Mr. Gauthier has over 25 years of experience working in or with over 100 countries as an attorney and economist specializing in trade & investment, economic zones, competitiveness, infrastructure and spatial development initiatives, governance and administrative reform. He has led teams for a number of international donor agencies. He is highly knowledgeable regarding global best practices in regulatory frameworks for private sector development. He has counseled corporate clients on: finance; M&A; real estate, construction and environmental law; intellectual property, e-commerce & telecommunications; tax & investment incentives; work visas & labor law; competition; incorporation; and contracts. He has reviewed market access arrangements, WTO compliance, and conducted FTA, CVD, customs and freight work. He has secured project financing, brokered international transactions, and represented commercial interests before various governments. He has lobbied political circles on trade & investment matters, and facilitated numerous conferences and industry workshops. He has aided clients in the establishment of overseas operations, incorporating businesses on 4 continents. Mr. Gauthier has designed and managed tens of millions of dollars in development assistance projects, including complex, multi-year projects with dozens of members of personnel. He has launched 5 field offices. At the IFC's Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS), he was the point-person for SEZ legal issues, business registration reform, and Francophone West Africa, as well as a member of the Administrative barriers to investment reform committee. He is published and has spoken at numerous public events and training seminars in his field.