Kevin Counsell

Education

MCA in economics, with Distinction; Victoria University of Wellington
BCA in economics, with Honours (First Class), Victoria University of Wellington
BSc in mathematics, Victoria University of Wellington

Experience

Mr. Kevin Counsell is an economic expert specialising in environmental, competition, and regulatory economics. He provides economic analysis on environmental policies and commercial decisions affecting the environment, and has served as an expert witness before the New Zealand Environment Court and independent hearings panels. He regularly advises clients on issues relating to mergers and anticompetitive behaviour, and the regulation of utility companies. Mr. Counsell’s experience spans a wide range of geographies, including New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Asia.

In the environmental space, Mr. Counsell has experience assessing the costs and benefits of environmental (including climate change) regulations, and analysing the economic impacts of investments affecting the environment. His recent case experience includes economic analysis in respect of a marine reserve, a mining operation, an aquaculture farm, regulations affecting agriculture and horticulture farming, and zoning regulations for a property development. Mr. Counsell also has extensive experience on issues relating to water allocation, including approaches to implementing water markets and enhancing the tradability of water permits.

In competition and regulatory economics, Mr. Counsell advises clients on the competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, anticompetitive behaviour, contracting issues, foreclosure, and price fixing. He has provided economic advice to both utility companies and government regulators on the design and operation of regulated pricing frameworks across a host of industries, including telecommunications, post, electricity, gas, water, and airports.