Rene Befurt

Principal
Rene Befurt

Education

Ph.D., marketing, University of St. Gallen; Dipl. Kaufmann (M.B.A. equivalent), University of Mannheim; M.B.A., Union College

Summary of Experience

Dr. Befurt is an expert in applying marketing research methods to litigation matters and strategic business problems. He specializes in developing survey experiments and choice modeling approaches in consumer surveys. He has served as an expert witness in survey and sampling matters, and has assisted academic affiliates in survey conceptualization, administration, and evaluation. Dr. Befurt’s many clients include the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Office of the Attorney General of New York, Microsoft, Oracle, Keurig Dr Pepper, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford, General Motors, Toyota, the Louisiana Farm Bureau, Cree Lighting, Research In Motion, and Nestlé. He has testified at numerous depositions and trials.

As an expert witness, Dr. Befurt has worked on matters pertaining to patent infringement, trademark disputes, consumer disclosures, product liability, false advertising, brand reputation, and sampling. He has extensive experience developing experimental studies and usage surveys, as well as modeling consumer choice, including conducting and examining conjoint analyses. Dr. Befurt’s work also includes the evaluation and application of market research techniques in the finance and automotive manufacturing sectors. He has designed survey instruments, analyzed complex survey data, and created tools to allow clients to understand consumer preferences and market forces through market simulations. Dr. Befurt’s experience spans over two decades and includes numerous projects for automobile manufacturers in Europe and the US.