Michael D. Topper, Senior Advisor; former SVP and Chair of the Board, Cornerstone Research

Michael Topper has more than 30 years of experience working with clients in antitrust merger review, complex business litigation and regulatory proceedings. Dr. Topper served for many years on Cornerstone Research’s board of directors, including four years as board chair. He also served for many years on the firm’s executive committee, was the head and co-head of the antitrust and competition practice, and helped to launch many of the firm’s economics practices. Dr. Topper also headed the firm’s Silicon Valley office and served on many of the firm’s governance committees. Dr. Topper specializes in applying microeconomics, econometrics, statistics, and survey analyses in a variety of market settings. He has consulted on antitrust issues in high-profile mergers and litigation; telecommunications and media regulatory proceedings; and class action matters alleging product misrepresentation, product liability and consumer fraud. Dr. Topper has also served as an expert in various contexts, including submitting testimony in proceedings of the Federal Communications Commission, the Copyright Royalty Board, and the California Public Utilities Commission.

What has motivated you to excel over the course of your career?

I feel very fortunate to work for Cornerstone Research. Throughout my career, the firm has consistently focused on providing the highest quality work to our clients and experts, while also maintaining its strong core values and providing great professional opportunities to its people. Cornerstone Research’s teamwork-oriented, supportive approach has motivated me to seek excellence in my own career, to collaborate with and encourage others to strive for high achievement, and to nurture future generations of firm leaders.

What has been the biggest factor in your success so far?

The biggest factor in my success has been working in a teamwork environment where I was encouraged to stretch; focus on high-quality, innovative approaches; collaborate with colleagues; and take smart risks with the goal of becoming a trusted advisor to our clients and experts.

What do you enjoy most about your career in the consulting industry?

Earlier in my career at Cornerstone Research, I most enjoyed collaborating with talented, hard-working colleagues on the interesting, novel, and complex economics issues that clients retain our firm to address. I was also excited and humbled to make a difference in the big, real-world challenges that arise in consequential litigation and regulatory matters. While I still enjoy those aspects of my work, over time I have also come to love working with the rising stars on our staff, giving them the opportunity to maximize their potential as they develop their own professional careers.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

In 1994, when I joined Cornerstone Research, it was a small, little-known, five-year-old litigation consulting firm with about 50 staff and two U.S. offices primarily focused on securities and other finance and financial institution litigation. Today, it is a thriving, highly regarded consulting firm working across a huge range of finance and economics matters, with nine offices, over one thousand employees, and a strong, vibrant leadership team. I am so proud to have played a role in the firm’s transformation over the last three decades: we have maintained our teamwork culture and core values while delivering best-in-class service to our clients and supporting the professional development of our staff.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

I’ve had the great fortune to work with many wonderful people during my professional career, from whom I received lots of insightful advice. Many of those suggestions have been variations of the wise words I first heard as a boy from my grandfather to “always strive for excellence.”

What does this recognition mean to you?

This is a terrific recognition for the arc of my own career as a consultant and longtime firm leader in a variety of capacities. More importantly, receiving this honor underscores the core values and collaborative, teamwork culture that have been the foundation of Cornerstone Research’s success for over 35 years.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.