Law · Policy · Investment · Sustainable Development
About the firm
Helping institutions make confident decisions through the integration of law, policy, strategy and research.
About Sterling
Sterling Advisory was established from a simple conviction: Africa’s most important opportunities and challenges cannot be addressed through legal advice alone. Investment decisions are shaped by regulation, public policy, sustainability, finance, geopolitics and institutional capacity. Sterling brings together legal analysis, policy insight, commercial awareness and rigorous research to provide practical, forward-looking advice tailored to African markets.
Vision
To become Africa’s most trusted strategic advisory institution, recognised for helping governments, businesses and investors navigate complexity with clarity, integrity and insight.
Mission
To empower decision-makers with rigorous legal, regulatory and strategic advice that enables sustainable investment, effective governance and inclusive economic development across Africa.
What we stand for
— independent advice grounded in honesty, professionalism and sound judgement.
— the highest standards in research, analysis and client service.
— clear judgement free from unnecessary influence.
— evidence and rigorous inquiry as the foundation of advice.
— working with clients as trusted partners and bringing multidisciplinary perspectives.
— developing new approaches to emerging legal, policy and market challenges.
— measuring success by client value and contribution to Africa’s development.
Leadership
Founder & Principal, Sterling Advisory
Martin Waana-Ang is a Ghanaian lawyer, researcher and strategic advisor whose work sits at the intersection of law, public policy, investment and sustainable development. He is a J.S.D. Candidate at Yale Law School, where his research focuses on international economic law, critical minerals, natural resource governance, industrial policy and the political economy of the global energy transition.
Before founding Sterling Advisory, Martin practised with a leading Ghanaian law firm, advising on dispute resolution, transactions and regulatory matters, including matters in the energy and extractive sectors. He previously served as a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Ghana and has taught and supported legal education at the University of Ghana School of Law, Ashesi University and the Faculty of Law at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Martin holds an LL.M. from Yale Law School and an LL.B., summa cum laude, from KNUST. He received his professional legal training at the Ghana School of Law and was admitted to the Ghana Bar in 2024. At the Ghana School of Law, he received the Mensah Sarbah Award for Best Professional Law Student and the award for Best Student in Civil Procedure.
Martin brings this combination of legal practice, academic research and policy analysis to Sterling Advisory. His approach is grounded in the view that many of Africa’s most consequential challenges cannot be understood through law, economics, policy or politics in isolation. Effective advice requires an understanding of how these forces interact and how institutions can translate that understanding into practical decisions.
How we work
— define the client’s objectives, constraints and operating environment.
— examine the legal, regulatory, policy, institutional and commercial context.
— convert analysis into clear choices and practical recommendations.
— support execution where required.
— remain engaged as conditions, regulations and strategic needs evolve.
Our clients
Clients choose Sterling for its integrated approach to complex decision-making. We bring together legal expertise, policy insight, commercial understanding and rigorous research to provide advice that is analytically sound, strategically informed and practical to implement.
Our work is grounded in a deep understanding of the legal, regulatory and institutional environments in which our clients operate. We work closely with governments, investors, businesses, development institutions, individuals and NGOs to understand their objectives, anticipate emerging risks and opportunities, and develop solutions suited to their particular circumstances.
At Sterling, we value independence, intellectual rigour, responsiveness and long-term partnership. Our aim is to give clients the clarity and confidence required to make consequential decisions in complex and evolving environments.
Institutional credentials
Our clients operate where law, policy and capital meet. We work across seven practice areas and ten industry sectors.
Consultation
Whether entering a new market, responding to regulatory change, developing infrastructure or shaping public policy, Sterling Advisory helps decision-makers act with clarity and confidence.