Valuation Specialist, Applied Research Center

Who We Are

Cornerstone Research provides economic and financial consulting and expert testimony in all phases of complex disputes and regulatory investigations. The firm works with an extensive network of prominent academics and industry practitioners to identify the best-qualified expert for each assignment. With a reputation for high quality and effectiveness, Cornerstone Research has consistently delivered rigorous, state-of-the-art analysis since 1989. The firm has more than 1,000 professionals in nine offices across the United States, UK, and EU.

Current matters focus on such topics as business and securities valuation, M&A and corporate events, capital markets, risk management, market competition, high-frequency trading, the impact of marketing on consumers, and patent infringement. For example, we address issues affecting the ongoing development of financial markets, such as applying frameworks at the intersection of finance and industrial organization economics to evaluate price setting in derivative markets. Beyond financial markets, we address financial economics issues arising in a range of other sectors, from such innovation-driven industries as life sciences and high technology to energy, manufacturing, telecommunications, and industrial markets.

The Applied Research Center is a team of specialists in highly technical areas of economics, finance, behavioral science, and technology. Applied Research Center specialists offer clients cutting-edge analysis and greater efficiency by applying their depth of knowledge precisely where needed on complex cases, complementing the work of case teams. The Applied Research Center helps the firm innovate and drive progress, employing techniques at the forefront of academia and industry to provide the most impactful analysis for the firm and our clients.

The Valuation Specialist Role

The Applied Research Center is recruiting a Valuation Specialist (Senior Manager or Principal level) to conduct robust, efficient, state-of-the-art valuation analyses in high-profile litigation cases. The specialist will be a technical expert with substantial knowledge of a range of valuation methodologies and related technical issues, and significant experience in the use of these methods in detailed, nuanced applications.

The Valuation Specialist will work alongside experienced consultants, experts, and our clients to:

Provide analytical thought leadership. The specialist will lead teams in brainstorming, designing, and implementing valuation models in high profile litigation cases. They will advise teams on best practices across different valuation modelling techniques, applying their deep foundational knowledge of methods, academic research, and case law to deploy the most appropriate methods to solve complex valuation challenges. They will assist teams in clearly and accessibly describing analyses and results.
• Develop innovative, robust implementations. The specialist will work with teams to ensure that methods are efficiently and robustly implemented, and to continually improve implementations within projects and across the firm, making them more efficient and innovative.
• Be a critical reviewer and trusted advisor. The specialist will act as an advisor across multiple cases, reviewing work to ensure consistency and accuracy, and providing holistic big picture reviews to ensure consistency of assumptions and realism of results. They will also act as a peer reviewer of outputs including expert reports.
• Engage in firm- and practice-building. The specialist will play a key role in helping develop the practice area, including by conducting training, developing knowledge base materials, working on research projects and creating public materials to demonstrate our thought leadership, staying on top of relevant research and case law developments, and developing tools and templates to improve implementation efficiency.

Candidates for this role will have a strong entrepreneurial attitude, be able to work effectively in teams, be able to manage multiple stakeholders, and have excellent time management skills and an ability to handle multiple competing priorities.

We are looking for candidates who have:

• A deep foundational knowledge of common valuation methodologies (e.g. DCF, comparable companies and precedent transactions analyses) and related technical issues (e.g. cost of capital estimation, cross-border valuation, treatment of tax assets).
• An understanding of more specialized methodologies, such as real options valuation.
• Five or more years of experience in detailed, nuanced application of these methods. Litigation (in particular, Delaware Chancery Court) experience is preferred, but not required.
• Have a related advanced degree and background; for example a Finance PhD with a strong training in Accounting, or an Economics degree with an MBA.

Interested candidates

Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume through our careers website. Please be sure to rank our offices in order of your location preferences, if any. We are currently hiring for this role in our Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Bay Area (San Francisco and Silicon Valley), and Washington, D.C. offices. Cornerstone Research will provide immigration assistance to eligible foreign nationals in accordance with the firm's immigration policy and applicable law.

Cornerstone Research provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to legally protected categories, such as age, sex, gender, gender identity, race, color, creed/religious belief, medical condition, predisposing genetic characteristics or genetic information or testing, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, military status, veteran status, arrest or conviction record (except where permitted by law), sexual orientation, ethnic background, citizen status, ancestry, national origin, or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law.

Cornerstone Research's commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is embedded in our values. Our culture is one of acceptance and belonging, where every individual in every role feels valued and can contribute authentically and fully. We intentionally nurture, embrace and celebrate diversity, provide equal access and opportunity, and actively engage with each other to understand and appreciate how our differences contribute to our success, both individually and as a Firm. Learn more about our commitment to DEI via our website.

Cornerstone Research offers a market-leading compensation and benefits package. The base salary for the Valuation Specialist ranges from $297,500 to $325,000. In addition to the base salary, Valuation Specialists will be eligible for a signing bonus depending on skills, education, and experience. Valuation Specialists are eligible for discretionary bonuses based on performance, firm contributions, and other factors. Information about our benefits, including health and wellness and family support, can be found on the Careers page of our website.