CRA International

Provide leading-edge analytics and expertise to be the undisputed global leader in shaping critical disputes and decisions.

CRA International SWOT Analysis

Updated: October 4, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

How to Use This Analysis

This analysis for CRA International was created using Alignment.io™ methodology - a proven strategic planning system trusted in over 75,000 strategic planning projects. We've designed it as a helpful companion for your team's strategic process, leveraging leading AI models to analyze publicly available data.

While this represents what AI sees from public data, you know your company's true reality. That's why we recommend using Alignment.io and The System of Alignment™ to conduct your strategic planning—using these AI-generated insights as inspiration and reference points to blend with your team's invaluable knowledge.

Powered by Leading AI Models

Anthropic

Industry-leading reasoning capabilities with 200K context window for comprehensive analysis

Google Gemini

State-of-the-art multimodal intelligence with real-time market data processing and trend analysis

OpenAI GPT

Advanced reasoning with comprehensive industry knowledge and strategic problem-solving capabilities

This CRA International SWOT analysis reveals a firm at a pivotal juncture. Its elite brand and unparalleled network of experts are formidable strengths, driving high-value, repeat business. However, this very model creates dependencies and scalability challenges that render it vulnerable. The primary threat is not just from direct competitors but from technological disruption and the escalating war for talent. Key priorities must be to fortify its core talent advantage while aggressively integrating AI to create new efficiencies and service lines. Seizing opportunities in global regulation and diversifying its portfolio will be crucial for transforming its boutique dominance into scalable, long-term market leadership. The path forward requires balancing its prestigious, human-centric model with strategic technological innovation to secure its future.

FTI Consulting Ankura Consulting Group Berkeley Research Group Compass Lexecon Guidehouse

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

Provide leading-edge analytics and expertise to be the undisputed global leader in shaping critical disputes and decisions.

Toggle Theme

Strengths

EXPERTISE: World-class network of academic & industry expert witnesses.
BRAND: Elite reputation in antitrust and high-stakes litigation support.
FINANCIALS: Strong balance sheet with consistent cash flow for investment.
DIVERSIFICATION: Balanced portfolio across litigation and management.
RETENTION: High client repeat business (90%+) reflects service quality.

Weaknesses

DEPENDENCE: Revenue is concentrated with a small number of top experts.
SCALABILITY: 'Apprentice' model is effective but slow to scale capacity.
MARKETING: Brand awareness outside niche legal circles remains limited.
TECH ADOPTION: Slower to integrate new analytics tech vs. disruptors.
INTEGRATION: Cross-selling between disparate practices is under-optimized.

Opportunities

REGULATION: Increasing global regulation in tech, ESG, and finance.
GEOPOLITICAL: Trade disputes and supply chain shifts create demand.
AI/DATA: Opportunity to build AI-powered tools for legal analytics.
EXPANSION: Grow presence in high-growth European and APAC legal markets.
SECTORS: Expand life sciences and energy transition consulting services.

Threats

COMPETITION: Intense rivalry from FTI, BRG, and Big Four advisory.
TALENT WAR: Escalating costs and difficulty in retaining top PhDs.
RECESSION: Economic downturns can delay M&A and discretionary projects.
LEGAL TECH: AI-driven legal tech could automate some core analysis.
CLIENT IN-HOUSING: Large corporations building their own expert teams.

Key Priorities

TALENT: Fortify expert network against intense competition to protect core.
INNOVATION: Integrate AI to enhance analytical firepower and efficiency.
EXPANSION: Capitalize on global regulatory trends to enter new markets.
DIVERSIFICATION: Broaden service offerings beyond core litigation focus.

Create professional SWOT analyses in minutes with our AI template. Get insights that drive real results.

Get Free SWOT Analysis Template

CRA International OKR

Updated: October 4, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

This CRA International OKR plan is a focused and powerful blueprint for evolution. It wisely anchors on fortifying the company's core strength—its elite talent—while aggressively pushing into the future with AI integration. The objectives for global expansion and service innovation directly address the strategic need to diversify revenue and reduce dependency on core litigation markets. The key results are specific, measurable, and strike an effective balance between ambitious growth and operational excellence. This plan doesn't just aim for incremental improvement; it sets the stage for transforming CRA's business model, ensuring its intellectual horsepower is scaled by technology and targeted at the most significant global growth opportunities, securing its leadership for the next decade.

FTI Consulting Ankura Consulting Group Berkeley Research Group Compass Lexecon Guidehouse

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

Provide leading-edge analytics and expertise to be the undisputed global leader in shaping critical disputes and decisions.

TALENT DOMINANCE

Become the undisputed destination for elite analytical talent.

HIRE: Onboard 20 new senior-level experts from top academic institutions and direct competitors.
RETENTION: Reduce regrettable turnover of Vice Presidents and Principals to below 5% annually.
BRANDING: Achieve a top-3 ranking on Vault's 'Best Consulting Firms for Economic Consulting' list.
DEVELOPMENT: Launch a new mentorship program connecting 100% of junior staff with senior experts.

AI-DRIVEN INSIGHTS

Integrate AI to amplify our analytical and expert capabilities.

PLATFORM: Deploy a proprietary GenAI-powered research platform, reducing initial case analysis time by 25%.
EFFICIENCY: Automate 5 core data analysis workflows, saving 10,000 consultant hours across the firm.
TRAINING: Certify 50 consultants in advanced data science and AI application through a new program.
PILOTS: Launch 3 client-facing pilot projects using new AI-powered predictive analytics tools.

GLOBAL EXPANSION

Dominate high-growth international markets and service areas.

EUROPE: Increase revenue from European competition cases by 15% through targeted business development.
APAC: Establish a new strategic partnership in Singapore to expand our footprint in APAC disputes.
PRACTICE: Grow the Energy Transition consulting practice revenue by 20% by securing 5 new clients.
REGULATION: Launch a new service offering focused on AI and data privacy regulation, winning 3 anchor clients.

SERVICE INNOVATION

Diversify our portfolio with new, high-margin offerings.

CROSS-SELLING: Increase revenue from cross-practice referrals by 10% via a new incentive program.
MANAGEMENT: Grow non-litigation consulting revenue to represent 35% of total company revenue.
PRODUCTS: Develop and launch our first data subscription product based on proprietary industry analytics.
PARTNERSHIPS: Form 2 strategic alliances with leading legal tech firms to create integrated solutions.

METRICS

Non-GAAP Revenue per Employee: $750,000
Consultant Utilization Rate: 75%
Non-GAAP Operating Margin: 11.5%

VALUES

Integrity & Respect
Collaboration & Mutual Support
Commitment to Excellence
Client-First Perspective

Build strategic OKRs that actually work. AI insights meet beautiful design for maximum impact.

Get Free OKR Template

CRA International Retrospective

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

CRA International Investor Relations Website (10-K, 10-Q, Presentations)
Yahoo Finance for CRAI stock data and market capitalization
CRA International corporate website for leadership and services information
Third-party market research reports for Management Consulting TAM
Competitor websites and financial reports (e.g., FTI Consulting)

FTI Consulting Ankura Consulting Group Berkeley Research Group Compass Lexecon Guidehouse

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

Provide leading-edge analytics and expertise to be the undisputed global leader in shaping critical disputes and decisions.

Toggle Theme

What Went Well

FINANCIALS: Solid revenue performance in key practices like Forensic Services.
UTILIZATION: Maintained healthy consultant utilization rates above 70%.
CAPITAL: Continued disciplined capital allocation via share repurchases.
HIRING: Successfully recruited several key senior-level experts globally.
MARGINS: Effective cost management protected non-GAAP operating margins.

Not So Well

GUIDANCE: Softer than expected forward-looking revenue guidance.
DEMAND: Some softness observed in non-litigation project demand.
HEADCOUNT: Slight dip in headcount, indicating tight talent market.
GROWTH: Slower growth in certain practice areas compared to prior year.
M&A: M&A-related engagements saw a cyclical slowdown, impacting revenue.

Learnings

DIVERSIFICATION: Litigation-related services provide crucial stability.
MARKET: Client demand is sensitive to macroeconomic uncertainty.
TALENT: The market for top-tier consulting talent remains constrained.
AGILITY: Must be able to pivot resources to high-demand practice areas.
INVESTMENT: Continuous investment in talent is non-negotiable for growth.

Action Items

RECRUITING: Double down on recruiting efforts for senior-level hires.
SALES: Proactively engage clients on emerging regulatory risk areas.
INNOVATION: Accelerate pilot programs for AI-driven analytics tools.
COSTS: Maintain disciplined expense management amid uncertain demand.
INTEGRATION: Launch initiatives to drive more cross-practice collaboration.

Run better retrospectives in minutes. Get insights that improve your team.

Get Free Retro Template

Organization	SWOT Analysis	OKR Plan	Top 6	Retrospective

Explore specialized team insights and strategies

CRA International Market

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

CRA International Investor Relations Website (10-K, 10-Q, Presentations)
Yahoo Finance for CRAI stock data and market capitalization
CRA International corporate website for leadership and services information
Third-party market research reports for Management Consulting TAM
Competitor websites and financial reports (e.g., FTI Consulting)

Founded: 1965
Market Share: Boutique leader in a fragmented market
Customer Base: Fortune 500s, Am Law 100 firms, gov't
Category:
Economic Consulting
SIC Code: 8742 Management Consulting Services
NAICS Code: 541611 Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Zip Code: 02116 Boston, Massachusetts
Congressional District: MA-7 BOSTON
Employees: 900

Competitors

FTI Consulting View Analysis

Ankura Consulting Group Request Analysis

Berkeley Research Group Request Analysis

Compass Lexecon Request Analysis

Guidehouse Request Analysis

Products & Services

No products or services data available

Distribution Channels

CRA International Business Model Analysis

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

CRA International Investor Relations Website (10-K, 10-Q, Presentations)
Yahoo Finance for CRAI stock data and market capitalization
CRA International corporate website for leadership and services information
Third-party market research reports for Management Consulting TAM
Competitor websites and financial reports (e.g., FTI Consulting)

Problem

High-stakes litigation requires expertise
Complex regulations create business risk
Strategic decisions need rigorous data

Solution

Expert testimony and consulting services
Economic analysis of markets/competition
Data-driven management consulting

Key Metrics

Consultant utilization rate
Revenue per employee
Client retention and project win rates

Unique

Premier network of academic affiliates
Deep specialization in niche legal areas
Reputation for intellectual rigor

Advantage

Brand equity built over decades
Network effects within the legal field
Proprietary case data and frameworks

Channels

Direct outreach by senior partners
Referrals from law firms
Industry conferences and publications

Customer Segments

Am Law 100 law firms
Fortune 500 corporate legal departments
Government agencies and regulators

Costs

Employee compensation and benefits
Recruiting and professional development
Technology and data infrastructure

CRA International Product Market Fit Analysis

Updated: October 4, 2025

CRA International provides the world's leading law firms and corporations with unassailable economic analysis and expert testimony. By connecting clients with premier academic and industry minds, it delivers the rigorous insights required to shape outcomes in their most complex, high-stakes disputes and strategic decisions, ensuring clarity and mitigating risk when it matters most.

RIGOR: Unassailable analysis for critical decisions.

EXPERTISE: Access to premier academic and industry minds.

IMPACT: Shaping outcomes in your most vital disputes.

Before State

Facing complex, high-stakes litigation
Uncertainty in major business decisions
Lacking credible, data-driven analysis

After State

Armed with rigorous, defensible analysis
Clarity on strategic paths and risks
Compelling expert testimony for cases

Negative Impacts

Massive financial and reputational risk
Poor strategic choices, lost opportunity
Weak legal arguments, adverse rulings

Positive Outcomes

Mitigated risk, favorable settlements
Optimized M&A, pricing, and strategy
Stronger legal positions, court wins

Key Metrics

Client retention rate

Approx. 90%

NPS

Estimated 60-70 (High)

User growth rate

N/A (Project-based)

Customer reviews

Limited public reviews

Repeat purchase rates

Very high

Requirements

Access to world-class academic experts
Sophisticated data modeling capability
Deep industry and regulatory knowledge

Why CRA International

Pairing clients with elite consultants
Applying advanced economic frameworks
Delivering clear, persuasive testimony

CRA International Competitive Advantage

Unmatched network of academic affiliates
40+ year reputation in legal circles
Proven track record in landmark cases

Proof Points

Testimony in DOJ vs. Google litigation
Analysis for major M&A transactions
High-profile intellectual property cases

CRA International Market Positioning

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

CRA International Investor Relations Website (10-K, 10-Q, Presentations)
Yahoo Finance for CRAI stock data and market capitalization
CRA International corporate website for leadership and services information
Third-party market research reports for Management Consulting TAM
Competitor websites and financial reports (e.g., FTI Consulting)

Strategic pillars derived from our vision-focused SWOT analysis

Attract & retain premier academic & industry experts.

Integrate advanced analytics & AI into services.

Expand leadership in high-stakes litigation.

Grow non-litigation management consulting.

What You Do

Expert economic and management consulting

Target Market

Law firms & corporations in disputes

Differentiation

Deep ties to academic experts
Elite brand in litigation support

Revenue Streams

Time and materials consulting fees
Project-based expert testimony

CRA International Operations and Technology

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

CRA International Investor Relations Website (10-K, 10-Q, Presentations)
Yahoo Finance for CRAI stock data and market capitalization
CRA International corporate website for leadership and services information
Third-party market research reports for Management Consulting TAM
Competitor websites and financial reports (e.g., FTI Consulting)

Company Operations

Organizational Structure: Practice-area matrix structure
Supply Chain: Primarily human capital based
Tech Patents: Proprietary analytical models, no patents
Website: https://www.crai.com/

Top Clients

Board Members

CRA International Competitive Forces

Threat of New Entry

MEDIUM: While capital barriers are low, building the brand, reputation, and expert network required to compete for premier engagements takes decades, creating a significant barrier.

Supplier Power

HIGH: Elite academic and industry experts are the key suppliers and have significant leverage, demanding high compensation and professional autonomy.

Buyer Power

MEDIUM: While clients (top law firms, corporations) are large and sophisticated, the specialized, high-stakes nature of the work limits their ability to dictate terms.

Threat of Substitution

LOW: For high-stakes litigation, there are few substitutes for credible, human expert testimony. AI tools are emerging but cannot yet replace the core offering.

Competitive Rivalry

HIGH: Fragmented market with several large, well-funded rivals (FTI, BRG, Ankura) and numerous specialized boutiques competing fiercely on talent and reputation.

Analysis of AI Strategy

Updated: October 4, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The CRA International AI SWOT analysis highlights a powerful, latent advantage. The company's vast repository of proprietary case data and world-class domain experts provides the perfect fuel and guidance system for developing specialized, high-value AI. However, cultural risk aversion and a potential skills gap in AI engineering could impede progress. The greatest opportunity lies not in replacing experts, but in augmenting them—using AI to automate laborious data processing and uncover deeper insights, thereby amplifying their core value. The strategic imperative is to build a proprietary AI platform governed by rigorous ethical standards. This will create a formidable competitive moat, transforming their data from a passive asset into an active engine for efficiency, innovation, and next-generation consulting services.

FTI Consulting Ankura Consulting Group Berkeley Research Group Compass Lexecon Guidehouse

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

Provide leading-edge analytics and expertise to be the undisputed global leader in shaping critical disputes and decisions.

Strengths

DATA: Decades of proprietary case data for training specialized models.
EXPERTS: Domain experts to guide AI development and validate outputs.
CLIENTS: Trusted relationships to pilot and deploy new AI-driven tools.
REPUTATION: Brand trust mitigates client concerns over AI adoption.

Weaknesses

LEGACY: Existing workflows and systems are not optimized for AI/ML.
INVESTMENT: Potentially under-investing in AI R&D vs. tech-first firms.
SKILLS GAP: Lack of internal AI/ML engineering talent at scale.
RISK AVERSION: High-stakes nature of work may slow adoption of new tech.

Opportunities

EFFICIENCY: Automate data analysis and document review by 30-40%.
PREDICTION: Develop models to predict litigation outcomes or damages.
SERVICES: Create new AI-as-a-Service offerings for law firm clients.
INSIGHTS: Uncover novel patterns in complex datasets for expert reports.

Threats

COMMODITIZATION: GenAI tools may automate basic economic analysis tasks.
BIAS: Risk of biased AI models leading to flawed, indefensible reports.
DISRUPTION: Tech-native startups could offer faster, cheaper analysis.
SECURITY: Increased cyber risk from deploying AI on sensitive client data.

Key Priorities

AUGMENTATION: Deploy AI to augment expert analysis, not replace it.
EFFICIENCY: Automate low-level tasks to free up expert time for strategy.
PLATFORM: Build a proprietary AI analytics platform for internal use.
GOVERNANCE: Establish rigorous ethical and quality controls for AI output.

Create professional SWOT analyses in minutes with our AI template. Get insights that drive real results.

Get Free SWOT Analysis Template

CRA International Financial Performance

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

CRA International Investor Relations Website (10-K, 10-Q, Presentations)
Yahoo Finance for CRAI stock data and market capitalization
CRA International corporate website for leadership and services information
Third-party market research reports for Management Consulting TAM
Competitor websites and financial reports (e.g., FTI Consulting)

Profit: FY 2023 Net Income: $42.1 million

Market Cap: $1.12 billion (as of May 2024)

Stock Performance

Annual Report: View Report

Debt: FY 2023 Total Debt: $20.0 million

ROI Impact: Share repurchases and dividends

SWOT Index

Composite strategic assessment with 10-year outlook

/ 100

Market Leader

ICM Index

STRATEGIC ADVISOR ASSESSMENT

CRA's Iconic Index reflects its status as a Market Leader with a powerful, defensible niche. Its North Star ambition is high, but achievability is tempered by scalability challenges. The SWOT factors are balanced, showing strong upside but significant competitive threats. The OKRs are solid and category-shaping. A high AI leverage potential, based on proprietary data and domain expertise, is a key future driver. The growth multiplier is modest, reflecting a mature, competitive market despite a large TAM.

SWOT Factors

Upside: 79.3 Risk: 74.0

OKR Impact

AI Leverage

Top 3 Strategic Levers

AI PLATFORM: Build a proprietary AI platform to scale expertise.

TALENT: Aggressively invest to win the war for expert talent.

GLOBAL REGULATION: Expand services tied to global regulatory shifts.

AI Disclosure

This report was created using the Alignment Method—our proprietary process for guiding AI to reveal how it interprets your business and industry. These insights are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.

Next Step

Want to see how the Alignment Method could surface unique insights for your business?

Request your custom report Contact our team

About Alignment LLC

Alignment LLC specializes in AI-powered business analysis. Through the Alignment Method, we combine advanced prompting, structured frameworks, and expert oversight to deliver actionable insights that help companies understand how AI sees their data and market position.