Who we are

Drakensberg is a boutique international law firm helping development organizations (Multilateral Development Banks - MDBs, International Financial Institutions - IFIs, UN agencies, development/oversight agencies, impact investors, philanthropic foundations, non-profits and NGOs) and corporates (multinationals and SMEs) prevent, and respond to, integrity risks and violations through a three-fold service, combining integrity compliance, investigation and legal advisory.

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The firm was founded by Benoit Doublet, a lawyer admitted to the Paris and New York Bars, with prior compliance and investigative experience at the World Bank (INT) and within the United Nations system (IFAD).

About Benoit Doublet

Originally from a corporate and public sector background, Benoit’s career took a decisive turn in 2014 after a transformative year working with development organizations, primarily in Africa.

Deeply impacted by the challenges corruption posed to these organizations’ efforts, he took the decision — while hiking through South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains — to dedicate his career to fighting corruption in development contexts.

Since then, Benoit has gained extensive investigative and integrity compliance expertise in various settings at national and international levels (international law firm, prosecution authority, World Bank, United Nations), leveraging his academic and professional background at the intersection of law, public affairs, and corporate management.

Benoit’s experience gives him rare, insider insight into international organizations’ integrity standards, investigative processes and compliance expectations. He is undoubtedly one of the few French attorneys with such hands-on experience navigating these frameworks from the inside.

Benoit is particularly familiar with the African continent, having served as IFAD’s investigation focal point for West and Central Africa, and worked in over 10 African countries on fact-finding missions and development projects over the past 11 years.

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A member of the Paris and New York Bars, Benoit is a certified trainee on intelligence and interrogation techniques (French National Training Center for Judicial Police) and SEAH investigations (CHS Alliance). He is fluent in French and English.

He is a graduate of HEC Paris, Sciences Po Paris, Sorbonne University and Berkeley Law School with a specialization in International Law.

* Key Achievements *

Compliance

  • Reviewed and assessed integrity compliance programs submitted by World Bank-sanctioned entities.

  • Advised management/legal teams of sanctioned entities on compliance programs’ enhancements.

  • Contributed to the World Bank Integrity Compliance Officer’s final determinations regarding entities’ release from sanctions.

  • Assisted in designing an integrity compliance program for a major French group subject to France’s Sapin II Law.

Investigation

  • Led and participated in investigations into fraud, corruption, and staff misconduct (e.g., harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, conflicts of interest) involving MDB/IFI staff and funded activities; prepared investigative and litigation files for submission to sanctions bodies.

  • Conducted investigative field missions in Africa, including in conflict-affected areas (Mali, DRC, Chad), and carried out fact-finding and impact assessment missions for development organizations in Africa (Senegal, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Mali, Cameroon, Uganda), Asia (Philippines), and the Middle East (Israel and the Palestinian Territories).

  • Assisted in criminal investigations led by the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (Parquet National Financier - PNF) and contributed to trial preparation.

  • Participated in an internal investigation for a World Bank-sanctioned entity.

Legal Advisory & Training

  • Advised operational teams and national project units on integrity risk-mitigation strategies for large-scale development projects.

  • Provided legal advice on bilateral and multilateral agreements involving development organizations (MDBs/IFIs, national development agencies, impact investors) and national oversight bodies.

  • Advised on anti-corruption and public finance legislative initiatives at the French Senate, and briefed clients on compliance requirements under France’s Sapin II anti-corruption law.

  • Supported the PNF Deputy Financial Prosecutor during France’s first major “ill-gotten gains” corruption trial through legal research and case preparation.

  • Designed and delivered integrity training sessions for MDB/IFI staff, project teams, and government officials.

  • Co-led an integrity capacity-building initiative between IFAD and several national oversight agencies in West and Central Africa.

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Benoit has successively worked for a business consulting firm (Groupe Alpha), the French Senate, Laurent Cohen-Tanugi Avocats (boutique international law firm), the French National Financial Prosecutor's Office (Parquet National Financier), the World Bank (Integrity Vice Presidency) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD, United Nations specialized agency).