Welcome to Washington!
CRA colleagues began working from home in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are encouraged to work from the location – home or office – where we are most comfortable, subject to local guidance and instruction which varies across our office locations. We do, however, miss the office and seeing our colleagues in-person each day! So that you have an idea of what to expect for when we return, we’d like to share a bit of information about the DC office. We look forward to going back to 1201 F Street safely and when the time is right.
Several practices are represented in our DC office including Antitrust & Competition Economics, Energy, Financial Economics, Forensic Services, Intellectual Property, Life Sciences, Risk, Investigations & Analytics, and Transfer Pricing.
DC is one of CRA’s larger offices, and we are a lively bunch. We typically hold monthly happy hours, and we also enjoy hosting themed events for holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day. December’s holiday party is one of the office’s biggest events of the year, usually held at a party hall near the office. Occasionally we will attend sporting events like a Nationals baseball game (2019 World Series champs!). We also enjoy taking part in CRA’s wellness program activities. Recently, we had a yoga session in the office and a make-your-own-smoothie demo.
The office is located at 1201 F Street in the heart of the city. Many junior staff live in nearby Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Columbia Heights, and Adams Morgan. For those hoping to bike to work, a great perk about DC is that we have the Capital Bike share program, which allows you to rent and return a bike from a dock anywhere in the city. Some folks live in Virginia and Maryland and commute to work using the Metro train and bus system. As part of the Benefits program, CRA offers a monthly Metro pass in which a specific amount of money is deducted from your pre-tax earnings and put on your pass each month. This results in you paying a reduced commuting fee!
With our office in a central location, there are many, many nearby lunch options. About half of the junior staff bring their lunch while the other half picks up food to bring back and eat with colleagues. The food trucks in DC are very famous, and by noon, the street adjacent to our building is swamped with them. Just a few blocks away is a food court and Chinatown. During restaurant week, which happens twice a year, many staff take time for a delicious and lower-priced 3-course meal. The DC office has a spacious kitchen, and when we don’t eat lunch there, we’ll sometimes venture to the building rooftop. The kitchen is stocked with microwaves, refrigerators, cutlery, fruit, sodas, juices, tea and coffee for everyone.
As with most of CRA’s offices, we adhere to a business casual dress code Monday through Thursday. People wear slacks, khakis, dresses/skirts, polo shirts, blouses, button-downs, or sweaters. Anyone wearing a suit probably has an outside client meeting that day. On casual Fridays, many folks wear jeans and a casual top (but no T-shirts). Sneakers are also okay on Fridays.
Are you new to the area or simply looking to explore more of the city? There is a plethora of activities in DC. Being the capital of the US, there are the classic adventures like Segway tours around the national monuments or marveling in the city’s many museums: Smithsonian Institute, Air and Space, and Spy Museum to name a few. Looking for more entertainment? The Metro Center area offers many options for evening fun. The National and Warner Theatres are within two blocks of the office, and the Verizon Center (home to the Hoyas, Wizards, Capitals, and many concerts) is close by at Gallery Place. Did you know that DC also has a great hiking scene? There are a variety of hiking trails only an hour or two outside of the city – a great idea for day trips if you want to escape the bustle on the weekends.
With so much to see and do in DC, you’ll just have to come check it out for yourself! We look forward to welcoming you soon.