Kroll Acquires ABC Economics to Expand Competition and Disputes Advisory as Regulatory Caseloads Rise
Kroll's pickup of ABC Economics adds litigation and regulatory economics muscle at a moment when antitrust enforcers at DOJ and FTC are running heavier dockets.
Kroll announced July 15, 2026 that it has acquired ABC Economics, a move the firm framed around growing demand for economic expert work in complex transactions, litigation, and regulatory investigations. For practitioners who rely on independent economic testimony or expert reports, the deal signals that the market for that kind of credentialed analysis is tightening.
The timing is not accidental. The Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission have both expanded their investigative pipelines over the past two years, stretching the roster of economists available to serve as neutral or party-retained experts. Firms that can field economists with courtroom and agency experience command a premium, and buyers of that expertise — whether a merger target or a defendant in a price-fixing case — are paying accordingly. For more on the topic discussed above, see US Biz Daily.
What the Addition of ABC Economics Actually Changes
ABC Economics has built its practice around competition economics and regulatory analysis, the precise disciplines most in demand when a deal draws a second request or a class-action complaint survives a motion to dismiss. Adding that headcount to Kroll's existing disputes and investigations platform means the combined entity can now staff engagements that would previously have required outside referrals or competing bids for scarce talent.
For corporate counsel and in-house finance teams, the practical implication is fewer vendors at the table when a matter requires both financial advisory and economic expert testimony. That consolidation can accelerate case preparation but also concentrates relationships — worth noting before a conflict check becomes urgent mid-litigation.
Kroll positions itself as an independent advisory firm, which matters specifically when a court or regulator scrutinizes the neutrality of an expert. Independence claims are tested in Daubert hearings and FTC administrative proceedings alike, so the firm's ownership structure and client roster will face more scrutiny as the platform grows larger.
Pricing Pressure and the Expert Market
The broader advisory market for economic experts has seen rate compression at the junior level while senior testifying economist fees have held or risen. A 2025 survey by the American Bar Association's Antitrust Law Section found that hourly rates for senior economic experts in merger investigations averaged above $1,200, up roughly 18 percent from 2022 levels. Acquisitions like this one are partly a response to that dynamic — firms are internalizing talent rather than paying external market rates on every engagement.
For dispute-side finance professionals pricing litigation risk or modeling settlement ranges, that matters. When the pool of credible economic experts shrinks because major platforms have absorbed independent shops, access timelines extend and costs rise for all parties.
The practical takeaway: if your organization has active or anticipated competition, regulatory, or commercial litigation matters, audit your expert relationships now. Conflicts can emerge quickly after an acquisition closes, and the window to retain a preferred economist before a counterparty locks them up is shorter than most legal calendars assume. Identify backups before you need them.