CRA consultants on the ground in Europe specialise in such areas as antitrust and competition economics, financial economics, and life sciences. For example, CRA's European Competition Practice specializes in providing economic advice on matters of competition policy and regulation. The team is known for rigorous and innovative economic analysis, careful attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively as part of a wider team of advisors. From Airtours to GE/Honeywell, Tetra/Sidel, Oracle/PeopleSoft, Ryanair/Aer Lingus, TomTom/Tele Atlas, Microsoft and Intel, the team has played a key role in many of the cases that have shaped European competition policy in recent years. The team has also been involved in major cases before the competition authorities of the Member States, and in South Africa.

Doubling up 
CRA has made good progress growing its two main areas of business recently: management consulting and litigation services. Under the former, its consultants offer advice on corporate and business strategy, performance improvement, portfolio management, market supply demand dynamics, pricing, technology management, capital allocation, supply chain and sourcing, and shareholder value.

CRA’s 2009 purchase of Marakon Associates' assets was a move intended to build a larger presence in the management consulting space and to complement its litigation and regulatory work. Under the terms of the deal, Marakon continues to operate as a distinct practice under CRA's umbrella, working closely with other CRA practices when necessary to meet a client's needs.

Law firms, businesses and government agencies also turn to the firm for its litigation support, expert analysis, and guidance on regulatory and corporate matters. CRA’s consultants and academic affiliates have in-depth industry knowledge and expertise in economics, accounting, finance and business. Service offerings include class certification, damages analysis, expert reports and testimony, and regulatory analysis. CRA also offers business advisory services, including strategy development, valuation of tangible and intangible assets, risk management and transaction support.

Because CRA consultants work in both management consulting and economic/litigation consulting, their time on the road for business travel can vary by the type of consulting they do and by practice. Some management consultants can spend three days per week on average working on-site at the client while travel for those working on economic/litigation matters is very low.

Minding your Is and Ps 
CRA is a prolific publisher, regularly putting out studies, surveys and reports. It also has a number of newsletters that focus on the energy industry, accounting and valuation, antitrust and competition issues, financial markets, life sciences, transfer pricing, and the oil and gas industry, among other subjects.

Note: The information in this profile focuses on CRA’s litigation and economic consulting business. For information on the firm's management consulting business, please refer to Vault's profile of the CRA subsidiary Marakon.