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Key people at Cornerstone Research.
Founded in 1989 by Cynthia Zollinger, Jim Malernee, and Chris Nelson, San Francisco-based Cornerstone Research provides economic and financial consulting, data analysis, and expert testimony for complex commercial litigation and regulatory proceedings. The professional services firm operates with a workforce of more than 1,000 employees distributed across nine global offices, functioning collaboratively as a single integrated entity. Its consultants utilize advanced econometrics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning tools to support a diverse client base of leading trial attorneys, multinational corporations, and federal government agencies. The company delivers targeted litigation support across highly regulated practice areas, including antitrust, financial institutions, securities, intellectual property, energy, and pharmaceuticals. Under the leadership of CEO Rahul Guha, who succeeded Michael Burton in 2020, the organization recently expanded its international footprint by opening a new office location in Brussels, Belgium.
Key people at Cornerstone Research.
Cornerstone Research is a leading economic and financial consulting firm specializing in litigation support, expert testimony, and data-driven analysis for complex legal and regulatory matters.[2][3][4] Founded with a mission to deliver objective, research-based insights through collaboration with top academics and industry experts, the firm emphasizes core values of quality, commitment to clients and experts, dedication to its people, and a "one-firm" culture that fosters trust and respect across its 900+ employees in nine U.S. and European offices.[1][2][3] It serves law firms, Fortune 500 companies, and regulators in high-stakes cases involving antitrust, securities, intellectual property, and more, leveraging advanced tools in AI, machine learning, econometrics, and large-scale data analytics to provide a competitive edge.[1][3][5]
Cornerstone Research was founded in 1989 by Cynthia L. “Cindy” Zollinger, James (Jim) Malernee Jr., and Chris Nelson, three former consultants from the MAC Group who spotted a gap in litigation consulting for rigorous economic analysis.[1][2] They launched the firm with offices in Boston (near Harvard) and Menlo Park (near Stanford) to access elite academic talent, prioritizing data-driven objectivity, expert partnerships, and a people-first culture rooted in honesty, respect, and care.[1][2] Over 35+ years, it has evolved from a three-person startup to a global leader with steady growth, expanded expertise into over 20 practice areas like data privacy and algorithmic bias, and a retained "one-firm" ethos despite international expansion.[2][3]
Cornerstone Research rides the wave of escalating regulatory scrutiny and litigation in tech-driven sectors, where market forces like AI adoption, data privacy concerns, and algorithmic bias demand precise economic modeling and evidence-based insights.[1][3] Its timing aligns with a litigious environment fueled by antitrust probes into Big Tech, securities disputes amid volatile markets, and IP battles in innovation-heavy fields, positioning it as a key advisor to regulators like the SEC and DOJ.[3][5] By bridging academia, industry, and courts with advanced analytics, the firm influences ecosystem standards for fair competition, compliance, and damages assessment, helping shape decisions in international arbitration and trade disputes.[2][3]
Cornerstone Research is poised for continued expansion amid rising demand for sophisticated litigation analytics in AI ethics, climate-related financial risks, and global antitrust trends. Evolving regulations and data proliferation will amplify its role, potentially through deeper AI integrations and European market growth. Its enduring focus on quality and culture ensures resilience, solidifying influence as the go-to firm for tech-legal intersections and reinforcing its founding promise of objective, impactful analysis.[1][2]
