Distinguished economist brings over 25 years of government, economic consulting, and academic experience to the firm’s deep bench of merger, antitrust, and competition experts.
Cornerstone Research, a leading provider of economic and financial consulting and expert testimony, announced today that Gopal Das Varma has joined the firm as a vice president based in the Washington, DC, office. Dr. Das Varma will take a leading role in Cornerstone Research’s growing mergers practice and will also leverage his extensive expertise to support clients across a range of antitrust and competition matters.
A noted industrial organization economist with broad experience consulting to government agencies, private companies, and third parties, Dr. Das Varma focuses on mergers and acquisitions and antitrust regulatory investigations. He served as an economist in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Previously, he was a tenure-track professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Dr. Das Varma’s arrival further strengthens Cornerstone Research’s roster of antitrust and competition professionals, many of whom have direct government experience.
Gopal’s unique combination of regulatory, consulting, and academic experience will be key in driving the growth of our thriving antitrust, competition, and mergers practices.
—Rahul Guha
“Gopal brings a unique combination of regulatory, consulting, and academic experience to our firm,” said Rahul Guha, CEO of Cornerstone Research. “In addition to consulting on high-profile matters, both while in government and in private practice, Gopal has served as an expert witness, testifying in depositions and at trial. He will play a key role in driving the growth of our thriving antitrust, competition, and mergers practices.”
Dr. Das Varma has been retained as an expert witness by the DOJ, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and private parties. His experience spans multiple mergers, including Bayer/Monsanto, American Airlines/US Airways, Comcast’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner, and Flakeboard’s proposed acquisition of Sierra Pine. While at the DOJ, Dr. Das Varma also worked on other competition matters, including conduct investigations and disputes alleging vertical restraints.
With its commitment to excellence, client service, and collaboration, Cornerstone Research is a perfect fit for my expertise and experience.
—Gopal Das Varma
“I am delighted to welcome Gopal to the firm and to our deep and growing bench of competition economists,” said Celeste Saravia, cohead of the firm’s antitrust and competition practice. “His insights from both sides of the table—consulting for merging parties and for the government—will help us continue to anticipate and address the complex challenges our clients face in merger review and other competition contexts.”
Dr. Das Varma speaks frequently at academic seminars and antitrust conferences and publishes his research in peer-reviewed economics and professional journals. Earlier in his career, as an assistant professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, he taught graduate-level courses in industrial organization, competitive strategy, and game theory.
Gopal’s insights from both sides of the table—consulting for merging parties and for the government—will help us continue to anticipate and address the complex challenges our clients face.
—Celeste Saravia
“With its commitment to excellence, client service, and collaboration, Cornerstone Research is a perfect fit for my expertise and experience,” said Dr. Das Varma. “I am eager to collaborate with the firm’s deep bench of mergers, antitrust, and competition professionals, as well as its outstanding academic and industry experts, to deliver high-quality, data-driven analysis in our clients’ most consequential matters.”
Before joining Cornerstone Research, Dr. Das Varma worked in leadership positions at an international economic consulting firm. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from Northwestern University; a postgraduate diploma in management from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, India; and a bachelor’s in engineering from Jadavpur University.
Washington 
