CRA welcomes back Gopal Das Varma and Christopher Pleatsikas
Charles River Associates welcomes back Gopal Das Varma and Christopher Pleatsikas, who both take on Vice President roles in the firm’s Antitrust & Competition Economics Practice. Varma, who was previously at the US Department of Justice, brings more than 15 years of experience to the role, while Pleatsikas, formerly at LECG, joins the firm’s Oakland, California, office.
Prior to re-joining Charles River Associates (CRA), Gopal Das Varma spent four years at the US Department of Justice as an Economist in its Antitrust Division. He was primarily responsible for the investigation of proposed mergers and potential anti-competitive conduct across a range of industries – including DOJ and US Airways’ acquisition of American Airlines, Comcast’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable, and Flakeboard’s proposed acquisition of Sierra Pine. Earlier in his career he worked at CRA Charles River Associates as a Principal, where, over a five year period, he provided antitrust litigation and merger reviews. He joined the firm in 2005 following almost seven years as an Assistant Professor at Duke University.
Varma holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunications from Jadavpur University, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management and a PhD in Economics from the Northwestern University.
Varma has re-joined CRA, taking on the role of Vice President in the firm’s Antitrust & Competition Economics Practice. He boosts the practices’ capabilities with more than 15 years of experience in the field, including in the private, government and academic sectors. He joins the firm’s Washington DC office.
CRA's President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Maleh, says, “We are pleased to welcome Gopal Das Varma back to Charles River Associates. His regulatory work on acquisition matters while at the US Department of Justice make him a strong addition to our antitrust and competition economics team.”
The firm also welcomes back Christopher Pleatsikas, who takes up the role of Vice President in the Antitrust & Competition Economics Practice based in Oakland, California. He brings in extensive experience in competition analysis and antitrust issues involving mergers and acquisitions, economic impact assessment analysis, intellectual property, class action certification and damages, and regulatory consulting. He previously worked in the firm’s Antitrust & Competition Economics Practice focused on Asia-Pacific projects.
Earlier in his career Pleatsikas worked as a Managing Director at LECG, in charge of its Australian litigation practice; a Principal at Putnam, Hayes & Bartlett; a Manager of the Economic Analysis Unit, Management Advisory Services at PwC; and a Managing Associate at Urban Systems Research and Engineering. He also spent time as a lecturer in the economics department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and taught at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Maryland.
Pleatsikas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts and Sciences from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont and a PhD in Regional Economic Analysis from the University of Pennsylvania.
CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Maleh says that the firm is “excited” to welcome back Christopher Pleatsikas. He adds, “His antitrust experience and testifying expertise in courts and before administrative agencies in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Singapore is valuable as clients frequently require assistance in several jurisdictions.”
