New-Rule – Rule of Law

Who We Are

New-Rule is a small, woman owned business dedicated to big results in rule of law (ROL), human rights, and democracy and governance. Drawing on decades of experience in the field, the New-Rule team is committed to converting lessons-identified to lessons-applied.

Targeted solutions to impact the most challenging development landscapes

With New-Rule, dedicated senior expert advisors are the rule, not the exception.

New-Rule brings senior engagement at all phases of our work. Our goal is to always provide a group of skilled professionals crafting and supplying tailored solutions to meet client specific needs.

Helena Smolich

Chantal C. Agarwal

Senior Strategic Advisor

Chantal C. Agarwal Strategic Partnerships and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Expert Chantal Agarwal…

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Stefan LoBuglio

Stefan LoBuglio has worked in corrections for nearly three decades as a practitioner, policy advocate,…

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Matthew H. Murray

Matthew Murray has more than 25 years of experience as an international lawyer and anti-corruption…

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Convert lessons-identified into lessons-learned.

Find Out How

Learn. Apply. Impact.

We’ve delivered over 40 solutions in over 34 countries

ROL Evaluation Design

In November 2018, New-Rule launched an evaluation of five years of rule of law (ROL) programming.

Public Defender’s Office, Kano, Nigeria

PartnersGlobal, the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative (also known as Partners West Africa – Nigeria), Democratic Action Group, and New-Rule are addressing judicial reform in Kano State, Nigeria.

Reform Kuje Prison

New-Rule works to model how the Government of Nigeria can improve processing of pretrial detainees.

Real Success Stories

“Scott and New-Rule have been a great partner to DT. He has extensive knowledge of the Rule of Law, Anti-Corruption, and Access to Justice sectors and is able to quickly synthesize that into very detailed and insightful writing. We have worked together over the last year and I have found it a pleasure to work with him and New-Rule. They continue to be a valued partner of ours and I would recommend them wholeheartedly.”

Ilan Cooper
Director at Development Transformations
“Scott is indisputably an expert in the design and implementation of international rule of law and governance programs. I had the pleasure of working with Scott when he assumed responsibility for what was then a struggling judicial reform program in Kazakhstan. Scott helped reorient the team, develop new work plans and targets, and interface with the client and counterparts. Within a year USAID called the project the most effective governance project in the whole country.

I was also able to watch Scott lead the high-profile MCC Albania threshold program (which he largely designed) and which helped catapult Albania up the World Bank Doing Business rankings and earned the country an international award for its new public procurement system.

Scott knows all aspects of the business, from business development, to program design, and program management (including budgeting, work planning, and staff management). He’s a recognized expert in the field and is rightly seen as such by his colleagues and peers.”

Patrick Lohmeyer
Executive Vice President at The QED Group
“If Scott were a coach, he would be considered a “player’s coach.” Scott is quick to congratulate employees and builds an atmosphere of trust within his team. He continually builds people up, deals with difficult situations with incredible posture, and focuses on the positives. Scott is very adept at managing difficult employees and turning their energies towards higher performance. He is an excellent presenter and communicates very well through his written reports and white papers. He has an innate ability to simplify and communicate complex subjects with employees, supervisors, and inter-agency partners.”

Matt Clark
Consultant with Gallup
“Kyra Buchko and Scott Carlson bring senior-level technical expertise on case management systems, criminal justice processes, and university-based law clinics that has been essential to the launch of our project. New-Rule’s knowledge of legal aid systems and long-standing relationships with the US law clinic community will contribute greatly to the success of Reform Kuje activities. We appreciate Kyra and Scott’s professionalism and dedication, and are very pleased to be collaborating with them on this critical justice sector project.”

Muthoni Ojuolo
Acting Director, Sub-Saharan Africa Team, PartnersGlobal
“New-Rule LLC’s Principal Scott Carlson and Senior Technical Director Kyra Buchko are bringing thoughtful leadership, creativity and collaborative problem solving as they engage in the process of updating and adapting the FAIR Program curricula. Their legal and technical expertise has proven invaluable to our staff and local partners in tailoring the TAP Training program to the Nigerian context, and their professionalism and deep commitment to the success of the project is much appreciated. New-Rule’s work product and work ethic is of the highest caliber, and I look forward to building upon our strong organizational partnership as we build this pilot program and expand it throughout the region.”

Julia Roig
President, PartnersGlobal
“This is the best Bangladesh Project Evaluation that we have done …during my tenure. New-Rule Advisors’ recommendations are detailed and useful. Congratulations, and my heartfelt thanks to New-Rule Advisors and the other team members!”

William Cartier
Chief of Party, Social Impact
“On behalf of the Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, I want extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude for New-Rule Advisor’s contribution to the Rule of Law/Security Sector Reform course…New-Rule Advisor contributed to a successful training and a more knowledgeable cadre of democracy, human rights, and governance officers.”

Virginia Leavitt
Democracy Officer/Training, United States Agency for International Development