WASHINGTON, D.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– NERA Economic Consulting is pleased to announce that Dr. Simon Wu, the former Chief Economist of the US Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Office of Inspector General, has joined the firm’s Securities and Finance Practice as a Vice President in its Washington, DC office. Dr. Simon Wu brings over 18 years’ experience in financial economics, securities trading, capital markets, mortgage finance, and risk management.

As Chief Economist at FHFA, the nation’s independent regulatory agency responsible for the oversight of government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank System, Dr. Simon Wu provided guidance on financial issues such as capital market risk management, bond trading in the future market, pricing of guarantee fees, securities and derivatives, unsecured lending, LIBOR interest rate manipulation, and valuation of mortgage servicing rights.

“Beyond Simon’s most recent work at the FHFA, he also served as Senior Economist and Director for the NASDAQ Stock Market and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). With his nearly two decades of experience, including his senior positions at two key financial regulators, Simon is uniquely equipped to help clients facing a wide range of regulatory enforcement activity and litigation,” said Dr. Lawrence Wu, NERA President. “With securities litigation showing little signs of abating, we are pleased to add such an outstanding economist of Simon’s stature to the firm.”

Dr. Simon Wu is considered a leading expert in secondary market mortgage financing, capital markets, and regulatory, economic, and market structure issues pertinent to exchanges and self-regulatory organizations, government-sponsored enterprises, and financial institutions including commercial and investment banks. As such, he has been retained as an expert in litigation and enforcement matters brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), as well as by private entities such as broker-dealers, hedge funds, pension funds, trustees, public and private shareholders, publicly traded companies, and corporate executives. He has testified before SEC Administrative Law Judges, in Federal and State courts, and before FINRA Arbitration Panels.

Dr. Simon Wu received his PhD and MA in economics from Vanderbilt University, and his BBA in economics, magna cum laude, from Belmont University.

About NERA

NERA Economic Consulting (www.nera.com) is a global firm of experts dedicated to applying economic, finance, and quantitative principles to complex business and legal challenges. For over half a century, NERA’s economists have been creating strategies, studies, reports, expert testimony, and policy recommendations for government authorities and the world’s leading law firms and corporations. We bring academic rigor, objectivity, and real world industry experience to bear on issues arising from competition, regulation, public policy, strategy, finance, and litigation.

NERA’s clients value our ability to apply and communicate state-of-the-art approaches clearly and convincingly, our commitment to deliver unbiased findings, and our reputation for quality and independence. Our clients rely on the integrity and skills of our unparalleled team of economists and other experts backed by the resources and reliability of one of the world’s largest economic consultancies. With its main office in New York City, NERA serves clients from more than 25 offices across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.