About Frank Martin-Buck
Founder and Chief Economist
Experienced economist bringing rigorous analysis and regulatory expertise to law firms
Professional Biography
Economic Expertise for Your Legal Team
Frank Martin-Buck is a PhD economist who has spent his career providing expert analysis for complex litigation at top economic consulting firms and inside the institutions that shape today's regulatory and litigation landscape. With deep experience at the CFPB, FDIC, FTC, and his consulting work—where he built damages methodologies, authored widely-read market publications, and analyzed competitive harm in antitrust proceedings—he understands not just the economics, but how regulators and opposing experts construct their arguments.
Now, through The Fractional Economist, Frank puts that insider knowledge to work for law firms. Whether it's helping attorneys understand the economic issues involved in their case, estimating potential damages, helping identify key data and documents to request, strategizing on lines of questioning, or helping identify the right expert witness, he approaches every engagement with the same principles: clear arguments, open communication, and unimpeachable analysis.
Areas of Specialization
Economic Domains
- Consumer Protection & Behavioral Economics
- Competition Economics & Antitrust Analysis
- Financial Services Regulation & Supervision
- Payment Systems & Fintech Innovation
- Class Action Economics & Damages Methodology
- Consumer Credit & Lending Practices
- Market Structure & Competitive Analysis
Regulatory Experience
- CFPB Enforcement Investigations & Proceedings
- FDIC Banking Supervision & Risk Assessment
- FTC Antitrust & Consumer Protection Matters
- Regulatory Risk Assessment & Compliance
- Federal Consumer Financial Protection Laws (TILA, FCRA, EFTA, Dodd-Frank)
- Banking Regulations & Supervisory Guidance
- Merger Review & Competition Analysis
- Regulatory Comment Letters & Advocacy
The Fractional Economist Vision
Law firms face a persistent challenge: they need sophisticated economic expertise to compete in complex litigation and regulatory matters, but they can't justify the cost of hiring full-time economists or engaging large consulting firms for every case. This leads to law firms bringing on economic experts late in the litigation process, missing out on the opportunity to leverage that expertize to craft early case strategy.
The Fractional Economist bridges this gap. By offering fractional in-house economist services, law firms gain access to PhD-level economic expertise, deep regulatory experience, and extensive expert witness networks—all at a fraction of the cost of traditional consulting models. Whether you need a few hours of strategic consulting, project-based analysis, or ongoing retainer support, fractional economist services scale to your firm's needs and budget.
This model benefits everyone. Law firms get the economic firepower they need without the overhead. Clients get better representation because their attorneys have access to specialized expertise when they need it most.
Publications & Insights
Frank has authored multiple editions of the FDIC's Risk Review publication and contributed to regulatory analysis across federal agencies. Thought leadership content and case insights will be added here as The Fractional Economist grows.
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Let's Discuss How We Can Support Your Firm
Whether you're exploring fractional economist services for the first time or you know exactly what you need, we'd welcome the opportunity to learn about your practice and discuss how economic expertise can strengthen your cases.
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