Nabi is a Partner and leads Control Risks’ Intelligence and Investigations practice in Europe and the former Soviet Union (FSU). Based in London, his background is in policy analysis and investigations in Russia and the former Soviet Union, and his clients are predominantly law firms, banks and multinational corporates.
Clients seek Nabi’s support on issues ranging from assessing sanctions risks and investigating regulatory breaches, to developing strategies for countering hostile threats to their personnel and assets. He also provides guidance on pursuing high-risk business opportunities safely and responsibly.
Nabi’s expertise lies in contextualising discreet and sensitive intelligence using robust regional knowledge and policy analysis frameworks, aligning insights with commercial, compliance, and strategic objectives. Having managed hundreds of assignments across varied contexts and risk profiles, he identifies broader patterns and trends, helping clients to develop strategies grounded in proven, real-world experience.
Recent engagements include:
- Developing crisis management strategies for multinational companies with assets in Russia facing risks
- Advising clients in contentious engagements, providing strategic intelligence to support dispute resolution
- Leading comprehensive divestment support for organisations exiting the Russian market
- Conducting multi-jurisdictional investigations into product diversion and supply chain vulnerabilities
Nabi has taught policy analysis in prestigious Russian universities, was a prominent political and security writer and the chief editor of The Moscow Times, Russia’s only independent English-language newspaper, before joining Control Risks in 2016.
Before moving to London in 2022, Nabi headed Control Risks’ Moscow office. He authored and co-authored several research papers on conflict and politics, published in academic journals such as Europe-Asia Studies, Brassey’s Eurasian and East European Yearbook, Current History, Connections, Demokratizatsiya and others.
Nabi holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, where he specialised in negotiation and conflict resolution; and a degree in Construction Engineering. He is bilingual, speaking both Russian and English.