development programmes on behalf of the British Government and EU.”

Hulme is a dual qualified US and UK solicitor, who specialised in international markets and cross-border transactions at Latham & Watkins.

She is described on the site as “having extensive experience in international corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and the energy sector.

“Prior to Omnia Strategy, she was the deputy general counsel for a major European downstream oil company with over €20 billion in revenues where she was in charge of all legal aspects of the company including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, arbitration, compliance and restructuring.”

The fourth member of the management team mentioned on the site is Sofia Wellesley, described as a “consultant with substantial experience in project management”.