CRA Bolsters Antitrust Practice with Harvard Professor

Event summary

Charles River Associates (CRA) added Professor Feng Zhu as an Academic Affiliate to its Antitrust & Competition Economics Practice on October 1, 2026.
Zhu is a recognized expert on digital transformation, competitive strategy, and business model innovation.
He has advised global business leaders at tech firms such as Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and Uber.
Zhu's expertise includes antitrust and competition matters in China, reinforcing CRA's China Competition Practice.

The big picture

CRA's hire of Feng Zhu underscores the growing intersection of academic research and real-world antitrust strategy, particularly in the tech sector. As regulatory scrutiny of digital markets intensifies globally, consulting firms with deep expertise in both economics and technology are positioning themselves as essential advisors. Zhu's dual background in academia and industry advisory could give CRA a competitive edge in high-stakes competition cases.

What we're watching

Regulatory Dynamics: How Zhu's expertise will influence CRA's advisory approach to tech giants facing antitrust scrutiny.
Market Expansion: Whether CRA can leverage Zhu's China experience to grow its presence in Asian markets.
Client Retention: The pace at which CRA can convert Zhu's existing tech client relationships into new engagements.