Practice Policy

Conflict of Interest Policy

Last Updated: November 2, 2026 · Applies to advisory, search and network engagements

Rarelevel is a principal-led practice operated by OKO Labs, Inc. It runs two client practices — product advisory and retained executive search — and one invite-only membership, the Rarelevel network. Because the same practice advises on product organizations and places leaders into them, a structural conflict exists by design. This policy states how that conflict is disclosed, separated and governed.

1. What the conflict is

Advisory work can change the product organization, its operating model and its leadership needs. A retained search then places a leader into a product organization. A client may buy both, and a candidate may be a network member. The risk is that advice is shaped to create a search, or that a search shortlist favors a relationship rather than the agreed scorecard.

2. Engagement separation

  • Scorecard first. Every search is evaluated against a written scorecard agreed with the client before the market map opens. Shortlist decisions are recorded against that scorecard.
  • No shortlist preference. An advisory client is not given preference in a search shortlist. Advisory clients may receive priority on search capacity; they do not receive priority on candidate ranking.
  • No candidate fees. Candidates are never charged for consideration, placement or network membership. Fees are paid by the client under a retained agreement.
  • Separate scopes. Advisory and search are scoped and contracted separately. A search does not begin until its scope and fee are agreed.

3. Network and candidate consent

  • Admission to the network is reviewed by a principal and is not automatic. An invitation is not an approval.
  • Directory listing, introduction requests and profile publication are separate opt-ins.
  • Member details are not shared with an employer without the member's consent, recorded against the introduction.
  • Being a member does not make a person searchable, and membership does not create an obligation to be considered for any role.

4. Disclosure and recusal

  • At the start of an engagement, Rarelevel discloses any active engagement that a reasonable client would see as conflicting.
  • Where a conflict cannot be managed under this policy, the principal declines the engagement or refers it, and the decision is recorded.
  • Conflict disclosures and recusal decisions are kept in the engagement file.

5. Records and questions

Written decisions, scorecards and disclosure records are retained with the engagement so that a client, candidate or regulator can reconstruct why a decision was made. Questions about this policy, or about a specific engagement, go to [email protected] and are answered by a principal.

This policy is reviewed when the practice changes shape — a new service line, a new class of engagement, or a change in who leads engagements.