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. Counsell is a Senior Consultant in NERA's Wellington office. He has worked as a professional economist for more than 15 years, with over 10 years of experience providing expert economic advice in environmental, competition, and regulatory matters in New Zealand and Australia.  He has prepared expert reports in numerous regulatory and litigation proceedings, and advised businesses, law firms, regulators, and government agencies across a host of industries, including agriculture, forestry, electricity, banking, and telecommunications.

Mr. Counsell has particular expertise working with large and complex datasets to analyse and address real-world problems. He has applied economic models, econometric approaches, and mathematical tools to predict the economic effects of mergers, estimate damages, calculate wholesale access prices, and analyze the competitive effects of vertical industry arrangements. He also has experience performing cost-benefit analysis in a variety of settings, including in mergers and acquisitions, regulatory interventions, and environmental decisions.

His work in environmental economics includes assessing the economic effects of commercial decisions affecting the environment, particularly in relation to resource consent and planning disputes under the Resource Management Act, and analysing economic instruments in water allocation as part of water trading and pricing regimes.  Mr. Counsell has also provided expert economic evidence before a hearings panel in an environmental matter involving an assessment of economic benefits in the aquaculture industry.

Mr. Counsell has substantial experience analysing the competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, as well as in cases involving allegations of anti-competitive contracts, foreclosure, and price fixing.  He has experience working with both network utilities and government regulators in regulatory price setting determinations.

Prior to joining NERA, Mr. Counsell worked for another international economics consultancy. He has worked on secondment with the New Zealand Commerce Commission in 2007, 2014 and 2015, and with Telecom New Zealand in 2010.