Economic Analysis at the Forefront
Economic analysis plays a crucial role in formulating and understanding public policy, adjudicating disputes, and planning business strategy.
Legislators shape policy using economic analysis. Regulators weigh proposed rules with economic models. Enforcement officials base actions on economic tests. The courts increasingly adopt economic efficiency as a primary criterion. Juries are often persuaded by economic reasoning and analysis. In many business cases, economic analysis provides the only coherent picture of the facts.
For attorneys and business people, effectively communicating with the government now requires an understanding of the policy-makers’ economic framework and the ability to speak in economic terms.
Applied economic analysis, conducted with an appreciation of the regulatory and legislative environment, is essential to modern business and government practice.
Our Capabilities
Secretariat Economists professionals have the academic credentials and practical experience required to devise competitive strategies, conduct analysis for litigation, and formulate public policy. The qualifications of the staff reflect the premium Secretariat Economists places on building a team of people who perform work of the highest quality.
Academic Credentials
Secretariat Economists professionals have advanced degrees from leading universities. Although most specialize in microeconomics, with an emphasis in the field of industrial organization, the staff also includes experts in econometrics, statistics, corporate finance, labor economics, and game theory. Many have taught economics at the university level.
The economists at Secretariat Economists have a keen interest in how economic analysis is applied to policy-making, regulatory issues, public and private litigation, and business strategy. They are encouraged to pursue their own non-client research. Titles of selected books, chapters and sections, articles, reports and presentations by the staff are listed on the Publications section.
Outside Advisors
As with most fields of knowledge, the body of economic thought continually grows and changes. Competent economic advice requires staying abreast of new developments in economic thinking. Communications with academic economists conducting research on relevant issues is an important part of that process. Secretariat Economists often helps clients identify academic economists and provides research support for their expert testimony. Secretariat Economists also retains as outside directors and advisors several prominent academic economists.
Teamwork
Secretariat Economists preserves a collegial atmosphere that encourages cooperation among all its professionals. Each project is assigned to a team with the skills, credentials, and experience to develop and present a careful, correct, and understandable economic case. Typically, the team will include people who have done work in the industry involved and are familiar with the forum, be it a court or government agency.
Relevant Experience
Secretariat Economists is well known for its work in commercial litigation—including antitrust, regulatory consulting and business strategy matters. Secretariat Economists professionals have extensive experience testifying and providing related economic analyses for both liability and damages aspects of jury trials, bench trials, and arbitration hearings. Secretariat Economists also assists companies directly to comply with labor laws and other business regulations. In addition, Secretariat Economists assists government entities to assess the competitive implications of proposed mergers and acquisitions.
Relatedly, the economists at Secretariat Economists have government experience and have held important enforcement positions in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve System
Our work entails frequent interaction with a wide range of regulatory agencies and public forums, both at the federal and state level:
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Labor
- Department of the Treasury
- Federal Communications Commission
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Federal Reserve Board
- Federal Trade Commission
- Food and Drug Administration
- Internal Revenue Service
- International Trade Commission
- Office of the U.S. Attorney
- Other Federal and State Regulatory Agencies
- Postal Rate Commission
- Securities and Exchange Commission
- State Utility Commissions
- Surface Transportation Board
- U.S. Trade Representative
- Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice