CRA International Advises Jordan on Major Concession Agreement for Exploration and Development of its Gas Resources

CRA International (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing management, economic, and financial consulting services, today announced that the Company advised the National Petroleum Company of Jordan in the structuring and negotiation of an agreement that will allow BP plc to explore and potentially develop gas resources in the Risha concession in northeast Jordan. The project agreement, signed in Amman on October 25, 2009, will be submitted to the Jordanian Parliament, and subject to its approval, passed into law.

The Risha field currently produces approximately 21 million cubic feet a day of gas. The reservoir’s complex "tight gas” geological structure poses development and production challenges that will likely result in extraction costs being far higher than a conventional gas project. BP, which has substantial expertise in managing tight gas fields around the world, is seeking to bring its advanced technology and considerable expertise to the Risha development. If BP’s exploration program identifies commercially producible gas reserves, production could potentially reach several hundred million cubic feet per day.

CRA provided commercial advice to the National Petroleum Company (NPC) to develop a project agreement that enabled BP to successfully conclude a farm into the Risha project whilst maintaining the integrity of NPC’s existing concession.

Jim Burrows, President and Chief Executive Officer of CRA, said, "CRA’s role in support of Jordan’s National Petroleum Company for negotiation of BP’s farm into the Risha development is a testament to our expertise in natural resource projects. As evidenced by our lengthy track record, corporations and governments regularly turn to CRA for valuable counsel on the development and exploration of natural resources throughout the Middle East.”

Eng. Qutaiba Abu Qorah, the Director General of the National Petroleum Company, added, "BP is an ideal partner for the development of the Risha concession. BP has committed to investing a significant amount of capital on the exploration of gas resources in northeast Jordan. This project has important implications for Jordan’s national energy policy. If BP’s exploration program proves to be successful, the gas produced will help to reduce Jordan’s reliance on imported energy.”

CRA worked in partnership with Trowers & Hamlins on this project. Trowers & Hamlins, an international law firm with offices throughout the United Kingdom and the Middle East, served as legal advisor to NPC. Trowers & Hamlins and CRA have previously collaborated on several other successful assignments in Jordan. The two firms recently assisted the Jordanian government in negotiating a significant oil shale concession with Shell and are currently advising on a series of smaller oil shale concessions. They also worked together on the Jordan Gas Transmission Pipeline project and the related long-term purchase of Egyptian gas; the development of Jordan’s Energy Master Plan; restructuring of the Natural Resources Authority; and early stage development of Jordan’s wind energy projects.

CRA consultants in Bahrain and London advised on the Risha project agreements, led by Vice President Nicholas Braley and Principal Richard Bass.

About Charles River Associates (CRA)

Founded in 1965, Charles River Associates® is a leading global consulting firm that offers economic, financial and business management expertise to major law firms, businesses, accounting firms and governments. The Company's consultants combine uncommon analytical rigor with practical experience and in-depth understanding of industries and markets. CRA is adept at handling critical, tough assignments with high-stakes outcomes. The Company's analytical strength enables it to reach objective, factual conclusions that help clients make important business and policy decisions and resolve critical disputes. Headquartered in Boston, CRA has offices throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Detailed information about Charles River Associates, a registered trade name of CRA International, Inc., is available at http://www.crai.com.

Statements in this press release concerning the expected use of CRA’s expertise, the Risha project agreements, the future business, operating results, estimated cost savings, and financial condition of the Company and statements using the terms "anticipates,” "believes,” "expects,” "should,” or similar expressions, are "forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties. Information contained in these forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain and actual performance and results may differ materially due to many important factors. Such factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made by the Company include, among others, the Company’s restructuring costs and attributable annual cost savings, changes in the Company’s effective tax rate, share dilution from the Company’s convertible debt offering and stock-based compensation, dependence on key personnel, attracting and retaining qualified consultants, dependence on outside experts, utilization rates, factors related to its acquisitions, including integration of personnel, clients, offices, and unanticipated expenses and liabilities, the risk of impairment write downs to the Company’s intangible assets, including goodwill, if the Company’s enterprise value declines below certain levels, risks associated with acquisitions it may make in the future, risks inherent in international operations, the performance of NeuCo, changes in accounting standards, rules and regulations, changes in the law that affect its practice areas, management of new offices, the potential loss of clients, the ability of customers to terminate the Company’s engagements on short notice, dependence on the growth of the Company’s business consulting practice, the unpredictable nature of litigation-related projects, the ability of the Company to integrate successfully new consultants into its practice, general economic conditions, intense competition, risks inherent in litigation, and professional liability. Further information on these and other potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.