Services

Strategic consulting for domain industry-related problems

I advise domain registries, registrars, RSPs, TLD applicants, and related organizations facing high-stakes decisions around growth, compliance, market entry, DNS abuse, and operations. My role is to help you move faster and with less risk by bringing practical judgment, industry context, and hands-on experience from thirty years inside the domain name business.

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Here is a sampling of what I’ve actually done:

I built the go-to-market sales and product marketing functions for iQ Global’s DNS abuse management and domain analytics platforms, closing business across 180+ TLDs and ccTLDs and repositioning the company brand in the market from RegistryOffice to iQ.

I launched two brand protection products, AbuseShield and BrandLock, through corporate registrar channels, and brought an API version to market via partnership with Dynadot.

I helped build the dotMobi (.mobi) TLD from zero registrations to over one million paid active domains under management, a Top 20 registry operator out of about 270 worldwide at the time, by constructing a 250+ reseller network across 120 countries, then assisted in its acquisition by Afilias (now within Identity Digital) and stayed on to launch two new product lines globally.

I co-managed a successful MIIT accreditation process in China for TLD Registry Ltd., meeting directly and repeatedly with ministry officials and other stakeholders in China to secure formal government approval in 2017. That process doesn’t have a manual. It requires patience, relationships, and the ability to navigate systems designed to be opaque.

I managed a live RSP backend migration for two TLDs already in General Availability, one of the most technically and operationally fraught transitions a registry can undertake, without disrupting registrants.

I co-founded and built two corporate domain name records management and brand protection companies, Internet Domain Names, Inc., sold to Network Solutions, and Arcemus LLC, sold to Iron Mountain.

The problem: Many applicants underestimate the effort required to turn a promising idea into a credible, well-prepared application. The real challenge is not just filing. It is building a sound strategy, making the right partner choices, and preparing for the operational and sales realities that follow delegation.

I help applicants evaluate whether they should apply, shape the business and operating case, and navigate the path from concept through application planning and beyond. This is especially useful for applicants who want senior guidance without having to assemble every piece themselves.

The following summarizes my advisory and analysis services that can be engaged to support an Applicant’s participation in the ICANN 2026 new gTLD round. I can provide the application strategy, market analysis, financial modeling, and documentation work required to take an application from initial feasibility through to a submission-ready package in TAMS, including, at the Applicant’s option, project management and TAMS entry support, and post-application submission support. Please contact me for greater detail and pricing.

• SERVICE 1: BUSINESS CASE PACKAGE 
  • A complete end-to-end analysis from initial string feasibility through to a client-facing business case document. This is the work required to reach a well-evidenced go/no-go decision before paying the ICANN application fee.
  • Delivered as: Business Case Executive Summary (Applicant-facing document) with supporting documents. Note: the Business Case Package delivers the financial model and supporting analysis. The Appendix 5 tables, formatted to ICANN’s official template, are produced in Service 2 (see below) for Full Application Package clients.
• SERVICE 2: ICANN APPLICATION DOCUMENTATION
  • Preparation of the string-specific and financial ICANN application question responses. Covers the string and financial sections of the application; the Applicant is responsible for all TAMS entries, unless optionally subscribed to the Project Management and TAMS Entry Support service.
  • Delivered as: Written answers and supporting documentation for all covered question sets, ready for the Applicant to enter into TAMS, unless optionally subscribed to SERVICE 3 (see below).
• SERVICE 3: PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND TAMS ENTRY SUPPORT
  • For Applicants who have completed their application preparation independently and hold all required documentation, my designated senior associate or I will manage the TAMS entry and submission process on their behalf. Enter all application responses into TAMS, upload the Appendix 5 financial tables, and complete a final pre-submission review before the application is submitted.
  • The Applicant is responsible for providing complete and accurate answers to all Applicant-specific question sets and for signing all required self-certifications, which must be executed by the Applicant’s CEO, President, CFO, or equivalent officer.
• SERVICE 4: POST APPLICATION SUBMISSION SUPPORT
  • Once an application is submitted in TAMS, the ICANN evaluation period begins. This phase introduces a distinct set of demands: responding to ICANN evaluator questions, managing contention if competing applications exist, tracking application status across multiple evaluation tracks, and advising on any issues raised during financial or technical review.
  • I can provide ongoing advisory support during this period, covering:
    • Evaluation monitoring
    • Clarifying questions support
    • Contention management
    • Policy and regulatory advisory
    • Delegation readiness
• Additional resources:
  • Introductions to trusted RSPs, advisors, and specialist partners

New gTLDs, Next Round: Who Really Wins This Time?

Four under-discussed questions worth adding to a 2026 dotBrand TLD decision checklist

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The problem: Once a TLD or registry-related business is operating, commercial, policy, technical, and channel issues rarely stay neatly separated. Growth can stall because of distribution, operations, partner strategy, market fit, or regulatory friction, and often more than one at the same time.

I advise established operators and service providers who need practical, senior-level support in business development, operational direction, channel strategy, market expansion, and ecosystem relationships. I can also help organizations navigate China-related opportunities and constraints, where local knowledge and stakeholder management matter.

• Registry and registrar business development
• Partner and channel strategy
• RSP-related advisory and operational coordination
• China market entry, accreditation context, and commercial development
• Strategic support for growth, positioning, and resilience

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The problem: DNS abuse is no longer just a compliance issue. It is a trust, reputation, contractual, and operational issue, and many organizations still struggle to connect policy expectations with workable detection, mitigation, and response programs. I see this area getting more attention and international accountability in the coming years.

I help registries, registrars, and ecosystem providers evaluate practical solutions, sharpen their abuse posture, and identify the right partners, tools, and messaging. This includes both strategic advisory and business development support for organizations building or adopting abuse-related solutions.

• Thought leadership, education, and strategic communications
• Solution evaluation and vendor guidance
• Business development partnerships for abuse detection and mitigation services
• Policy and compliance strategy related to DNS abuse and security

The problem: Trademark holders, registries, and registrars need more proactive ways to prevent abusive registrations before harm is done, but many still rely on reactive workflows that are costly, duplicative, or too slow.

I advise on approaches that connect brand protection goals to scalable operational solutions, including domain-blocking models, channel strategy, and the commercialization of protective services.

• Domain blocking and brand protection strategy
• Commercialization support for protective products and services
• Registrar and registry channel positioning
• Practical guidance on prevention-focused approaches

Why Reliable Whitelists Matter as Much as Blocklists: Introducing Reputable Domains

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A note on how I work

I’ve spent the past 14 years operating as an independent contractor, working remotely across multiple time zones and continents. My clients get direct access to 30 years of relevant context and an associate network built over decades.

That said, I’m always open to discussing full-time roles with no existing client conflicts. If you’re looking for senior-level domain industry expertise on a permanent basis, let’s talk about whether it’s the right fit.