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Cornerstone Research Adds Former DOJ Antitrust Official as Senior Advisor

By  |  September 9, 2025

Cornerstone Research announced that Dr. Mark Chicu, who previously served as Acting Assistant Chief in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), has joined the firm as a senior advisor in its Washington, D.C., office. According to a statement from the company, Dr. Chicu will strengthen its antitrust and competition practice with his background in merger reviews and investigations into potentially anticompetitive practices.

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    During his nearly five years with the DOJ, Dr. Chicu oversaw or contributed to more than two dozen investigations across a range of industries. Per a statement, he played roles in matters such as the JetBlue-Spirit merger review, the DOJ’s case against Agri Stats, Inc., and litigation involving corporations including Visa, UnitedHealth Group, and U.S. Sugar Corporation. He also served as an economics expert for the government, testifying in the Booz Allen Hamilton Holdings Corp. case.

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    Cornerstone Research emphasized that Dr. Chicu’s addition bolsters its roster of over 100 Ph.D. competition economists, many of whom also have prior government experience. Kostis Hatzitaskos, cohead of the firm’s antitrust and competition practice, underscored the significance of Dr. Chicu’s experience in both merger and conduct cases, noting that his expertise will provide valuable support to clients.

    Read more: Cornerstone Research Bolsters Competition Team with Industry Veteran

    Dr. Chicu’s academic work has focused on strategic interactions among firms in pricing and investment, with publications in economics journals. He also contributed to a chapter in The Antitrust Revolution: Economics, Competition, and Policy, a reference on the role of economic analysis in antitrust enforcement. Before his DOJ tenure, Dr. Chicu spent seven years at another litigation consulting firm assisting with litigation and regulatory matters.

    According to the announcement, Dr. Chicu holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in economics from Northwestern University and a B.Com. with first-class honors from the University of Melbourne.

    Source: CornerStone