Infrastructure & PPP
Crisis Resolution & Complex Negotiations
When Your Critical Project is At Risk
Tom Teerlynck
Global Infrastructure Deal Expert
International Negotiation Specialist
IMC-Certified Mediator
Negotiations deadlocked. Trust gone.
Financial close a mirage. Deal on the hook.
Construction delayed. Claims flying.
Credibility crumbling. Relationships at risk.
Project underperforms. Public services
not delivered. Conflict all around.
Reputation down the drain. Value destroyed.
Team has done all it can.
Reports everywhere.
Lawyers are circling.
Situation getting out of control.
Top management dragged in.
In global infrastructure and PPPs, crises are not a matter of if
— but when.
And when you are about to run out of options, and breakdown or legal escalation looms,
— I step in to work with you as an external, impartial, and trusted crisis negotiation expert or mediator, driven to unlock the deadlock, save the deal, or resolve the conflict.
with fresh eyes, free from internal politics and past entanglements
discrete, neutral, and bound by confidentiality
ready to work behind-the-scenes
focused on de-escalating tensions and rebuilding trust - internal and external
skilled in uncovering root causes and unlocking creative solutions
apt at persevering — driving the process to resolution
committed to protecting your project, your value, your partnership — and your reputation
“Third-party facilitation is now
a best practice recommended
by international bodies
to pre-empt legal crises.”
I bring the expertise needed to resolve your most critical project challenges.
1. Advanced negotiation & conflict resolution
I combine real-world infrastructure dealmaking with formal training in:
structured negotiation, and
mediation
including from Harvard’s Program on Negotiation and the International Mediation Campus (IMC-certified mediator).
This expertise is rarely available in-house, yet essential to de-escalate entrenched conflict and reach durable, workable solutions.
2. Deep infrastructure sector experience
$50B+ in complex projects across 30+ countries (Africa, Asia, Middle East, Europe)
Former senior executive at ACWA Power, TAQA, ENGIE, DataVolt e.a.
Fluent in the public-private and DFI dynamics that drive infrastructure.
This depth allows me to quickly decode tension points and navigate complexity with authority.
3. Cross-functional legal, financial, and technical fluency.
I’m highly familiar with PPP contracts, risk allocation, legal frameworks, financial structures, and technical constraints.
That means I don’t just handle the negotiation — I understand what’s being negotiated.
This is key in bridging siloed teams and breaking through multi-dimensional deadlocks.
4. Communication & interpersonal skills
I build trust quickly, manage emotions, and reopen communication channels.
As an objective third party, I can bridge internal and external divides and foster constructive dialogue — not just between organizations, but also within them.
I work with your teams, not around them, building internal alignment and long-term capacity as we go.
“After months of intense negotiation on one of the country’s first major power projects, the Deputy Minister of Energy called me in privately—just before signing. He looked at me and asked, ‘Would you advise us to sign this agreement?’
That question said everything. Despite negotiating hard for the investor, I had earned the Ministry’s trust. They knew I had pushed for a deal that was not just bankable—but also fair, balanced, and fully understood on both sides.” — Tom Teerlynck
Hands-on crisis resolution and deal closure — when the stakes are highest.
Diagnose:
Uncover the real root causes — not just technical or legal, but also human and political.
Distinguish surface issues from the deeper dynamics blocking progress.
Strategize & Design:
Craft recovery paths tailored to your situation — realistic, phased, and grounded in negotiation logic.
Re-align Stakeholders:
Rebuild internal and external alignment and restore trust across fractured relationships.
Bring people back to the table and communication back on track.
Negotiate or Mediate:
Lead or support multi-party negotiations. Mediate conflict between stakeholders.
Help find solutions that are not just acceptable — but sustainable.
Drive Closure:
Push for decisions. Guide the parties to the finish line.
Ensure execution and agreement — not just process.
Sustain Success:
Support implementation.
Strengthen internal capability to deal with future tensions before they become crises.
When your project hits a crisis point, I step in as a neutral third-party negotiator or mediator to work directly with you and your team.
Results:
The deal unlocked.
The conflict resolved.
The project back on track.
Public services delivered.
Trust restored.
Relationship rebuilt.
Value preserved.
“Companies bring in external negotiators and mediators when the cost of staying stuck becomes too high—especially where specialized knowledge, neutrality, or rapid resolution are critical to protecting project value and organizational reputation, and prevent legal escalation.”
“External negotiators and mediators are often preferred for their impartiality and ability to facilitate constuctive dialogue between public and private partners.”
I work
across energy, water, digital, transport, social, and climate-resilient infrastructure
With
Project developers / sponsors
Public sector (ministries, agencies, municipalities)
Development finance institutions (DFIs)
Equity investors / Private equity firms
Contractors and Operators
Law firms, financial advisors, technical advisors
