NERA Announces Officer-Level Promotions

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NERA Economic Consulting, a leading global provider of economic advice and analysis in business, legal, and regulatory matters, today announced that Dr. Kent D. Van Liere has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Dr. Vladimir Starkov has been promoted to Vice President.

Dr. Van Liere has expertise in statistics, sampling, survey research methods, and market research. He regularly testifies at trial and in deposition on the use of surveys, sampling, and statistical analysis in a range of cases. Based in San Francisco and Denver, Dr. Van Liere's litigation and project experience includes product liability, mass torts, false advertising, trademark infringement, labor, and antitrust matters. Recent cases in intellectual property include testimony regarding surveys in Apple v. Samsung and Rosetta Stone v. Google. In product liability, he has recently testified in McAdam’s v. Monier, Inc. (roof materials class action) and People of California v. Atlantic Richfield et al. (a lead paint matter). Previously, Dr. Van Liere was a CEO or Principal with several market research companies. He also was a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee. He holds a PhD and MA in sociology from Washington State University and a BA in sociology from Hamline University.

Dr. Starkov, based in NERA’s Chicago office, specializes in the areas of intercompany pricing and asset valuation. He has participated in engagements involving various tax controversy situations, negotiation and implementation support for Advance Pricing Agreements with tax authorities, design of intercompany pricing methodologies, valuation of intangible property transferred in intercompany transactions, including cost-sharing agreements, and preparation of transfer pricing documentation. He has conducted business valuation, including closely held businesses, and valuation of stock option compensation. He has also worked on a consulting engagement focused on improving internal controls over modeling of allowances for a bank's bad debt losses. Dr. Starkov holds a PhD and MA in economics from West Virginia University and an MS in environmental engineering from Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology, Russia.

About NERA

NERA Economic Consulting (www.nera.com) is a global firm of experts dedicated to applying economic, finance, and quantitative principles to complex business and legal challenges. For half a century, NERA's economists have been creating strategies, studies, reports, expert testimony, and policy recommendations for government authorities and the world’s leading law firms and corporations. We bring academic rigor, objectivity, and real world industry experience to bear on issues arising from competition, regulation, public policy, strategy, finance, and litigation.

NERA's clients value our ability to apply and communicate state-of-the-art approaches clearly and convincingly, our commitment to deliver unbiased findings, and our reputation for quality and independence. Our clients rely on the integrity and skills of our unparalleled team of economists and other experts backed by the resources and reliability of one of the world's largest economic consultancies. With its main office in New York City, NERA serves clients from more than 20 offices across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.