At IMS, we believe our people are our greatest asset. In honor of our incredible team, we are thrilled to go "beyond the bio" and share the personal stories of employees across our organization.
This month, we spotlight Kan Chen, PhD, Research Director, Economics & Statistical Analysis, and Sean Malone, PhD, Senior Vice President, Economics & Statistical Analysis, from our advisory division. With extensive backgrounds in economics, statistical analysis, and financial modeling, Kan and Sean play a crucial role in helping attorney clients and expert witnesses navigate complex financial litigation through data-driven insights. Their expertise, from forecasting economic trends to estimating damages, ensures our partners have the strongest possible support in high-stakes disputes.
Discover Kan and Sean's paths to IMS Legal Strategies, their unique skills, and the passion they bring to their roles.
Kan Chen, PhD, Research Director, Economics & Statistical Analysis
Q: How did you get into this industry and find IMS?
A: Before joining IMS, I worked as a senior economist. My first job was at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, and then I moved to Texas and worked at BBVA Compass and PNC Bank. My past work mostly focused on forecasting financial and economic scenarios. My original career goal was primarily to provide market insights to investors in specific industries, such as energy and real estate, in particular states like Texas and Alabama.
In 2021, I turned down a job offer in Hong Kong, and I started to look for other options where I could use my skills and expertise. Also, I preferred to stay in Texas. I considered myself extremely lucky that the HR team from IMS (back then, it was still Analytic Focus) reached out to me. We had amazing conversations, and I felt this was the right opportunity. I quickly made the "leap of faith" and joined the firm in 2022!
Q: What do you like most about your specific department and/or role?
A: My division is called "advisory.” We provide consulting services in areas such as statistics, surveys, damage estimates, and various field-specific topics, like housing and securities. My current role is to support the testifying experts, manage resources, and ensure we present the strongest possible evidence.
What I like most about our team is the supportive atmosphere: we treat one another like an extended family. Everyone is humble and eager to assist each other. The environment is fantastic!
Q: What special strengths and unique skills do you offer clients and colleagues?
A: From my training and past work as an economist, I obtained extensive experience in many areas. I used to build models and project hundreds of variables, ranging from crude oil prices during the oil price war to Texas unemployment during COVID-19. I also used to regularly provide indicators for financial investors, like the hawkish/dovish sentiment index of Fed officials’ speeches and recession probabilities for the next 12 months.
I consider myself a “Swiss Army Knife” kind of economist. To me, economics is creativity meeting practicality. I am always eager to learn about clients' and colleagues' needs. With my capability of transforming existing information into economic models, I can produce projections, “but for” scenarios, and hypothesis tests, providing quantitative results with reasonable assumptions and solid models.
Q: What has been your favorite case to work on so far?
A: All joking aside, I have to say: I do not have a favorite case, just like I do not have a favorite kid. Every case has its unique charms and challenges.
Q: What do you think sets IMS apart from competitors or other companies?
A: From my perspective as an economist, IMS sets itself apart by its width of services. When an attorney needs a series of interdependent services, the transactional and frictional costs among those services can be extremely high. Arrangements of those services can be highly costly and inefficient if performed by different firms. Yet for IMS, those services could potentially be all performed under one roof. Such a streamlined, one-stop service can significantly save clients' money, time, and communication costs.
Sean Malone, PhD, Senior Vice President, Economics & Statistical Analysis
Q: How did you get into this industry and find IMS?
A: As I neared the completion of my graduate studies, I became interested in the intersection between financial analysis and law, so I joined Analytic Focus as a senior research associate. Analytic Focus then became part of IMS through acquisition in 2023.
Q: What do you like most about your specific department and/or role?
A: In the advisory division of IMS Legal Strategies, we tackle a wide range of challenges in complex litigation using data and statistical methods to strengthen case arguments and tell a strategic story. Statistical analysis and damages modeling play a crucial role across claim types in a variety of industries, and I enjoy uncovering the many nuances. Beyond learning something new every day, the opportunity to make a tangible impact on cases makes this work truly exciting.
Q: What special strengths and unique skills do you offer clients and colleagues?
A: Besides my experience conducting the analyses mentioned above, clients and colleagues appreciate my strategic mindset, attention to detail, and ability to identify weaknesses in opposing expert analyses. My ability to translate the results into a compelling narrative helps strengthen case strategies and drive impactful results.
Q: What do you think sets IMS apart from competitors or other companies?
A: IMS Legal Strategies is a one-stop shop for litigation support. In my advisory division, we have in-house experts to design, execute, and report on data analyses. Through customized expert witness services, we can quickly source additional experts for analysis and testimony. Finally, our litigation consulting, visual advocacy, and presentation technology teams help clients craft and present the most impactful arguments.
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We would like to thank Kan and Sean for their dedication to providing analytical expertise that supports our legal clients and expert witness partners in achieving success. Together, we win.
Visit the links below to meet the IMS team and learn about our culture and career opportunities.
