A network of independent partners, not a chain of branches.
Underground develops a network of alliances to facilitate access to local expertise in institutional relations, public affairs, and strategic support. Coverage is coordinated according to country, client needs, and confirmed partner capacity — we extend a mandate into a market only once a partner there has actually confirmed it can take it on.
The one rule that never bends
A partner is an independent firm or principal we work alongside — never an Underground employee, and never a subsidiary. The only location Underground itself directly operates and staffs is our Washington, D.C. headquarters. Everywhere else, the status badge below tells you exactly what kind of relationship it actually is.
What each status does — and does not — claim
Under consideration only. No local presence or partner has been confirmed yet.
Served through an independent partner or associate — not an Underground-staffed office.
A limited, named local presence maintained on Underground's behalf, short of a fully staffed branch.
A directly operated Underground office, staffed by Underground personnel.
Who the partner actually is to Underground
A dedicated venture formed jointly with an independent local partner for this market — not an Underground subsidiary.
An ongoing, named partnership with an independent local firm or principal — not Underground staff.
A defined agreement to cooperate on specific matters, short of a standing partnership — not an employment relationship.
An individual or firm retained as an independent consultant, not an employee of Underground.
Directly operated by Underground; not a third-party relationship.
Three things decide whether we take a mandate into a market
Country
Whether Underground or an independent partner already has standing, relationships or a confirmed presence in the country a mandate touches.
Client Needs
What the mandate actually requires on the ground — government access, logistics, local counsel — rather than what a map implies we can offer.
Confirmed Partner Capacity
We only commit to a market once a named partner there has confirmed they have the bandwidth and standing to take it on.
Want the full, unfiltered directory?
Every office and regional coverage entry, with its status and relationship type labelled plainly.