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                            A Note from Martha S. Samuelson, CEO and ChairmanDear readers, 
 In this year’s Forum, we provide a sample of the many high-profile and cutting-edge matters on which our people have been working. As with the rest of the world, we are finding new ways to move forward while also adjusting to the challenges that have arisen from the pandemic, and we would like Forum to reflect these efforts. Accordingly, our multiple editions in 2021 cover research, work, and analysis on both pandemic-related topics and more traditional ones. I hope that you find these selections interesting and useful.
 Best wishes,
 Martha
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                            ForumThe Role of Due Diligence in Mitigating SPAC Litigation RisksWith shareholder litigation regarding special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs, taking a sharp upturn, reasonable due diligence remains as important as ever.   
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                            ForumMachine Power: Applications of Natural Language Processing in Economic ConsultingNatural language processing (NLP) algorithms are transforming the analysis of unstructured data in different types of litigation.   
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                            ForumDefending a Socially Conscious Brand: A Q&A with Professor Tülin ErdemProf. Erdem discusses examples of litigation that revolve around misalignment between a company’s brand identity and its brand image.   
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                            ForumHas the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Economic Analysis in Merger Review?If the “new normal” for post-pandemic markets is still evolving, are the requirements for assessing competitive effects similarly in flux?   
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                            Tracking the Path of COVID-19 in HaitiShortly after the first reports of COVID-19 cases in Haiti, we developed a deep-learning AI model for forecasting local outbreaks in the country.   
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                            ForumVaccines, Incentives, and Innovation: The Lessons of COVID-19 for the Pharmaceutical IndustryProf. Michael Kinch, an expert in drug research, shares his thoughts on lessons learned from the successful development of multiple COVID-19 vaccines.   
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                            ForumCan Computers Engage in Anticompetitive Behavior? Antitrust Questions Raised by Algorithmic PricingBusinesses competing in the digital marketplace increasingly rely on sophisticated algorithms to monitor their rivals’ price movements and adjust their own pricing strategies accordingly.   
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                            ForumPriming the Pump for Economic Recovery by Investing in Advanced EnergyState and federal governments continue to debate where and at what level to apply stimulus payments to help restart economies ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.   
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                            Does Acquihiring Lead to Better Outcomes in the Technology Sector?Acquihiring – purchasing a firm to acquire its technical talent – can be an efficient way to reduce costs of acquisition while assembling a knowledgeable, functional, and effective team.   
Of Note
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                                    Contributions of a National Clean Electricity Payment Program to the EconomyThe adoption of a Clean Electricity Payment Program (CEPP) could have a significant, positive impact on the US economy, according to an independent study by an Analysis Group team. 
 Economic Analysis During the PandemicThroughout 2020 and continuing into 2021, Analysis Group has partnered with a wide range of public, private, and nonprofit organizations to help them address economic, social, and litigation challenges raised by the pandemic. 
 Spotlight on Depression in Special Edition of PharmacoEconomicsManaging Principal Paul E. Greenberg and Senior Advisor Tammy Sisitsky served as guest editors for a themed issue of PharmacoEconomics on major depressive disorders (MDDs). 
 Pro Bono Work on Rental Discrimination Wins “Hero” Award from Massachusetts Housing AssociationWe congratulate the Analysis Group pro bono team that coauthored the report “Qualified Renters Need Not Apply: Race and Voucher Discrimination in the Metro Boston Rental Housing Market,” which was awarded the Fair Housing Hero Award by the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association. 
 
        