CRA is proud to announce the promotions of four new vice presidents: Andrea Asoni in the Antitrust & Competition Practice; Rachel Berk in the Risk, Investigations & Analytics Practice; Anant Kumar in the Energy Practice; and Quenton Wright in the Labor & Employment Practice.
“Andrea Asoni is an extraordinary economist and an integral part of CRA’s global Competition Practice,” said Vice President and Global Practice Leader Margaret Sanderson. “Andrea has showcased exceptional leadership of large teams, as well as thought leadership, in many matters including high-stakes litigated mergers,” added Elizabeth Bailey, CRA vice president.
“Rachel Berk’s ability to understand and unravel complex accounting issues, undertake sophisticated financial analysis, and communicate her findings in a clear and accessible way often sits at the heart of the most challenging investigations undertaken by the Risk, Investigations & Analytics Practice,” said Practice Leader Peter Nolan.
“Anant Kumar is a consultant who brings deep expertise in energy infrastructure and markets to help clients solve complex strategic questions around the energy transition,” said Vice President Jim McMahon, CRA vice president. “He is a versatile consultant who works effectively across multiple client bases including utilities, sector investors, and large energy consumers.”
“Labor and Employment’s new vice president, Quenton Wright, brings a keen entrepreneurial spirit combined with an ability to identify innovative approaches to drive value for our clients and open growth opportunities for the practice,” said Labor & Employment Practice Leader Matthew Thompson. “Providing materials in a user-friendly format has made her a favorite among clients, and spending the extra time to discuss the details has endeared her to junior staff.”
Dr. Andrea Asoni is a seasoned antitrust economist with extensive expertise in M&A investigations before the antitrust agencies. Specializing in the application of quantitative analyses and economic models to competition issues, he directs his expertise across diverse industries such as digital platforms, consumer goods, retail, entertainment (including video gaming and music distribution), and healthcare insurance and services, among others. Dr. Asoni’s client-centric approach aids antitrust counsel in pre-deal risk assessments, regulatory review, and engagement with the agencies. Dr. Asoni has authored and managed expert testimony, supporting testifying experts for plaintiffs and defendants alike.
Rachel Berk is a leader in providing forensic accounting, financial analysis, and consulting services to law firms, boards of directors, and corporate clients. She specializes in investigations and disputes involving complex accounting issues and financial analysis and has led dozens of financial crime investigations involving financial statement fraud, asset misappropriation, accounting irregularities, Ponzi schemes, and bribery and corruption. She is a testifying expert and has also presented evidence as a fact witness in cross-border matters involving allegations of fraud and asset misappropriation.
Anant Kumar is an expert in market and regulatory due diligence, integrated resource planning, and transmission analysis, with 20 years of economic and management consulting experience in the energy industry. Mr. Kumar provides advisory services to electric utilities, financial investors, and large customers on power markets, generation and transmission planning, and regulatory issues. He has led consulting teams, advised at board and senior executive levels, and participated in public stakeholder sessions on diverse engagements, including integrated resource planning, transmission and distribution planning, M&A due diligence, decarbonization strategies, and reliability analysis.
Quenton Wright assists her clients with proactive consulting, compliance, and litigation support that may involve Equal Employment Opportunity discrimination litigation, annual pay equity studies, Diversity & Inclusion monitoring, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs affirmative action compliance, and federal and state wage and hour litigation. Ms. Wright is frequently engaged in class action employment discrimination matters where she designs and implements statistical analyses that model the employer’s processes to assess equity in pay, promotions, performance, hiring, and attrition that assist counsel in developing a strategic defense.
