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HKA was delighted to welcome our newest colleagues to our diverse global team in February 2024

News

HKA was delighted to welcome our newest colleagues to our diverse global team in February 2024

25th March 2024

A warm welcome to HKA. We are a diverse global team, and our culture is collaborative, honest, transparent, and high performing.

Thank you for joining HKA, a great place for our brilliant people to work, grow and play. Good luck to you and we hope you enjoy being yourself with us.

We understand joining a new company is exciting, yet can also be challenging. As you start a new chapter in your career with us at HKA, please look after your mental and physical health and well-being. Always reach out if you need any help.

Enjoy.

Kate Wood, Partner, Chief People Officer

Alexandros Achilleos, Managing Consultant
London, UK

Alexandros Achilleos is a quantitative economist with experience in disputes and regulation. He utilises his quantitative and econometric skills to provide bespoke solutions to clients. He has worked on various projects including payments, insurance, banking, energy, and digital assets among others. 

Alexandros holds a BSc in Economics and Business Economics and an MSc in Policy Economics, both from Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Alexandros is very excited to join HKA and begin this new chapter in his career! 

Huzaifa Aslam, Associate Consultant
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Huzaifa Aslam recently graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics along with a minor in Computer Science. He is joining the HKA office in Los Angeles as a full-time employee having interned with TM Financial Forensics in the summer of 2022. He is excited to be a part of HKA and start my career in litigation consulting.

Matthew Barber, Associate Consultant
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Matthew Barber recently received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Southern California (USC), with a minor in Applied Analytics. He joins HKA as a full-time associate after completing an internship at TM Financial Forensics and is excited to be returning to the Los Angeles office and working with HKA.

Zoe Baumbach, Associate Consultant
San Francisco, CA, USA

Zoe Baumbach joins our San Francisco office as an Associate Consultant. She recently graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and minors in Classics and Philosophy. Zoe looks forward to engaging in cases concerning intellectual property infringements and developing her knowledge in litigation support.

Charlotte Borten, Consultant
Sydney, NSW, Australia

Charlotte Borten joins as a consultant in the Strategic and Commercial Advisory team in Sydney.

Charlotte has spent the past two years working in infrastructure advisory on a variety of different projects for both public and private sector clients. She holds a double degree in Commerce and International Security Studies from the Australian National University.

Allison Calcagno, Business Support Administrator
Phoenix, AZ, USA

Prior to being acquired by HKA, Allison Calcagno worked for The Kenrich Group for 3.5 years and made her way back to HKA in January. She is delighted to be reunited with her old team in Phoenix, including all the great colleague additions.

Allison is also a licensed massage therapist and has been practicing for 15 years. Outside of her professional roles, she is passionate about giving back to the community through volunteer work. She spends part of the weekend connecting with senior citizens and throughout the month she gets to bake birthday cakes for kids who have never had one before!

Christina Collins, Business Support Administrator
San Francisco, CA, USA

Christina Collins joins our San Francisco office as a Business Support Administrator, bringing years of exceptional service experience from her time with professional services firms First Republic Bank and the Walt Disney Company. She looks forward to being a part of the HKA team!

Matt Danner, Director
Washington, DC, USA

Click here to learn about Matt’s experience and the expansion of HKA’s government contracts compliance service offering.

Quintin De Klerk, Associate Director
Johannesburg, South Africa

Quintin De Klerk is a Professional Civil Engineer with over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. He has acted as a contractor, designer, project manager, and senior corporate manager across Africa and the Indian Ocean region. Quintin has extensive and diverse experience in the sectors of steel design and fabrication as well as in construction and heavy industrial maintenance for the mining, mineral processing, and petrochemical industries. Also in his ambit is the design and development of commercial residential estates and mechanical and electrical installations at international resorts. Quintin’s focus for many years was sophisticated stormwater management and design in high-risk geology on a high-speed rail mega project in South Africa.

Lucky Dube, Managing Consultant
London, UK

Lucky Dube is a quantitative economist within HKA’s Economics practice. He brings experience in using data to answer questions of interest to clients. In particular, he has experience designing and deploying econometric methods to answer causal and predictive questions in disputes. He also has experience designing methods that use machine learning algorithms for classification and prediction. As part of his education, he completed PhD-level courses in econometrics and empirical industrial organisation. Lucky has advised clients in class action claims, competition claims, financial services disputes, and securities actions. His capabilities also include: data collection, data handling and manipulation; natural language processing; and data visualisation. Prior to consulting, Lucky had research roles in economic policy think tanks.

Hussein Farook, Associate Director
London, UK

Hussein Farook joins HKA’s London office as an Associate Director within the newly formed economics team in Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages. He has over 12 years of experience as an economist, specialising in international trade, finance, competition and transport. 

Hussein has a wealth of expertise across a wide array of regulatory and advisory matters and has driven the economic analysis for a range of clients including international banks, regulators and UK Ministers. Prior to his role in consulting, Hussein worked in the UK’s competition regulator where he authored publications on the state of competition within the UK. In his spare time, Hussein is studying for his CFA level 2 exam and holds an MSc in Economics.

Karl Fultz, Director
Washington, DC, USA

Click here to learn about Karl’s experience and the expansion of HKA’s government contracts compliance service offering.

Almas Gaza, Consultant
Paris, France

Almas Gaza joins HKA as a consultant within the FACD team in Paris. She graduated from Emlyon Business School with a master’s degree in investment banking and corporate finance. Prior to joining HKA, Almas interned as in investment analyst in a top Healthcare private equity firm and M&A analyst in a Tech investment bank. She is an Arabic native speaker and fluent in both English and French.

Almas loves working in a challenging environment. She prides herself on being a problem solver and quick learner. She is thrilled to start this new journey with HKA.

William Hayman, Associate Consultant
Sydney, NSW, Australia

Will Hayman is rejoining HKA as an Associate Consultant after completing an internship at HKA as part of the UTS Innovation Program. He will be working with the Risk Management team in the Sydney office.

Will has recently graduated with a double degree in Business and Creative Intelligence and Innovation from the University of Technology Sydney. Will is excited to start his professional journey as he begins his career with HKA.

Ernst Heins, Associate Director
Rotterdam, Netherlands

Ernst Heins is a seasoned Civil Engineer (EUR ING) and MBA graduate from a renowned institution. He is a Fellow of the Association of Cost Engineers UK (FACostE) and Member of the Netherlands’ Royal Institute of Engineers (MKIVI), with over 25 years of professional experience in various roles, with reputed client/employer organizations, consulting firms, and contracting entities, across the private and public sectors. He has been involved in high-profile projects and assignments in Europe, Asia (Far East, Middle East), and Australia.

Ernst looks forward to his new role, particularly building on HKA’s service offering in the Benelux region.

Rachelle Jackson, Director
Washington, DC, USA

Click here to learn about Rachelle’s experience and the expansion of HKA’s government contracts compliance service offering.

Wei-sheng Lin, Consultant
London, UK

Wei-sheng Lin joins HKA as a Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages Consultant in the London office. He is an ICAEW chartered accountant with over 5 years of audit experience at a Big Four firm.

Wei’s previous clients operated in a range of sectors, including aviation, educational software, manufacturing, pensions, retail and telecommunications. He looks forward to working with HKA clients on commercial disputes and investigations.

Emma Moy, Associate Consultant
Sydney, NSW, Australia

Emma Moy joins HKA as an Associate Consultant in the Sydney Advisory team. Emma previously worked as an intern at HKA as part of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Innovation Program, and has recently completed her double degree of a Bachelor of Business (majoring in Business Law and Marketing) and a Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation. Emma is excited to return to HKA and is looking forward to growing her experience in complex problem-solving in the dynamic infrastructure sector.

Zola Ntolosi, Associate Director
Johannesburg, South Africa

Zola Ntolosi is an Associate Director with HKA, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, offering over 24 years of demonstrable experience in various industries. His expertise spans Government, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Information Technology, Financial Services, Broadcasting, and Entertainment, and most recently, Management Consulting and Mining, dealing with internationally listed entities. Zola has a proven track record in project management, business process re-engineering, optimisation, Governance, Organisational Change, Business Strategy, Stakeholder Relations, Business Development, and Strategic Management.

Tim Pergolin, Senior Associate Consultant
Philadelphia, PA, USA

Click here to learn about Tim’s experience and the expansion of HKA’s government contracts compliance service offering.

Nathan Steele, Managing Consultant
London, UK

Nathan Steele is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, with several years of experience in Audit, Assurance and Advisory, both in the UK and abroad, during his tenure at Deloitte. He worked on key engagements within several industries, including Banking and Capital Markets, Investment Management, Consumer Products and Telecommunications, Media & Technology.

Nathan is excited to bring his enthusiasm for growth and accuracy to the team, aided by his continued studying, with current focus on the CFA qualification.

Jamie Sybert, Partner
Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Click here to learn about Jamie’s experience and the expansion of HKA’s government contracts compliance service offering.

Erin Thode, Manager
Chicago, IL, USA

Click here to learn about Erin’s experience and the expansion of HKA’s government contracts compliance service offering.

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Choppy waters ahead for offshore energy?

Article

Choppy waters ahead for offshore energy?

11th March 2024

Paul Mansell

Partner

paulmansell@hka.com

Expert Profile

Click here to visit the article on the Commercial Dispute Resolution Magazine website

As first published in the Commercial Dispute Resolution Magazine as a part of their Expert View series.

The drive for cheaper, cleaner energy shows no signs of abating, but more action needs to be taken now if aspirations are to become reality.

Global energy investment is surging – almost three times faster for green energy than fossil fuels since 2021, according to a 2023 report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). Last year investment in energy transition rose 17% to USD 1.8 trillion.

Significant though this is, the scale and complexity of the energy challenge remain daunting. Demand-side investment – especially in electrifying transport – provided most of the momentum in 2023. On the supply side, investment in renewable generating capacity rose by a more modest 8%, with Bloomberg reporting that USD 75 billion more was invested in fossil-fuel supply than renewables – a consistent 7% gap since 2020.

Meanwhile, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said that rising carbon emissions must fall by almost half before 2030 to limit global heating to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and avert potentially catastrophic food and water insecurity. The widely held view is that deployment of renewables must triple.

As these goals look increasingly questionable, developers, investors and the infrastructure sector, as well as politicians and wider society, face many difficult questions including: what energy mix best assures security of supply for nations and/or regions in the short, medium and long terms? How are project risks managed and outcomes assured, and when, if ever, will fossil fuels be phased out?

Investment

The IEA’s 2050 roadmap calls for a halt to development of all upstream oil and gas projects with long lead times to correlate with falling global demand, with investment currently twice what should be needed in 2030. But changing the energy supply balance is not straightforward. For example, in the US, even as its Inflation Reduction Act provides game-changing support for decarbonisation (including credits for wind energy), oil and gas output has risen.

The energy shocks brought about by the war in Ukraine have increased the focus on energy security and changed risks and returns. While many oil producers have used record profits to pay dividends or debts rather than reinvest, others (including national oil companies in the Middle East and Asia) are increasing capacity.

Last year’s COP28 commitment in Dubai to “transition away” from fossil fuels may be a turning point, but the pathway is still contested. Even the UK, a former leader on climate change, is grappling with the ‘energy trilemma’ of security, affordability and sustainability.

Trilemma in the UK

Having failed to adjust for inflation to secure projects in its latest offshore wind auction, UK ministers defiantly revived annual licensing rounds for North Sea oil and gas. But ‘maxing out’ production risks failing the trilemma test on all three counts.

With lead times of 28 or more years from appraisal, new oil and gas fields may not start pumping until the 2040s. That said, the industry can act quickly when the market requires, and may fast-track new projects to cover underlying demand as global hydrocarbon production declines overall. However, data from the think tank Carbon Tracker show that, as North Sea oil is traded on the global market, any impact on affordability or security would be marginal. While more gas is directed to the home market, this resource has depleted significantly. If the UK keeps to its net-zero targets, oil and gas consumption must drop dramatically anyway.

Accelerating the roll-out of offshore wind and other renewables, which generally have far shorter lead times and deliver energy directly to UK consumers, may well do far more to reduce bills and increase self-sufficiency.

Prices and costs

Worldwide, falling prices have made renewable energy attractive and the United Nations predicts that wind and solar power will become more competitive, despite inflation. In contrast, oil producers face higher operating costs to maintain well pressures as reserves diminish.

However, further geopolitical shocks from the Middle East or Taiwan could again boost oil and gas prices. Any stimulus to oil and gas investment may prove detrimental to renewables as both sectors compete for installation vessels, yard capacity to build foundations and jacket substructures, and personnel – from electricians and engineers to environmental and other specialists.

Wind-power projects also face significant short- to medium-term supply-chain risks. Major turbine manufacturers suffering from low or negative margins need to push up prices and fund new manufacturing capacity. Increasing turbine size may have brought down the cost of offshore wind’s energy output, but the complexity of design, manufacture and installation keeps costs high. Renewable energy analysts estimate that more than USD 100 billion needs to be invested in the supply chain to reach governments’ 2030 targets. Even the USD 27 billion required by 2026 to sustain recent growth in offshore wind installations might not be achievable. With uncertainty over demand and lack of profitability, the supply chain may struggle to scale up

Project delivery

Unanticipated overruns pose further risk. HKA’s own CRUX analysis shows that schedules and costs have been managed better in the increasingly mature wind power sector.

Time extensions claimed on oil and gas projects averaged 71% of planned schedules, significantly longer than wind power’s 41%. For offshore projects, the variance was 75% for oil and gas, compared with 52% for wind. Onshore, wind overruns dropped to 31%, with only a modest reduction for oil and gas to 66%. In comparison, solar projects faced a typical 53% overrun.

The gap narrows somewhat for cost overruns. Sums in dispute on oil and gas projects averaged 40% of contract values (45% offshore; 35% onshore). For wind, the figure was 27% (29% offshore; 26% onshore). With solar, cost hikes were limited to 20% of contract values.

There was greater commonality among the causes of claims and disputes. Between 36% and 50% of projects suffered design-related conflicts; onshore wind, with 15%, was the outlier. Change in scope was more likely to disrupt oil and gas, and offshore wind. Skills shortages and workmanship deficiencies were only slightly more prevalent on wind than oil and gas projects, and peaked for solar and offshore wind.

Asset stranding

As oil and gas demand declines with the rise of electrification and renewables, the window for viable investment will narrow. The competitive disadvantage widens with longer lead times and project delays (averaging 510 days – two-and-a-half times those for wind), the escalating cost of developing and extracting new reserves, and shifts in government policies to favour clean energy.

Tougher regulations on methane emissions would further challenge oil and gas projects, which could become unviable without tax breaks and subsidies. In the North Sea, UK taxpayers are expected to bear GBP 18.3 billion of the estimated GBP 46 billion cost of decommissioning infrastructure, according to not-for-profit Green Alliance.

Lending may also be harder to find and more expensive, with Barclays now following the lead of other European banks by ending direct support for oil and gas. Climate-related financial disclosures will make investors more aware of heightened risks. Almost 10 years ago, they were warned that the vast majority of reserves would be stranded if global warming was limited to 2°C, and that risk remains even as decarbonisation targets and deadlines are missed.

A clear course?

In the UK, if not in most other markets, renewables will most likely deliver cheaper as well as cleaner energy sooner, while enhancing energy security. Wind-industry alliances are being established to promote standardisation, which will help reduce project complexity and risk. However, significant investment is required to scale up capacity, address supply chain and skills gaps, dampen price instability and improve transmission infrastructure and storage capacity (to manage intermittency).

The global consultancy firm McKinsey & Company reported last year that oil and gas players can offset their risk exposure and regain competitive advantage by diversifying into clean energy – 4% of their upstream investment in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency. Investing too late will probably mean losing out to competitors as well as locking in fossil-fuel use.

Policymakers and funders too must chart a clearer course through the ‘energy trilemma’. A more flexible and dynamic approach to government processes and consents, along with commitment to sustainable finance, will be essential to get on track to meet national targets for the net zero transition.

About the authors

Paul Mansell is a Partner and a Forensic Technical Services Expert at HKA. He is an experienced project manager and engineer with over 35 years of experience in the global engineering and construction industries. Paul has amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise from involvement on major, complex projects spanning buildings, infrastructure, transportation, industrial, oil and gas, chemicals, power and utilities sectors throughout the UK, Europe, Americas, Middle East, Central Asia, Far East and Africa.

HKA was delighted to welcome our newest colleagues to our diverse global team in January 2024

News

HKA was delighted to welcome our newest colleagues to our diverse global team in January 2024

28th February 2024

A warm welcome to HKA. We are a diverse global team, and our culture is collaborative, honest, transparent, and high performing.

Thank you for joining HKA, a great place for our brilliant people to work, grow and play. Good luck to you and we hope you enjoy being yourself with us.

We understand joining a new company is exciting, yet can also be challenging. As you start a new chapter in your career with us at HKA, please look after your mental and physical health and well-being. Always reach out if you need any help.

Enjoy.

Kate Wood, Partner, Chief People Officer

Drew Hauge, Director
Washington, DC, USA

Click to read Drew’s announcement.

Robin Heider, Director
Washington, DC, USA

Click to read Robin’s announcement.

Abed Jaber, Managing Consultant
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abed Jaber joins HKA’s Saudi team as Managing Consultant. In addition to his degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Management, Abed obtained his LLM qualification in Construction Law and Arbitration from Robert Gordon University in 2022 where he graduated with an Award of Distinction.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and a chartered engineer with both the Saudi Council of Engineers and the Order of Engineers in Lebanon.

Over the course of his experience, Abed has worked on construction projects across a variety of sectors including residential, commercial, mixed-use, airports, industrial, and marine, spanning several countries across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Tom James, Consultant
London, UK

Tom joins as a Consultant for the Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages team in our London office. He has over 4 years of experience in external audit, where he worked on a wide range of clients, including limited liability partnerships, private limited companies, and publicly listed companies across numerous sectors, including legal services, manufacturing, information technology, luxury, and logistics.

He is a chartered accountant (ACA) with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and has a bachelor’s degree in physics. Tom is thrilled to join the team at HKA and to begin developing his skills in commercial disputes and investigations.

Huseyin Karanci, Principal
London, UK

Click to read Huseyin’s announcement.

Daniel McCullagh, ERP Systems Helpdesk Specialist
London, UK

Daniel McCullagh is an accomplished Helpdesk Analyst with over 4+ years’ experience in support, experienced in relationship building, providing effective, accurate and timely system support. Daniel previously graduated from Brunel University with a History Degree and Post Graduate Diploma in International History. Daniel is skilled in resolving system issues, identifying software defects, and liaising with third parties to resolve helpdesk queries, works closely with team members to resolve complex system issues and queries across several business areas.  

Tim Michuda, Senior Associate Consultant
Chicago, Il, USA

Tim Michuda rejoins the Chicago office after taking a gap year and a half to pursue a Masters in Writing & Design For Musical Theater at Berklee College of Music.

He originally started with the Kenrich Group, an HKA company in 2019, and has worked on a variety of construction delay analyses and disputes ranging from high rise buildings, to interstate highways, demolition of nuclear plants, corporate headquarters, hotel renovations, and more. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Arts in Violin Performance from the University of Notre Dame.

Alekya Musunuru, Managing Consultant
London, UK

Alekya joined our London office as a Managing Consultant and currently works with the delay team. She is a qualified Architect with a master’s degree in construction project management. Alekya has worked extensively in matters related to delay and disruption. She has assisted the named experts on several arbitrations across the UK and the Middle East.

Ben Rawlins, Senior Engineer
London, UK

Ben Rawlins is a Structural Engineer with 9 years of industry experience working on projects both in the UK and abroad. In that time, Ben has become a Chartered Engineer (IStructE) and has led the management and design of various complex new builds and refurbishments with construction values ranging up to ~£500m.

Throughout his career, Ben has worked across a variety of sectors including Residential, Commercial, Educational (Science Laboratories) and Temporary Works. Ben is new to this side of engineering, but is looking forward to the challenges as he joins the Forensic Technical Services Team.

Mathilde Schoelpple, Associate Consultant
Sydney, NSW, Australia

Mathilde has a background in Architecture and Creative Intelligence & Innovation. She has experience working with companies across every sector, considering opportunities for sustainable development and new channels for growth. Mathilde began working with HKA as a Student Partner, exploring the nuances of industry with a focus on pipeline visibility. She is formally joining the Sydney team and is keen to explore new opportunities for innovative growth.

Julian Speed, Associate Director
London, UK

Julian is a seasoned and results-driven risk and project management professional with over 15 years of expertise across roles within major UK civils and infrastructure projects. His career encompasses significant roles in Network Rail, Thameslink, Crossrail, HS2, Highways England, and Westminster Parliament. Julian is adept in both quantitative and qualitative risk analyses, enhancing project efficiency and implementing robust risk management principles and strategies. These are underpinned by a strong practical experience of project development, change control, sponsorship, and project delivery.

Julian holds a degree in Management (Nottingham University Business School), the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ), the International Certificate in Risk Management (IRMCert) and is a Project Planning & Control Practitioner (APMG PCC).

Marvia Watt, Manager
Houston, TX, USA

Marvia Watt joined HKA as a Manager with the acquisition of ASQ Consulting Group, where she has contributed on cases related to determination of damages for Intellectual Property infringement and breach of contract, among others. In addition to her consulting work at ASQ, her experience includes business management, project management, and contract management. She is skilled in contract-related forensic data analysis, claims management, breach of contract determination and negotiation of final claims dispute resolution.

She has an MBA in Finance, Master’s Certifications in Commercial Contracting and Project Management, and a Bachelor of Science.

Shawn Williams, Senior Associate Consultant
Houston, TX, USA

Shawn Williams joined HKA as a Senior Associate Consultant with the acquisition of ASQ Consulting Group, for which he has contributed over the last three years on cases involving damages calculations for various forms of intellectual property infringement, and breach of contract.

Prior to working for ASQ, Mr. Williams capped over twenty years of construction experience as a project engineer for Price Gregory International, a Quanta Company, following previous years of experience performing a wide range of roles in construction management, project controls, labor relations, and environmental regulatory compliance.  Mr. Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College.

Ellen Wong, Senior Consultant
Singapore

Ellen joins our Singapore office as a Senior Consultant with the APAC Delay Team. Ellen has more than 10 years’ experience as a Project Manager and Deputy Project Director on a wide range of civil, infrastructure, and structural projects. She has been a lead assistant to appointed delay experts on international and domestic disputes on hospital, transport, and industrial projects.

After completing a Masters in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at Kings College London, she has parlayed her practical project delivery experience into assisting appointed experts on international arbitration. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Meet more of our talented experts.

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Explore our latest opportunities

HKA was delighted to welcome our newest colleagues to our diverse global team in November and December 2023

News

HKA was delighted to welcome our newest colleagues to our diverse global team in November and December 2023

29th January 2024

A warm welcome to HKA. We are a diverse global team, and our culture is collaborative, honest, transparent, and high performing.

Thank you for joining HKA, a great place for our brilliant people to work, grow and play. Good luck to you and we hope you enjoy being yourself with us.

We understand joining a new company is exciting, yet can also be challenging. As you start a new chapter in your career with us at HKA, please look after your mental and physical health and well-being. Always reach out if you need any help.

Enjoy.

Kate Wood, Partner, Chief People Officer

Dr. Hatem Bedair, Director
Houston, TX, USA

Click here to view Dr. Bedair’s announcement.

Mark Cameron, Principal
Doha, Qatar

Click here to view Mark’s announcement.

Rudi Dedushaj, Director
London, UK

Click here to view Rudi’s announcement.

Neo Diseko, People Manager, South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa

Neo Diseko has a BCom degree in Industrial Psychology, a National Diploma in IT, and recently completed the Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP) with the University of Stellenbosch Business School. She has over 15 years of experience in HR, working as an HR Generalist in various industries, including manufacturing in the automotive industry, construction, management consulting, and health.

Shola Durojaiye, Executive Assistant – FACD
Paris, France

Shola Durojaiye joins HKA as Executive Assistant for the FACD Paris team. Shola has background experience working in business support and administration.

Shola is excited to be a part of HKA and is looking forward to growing her experience in both her personal and professional journey as she begins her career with HKA.

Panos Logothetis, Senior Engineer
London, UK

Panos has over 10 years’ industry experience working on several London and other UK building projects. In that time, Panos has become a Chartered Engineer (MICE), and he has led the design of complex new-build and refurbishment jobs.

In his career, Panos has designed projects in the Residential, Commercial, Mixed Use, Educational, Leisure and Government sectors. Additionally, he has also gained experience working on conservation projects – involving listed buildings – and undertaking structural surveys. Panos is new to this line of work, but he is looking forward to the challenge as he joins the Forensic Technical Services team.

Maghan Lusk, Business Support Administrator
Washington, DC, USA

Maghan Lusk joined our Washington, DC, office in November as a Business Support Administrator. She previously worked as executive assistant and office manager for a private equity firm and holds degrees in English and creative writing.

Violet Maaboi, Facilities Assistant
Johannesburg, South Africa

Violet Maaboi joins HKA as a Facilities Assistant based in Johannesburg. She holds a Certificate in Palliative and Chronic Home Base Centre. Violet has more than 9 years of experience as a Facilities Assistant for various companies. Her experience includes being a supervisor at GEM Care Cleaning Company. Furthermore, she worked as an Administrator at the Department of Transport and Public Works.

Mashudu Mabila, Managing Consultant
Johannesburg, South Africa

Mashudu Mabila is a certified Project Management Institute Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) with over 13 years of project scheduling experience for projects, preferably in the energy, Industrial, and manufacturing sectors involving construction and installation.  

He is experienced in developing/maintaining Quality Management Systems and Planning and controlling multiple project programs and scheduling. Mashudu has knowledge of Project Management, PSR, and basic knowledge of power station operation.   

Alexia Martz, Senior Managing Consultant
Paris, France

Alexia Martz joins our Paris office as a Senior Managing Consultant in the Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages team.

Alexia has 7 years of experience mainly in external audit, but also in valuation and litigation. She worked, both in France and Luxembourg, in a wide range of sectors including telecommunication, publishing, banking, aerospace, railway, Museum and non-profit organizations.

Alexia has a master’s degree in audit and finance from Paris Dauphine University and is currently pursuing her French chartered accountant qualification. Alexia is very excited to begin this new journey at HKA and looking forward to developing her skills in international disputes.

Timothy McGinnis, Implementation Consultant
Sacramento, CA, USA

Tim has more than twenty years’ experience in the Project Controls industry. Tim’s exposure to PMIS solutions centered primarily around the products Prolog Manager, Proliance and Kahua. Some of HKA’s clients are migrating from these solutions to PMWeb so his knowledge of these platforms is a benefit during the discovery process.

Tim has served as the Prolog system administrator for Trammell Crow, a Proliance Program Manager for CBRE and a Sr. Business Consultant for Runding Corp. Tim is excited to add PMWeb to his repertoire and looks forward to becoming an asset to his team.

Hurrem Mehmet, Business Support Administrator – FACD
London, UK

Hurrem has worked in the legal industry for the last few years, having worked in law firms and most recently a leading London medical research university. Prior to joining HKA, Hurrem specialised in legal contracts working with healthcare providers, including the NHS and global pharmaceutical companies.

She has worked within business support in the past and is keen to utilise her skills learnt to support the team and grow within HKA.

Bob Mezzanotte, Manager
New York, NY, USA

Bob rejoins HKA as a Manager after working as a Senior Project Manager for a General Contractor for the last 7 years.

Bob has a degree in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University and brings extensive experience in Construction Project Management, Construction Accounting, Safety Coordination, and Scheduling to the HKA team. Bob has managed ground up, interior fit-out, and extensive renovation projects from inception to final completion and is looking forward to applying those skills to the Claims team.

Ibrahim Mohamed, Information Technology Site Support Analyst
Warrington, UK

Ibrahim, a media and communication graduate from the University of Chester, is equipped with certifications in desktop, server, and software troubleshooting, and proficiency in Level 1 and 2 IT support, as well as having undertaken a 6-month coding bootcamp focusing on JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. 

Previously serving as an EUC Engineer at CGI, with a passion for technology and learning, Ibrahim is keen to face new challenges, contribute and collaborate with the team.

Nick Orso, Associate Director
Philadelphia, PA, USA

Nick joined the Philadelphia office as an Associate Director in Claims & Dispute Resolution, specializing in schedule issues. A licensed civil engineer and president of the Delaware Valley Section of AACEi, Nick has over 20 years of experience working on construction projects.

He started out making as-built schedules as a co-op at Drexel and then went into the field as a project and construction manager in the power sector. Nick returned to claims and has since worked primarily on schedule reviews and forensic analysis, claims resolution, and in a PMO role on rail and transit mega-projects. He is excited to join HKA and put his experience to work helping the company grow.

Igor Popovic, Director
London, UK

Click here to view Igor’s announcement.

Paul Quiry, Managing Consultant
Paris, France

Paul joins as a Managing Consultant for the Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages team in the Paris Office.

He joins the team with 7 years of experience in litigation and forensic roles at a Big Four firm and at a French financial consulting boutique. Paul holds a double master’s degree in management from HEC Paris and in business law and taxation from Sorbonne University

Peyman Tabatabaei, Director, Geotechnical Engineering
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Click here to view Peyman’s announcement.

JT Tompkins, Manager
Los Angeles, CA, USA

JT received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Fordham University with a minor in business administration. JT brings over five years of experience in litigation consulting to HKA. In his prior roles, JT assisted expert witnesses in writing expert reports and preparing for deposition and trial across a variety of industries.

JT has worked on engagements involving infringement of intellectual property such as patents, trademarks, and trade secrets as well as commercial damages including breach of contract and post-acquisition disputes. JT brings additional experience in forensic accounting, restructuring, and interim management.

David Whittaker, Partner, Chief Information Officer
London, UK

Click here to view David’s announcement.

Chris Williams, Partner, EMEA Economics Practice
London, UK

Click here to view Chris’s announcement.

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A conversation with Nader Emile, Director

Colleague Interview

A conversation with Nader Emile, Director

15th January 2024

Nader Emile is a Director in our Jeddah office and a Testifying Delay Expert with extensive experience in Construction Engineering, Project Management, Project Planning/Controls, CPM Scheduling and Delay Analysis.

We spoke to Nader about his extensive background, why he thinks HKA is a stand-out employer, and his passion outside of the office.

Tell me about your background.

I’m a Civil Engineer with planning and project management background. I have then moved to the claims consulting and dispute resolution field, where I have been providing delay and disruption analysis, planning and contract advice, arbitration support and expert services.

I hold a master’s degrees in business administration and in construction law and arbitration. I’m also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an Accredited Expert Witness with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

What sparked your interest in claims and dispute resolution?

After having spent 12 years working on the contractor side, I decided to explore something new.

Claims and dispute resolution is an area where analytical, communication and negotiation skills are required and can be further developed. I enjoy engaging with clients, project team members, and legal professionals to investigate the events, present arguments, and negotiate settlements. It is satisfying to be able to help find practical and fair solutions to complex issues.

Why is HKA a stand-out employer for you?

HKA stands out to me as an employer because it truly values its employees and invests in their growth and well-being. One aspect that sets HKA apart is its commitment to enabling employees to reach their full potential. Every skill and talent is recognised and put to good use, allowing individuals to contribute meaningfully to the company’s success.

HKA also genuinely cares about the physical and mental health of its employees. It understands that a healthy and happy workforce is essential for productivity and overall success. This is why it actively promotes wellness initiatives and flexible work arrangements. This focus shows that HKA is committed to supporting its employees in all aspects of their lives.

What is your favourite thing about supporting clients?

I enjoy supporting clients because I find great satisfaction in helping them overcome challenges and solve their problems. I also enjoy developing my clients’ team members by sharing my knowledge and expertise through providing advice or delivering training sessions. It’s fulfilling to know that I can make a positive impact and improve their overall experience.

Seeing the clients’ satisfaction and appreciation for the hard work and quality of deliverables is truly rewarding. It motivates me and the team to consistently provide outstanding support and ensure that the client’s experience with our services is exceptional.

What advice do you have for up-and-coming Claims Consultants?

Firstly, continuous learning and development is a key trait of successful professionals. The opportunities are numerous as this can be achieved by registering for courses or taking advantage of training programs available online.   

Additionally, working closely with senior colleagues is also a valuable opportunity to learn from their expertise and gain insights into the industry. Learning how to receive constructive feedback and use it to improve is an essential skill that will help career progression.

Lastly, keeping informed about industry developments and trends is essential. This can be achieved by attending conferences or webinars and networking with others in the industry. The field of claims consulting is constantly evolving, so one should always be ready to adapt and embrace new challenges. Being open to new experiences and leaving one’s comfort zone will lead to growth, both personally and professionally.

What is your favourite thing about living in Jeddah?

Living in Jeddah offers a unique sense of tranquillity and peace, much like the calmness of the Red Sea. The city’s serene atmosphere allows one to maintain a healthy work-life balance, thus enhancing the overall quality of family life. Moreover, the people in Jeddah are known for their friendly nature and willingness to lend a helping hand.

What are your passions outside of work?

My passions outside work revolve mainly around music.

Music has always been a significant part of my life, and I have been playing several instruments, particularly the piano since I was a young child, and later the flute. I also had the privilege of being a baritone singer in the Cairo Celebration Choir for 10 years of my earlier life.

To unwind after a long day of work, I find comfort in the evening by spending time with my digital piano at home (with headphones on). It allows me to recharge and immerse myself in the positive energy music brings. Engaging in music has enabled me to find balance in my life and explore creativity beyond the confines of my professional life.

If you want to find out more about joining HKA, contact laurafoxoliveira@hka.com or mohammedosman@hka.com to arrange a confidential discussion or visit www.hka.com/join-us/

Laura Fox-Oliveira, Senior Recruitment Manager, EMEA
Mohammed Osman, Recruitment Resource, EMEA

A conversation with Ron Braver, Partner

Colleague Interview

A conversation with Ron Braver, Partner

4th December 2023

Ron Braver, Partner, is a CPA, CFE, and licensed private detective based out of our Los Angeles office.

Before joining HKA, Ron was an IRS Special Agent and Supervisor. Ron will appear with his daughter Ashley Braver, a current IRS Special Agent, at the ABA National Institute on Criminal Tax Fraud 2023 on December 8 in a session called “Criminal Panel: Tax Enforcement Across Generations – Senior IRS Special Agents in Dialogue with Those Who Follow in Their Footsteps.”

How did you become an IRS Special Agent?

After I finished my BS in accounting at Northeast Missouri State University [now Truman State University], I didn’t want to sit behind a desk, so I looked for something interesting to do. I applied to various federal law enforcement agencies, and the IRS was the first to respond! I was hired in 1985 as a special agent in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force since the IRS received funding from Congress to hire new special agents for this program at the time.

Was there anything in particular that drew you to the IRS?

I was interested in a job using my accounting skills to “follow the money” and my investigative instinct to arrive at the truth. I was also intrigued by the reputation of IRS criminal investigations. They were the difference maker in cases involving big-name figures like Al Capone, politicians, and those that some believe are too rich or powerful to prosecute if they commit a crime.

What skills did you learn as an IRS Special Agent?

You are given an enormous amount of responsibility immediately upon completing training. You spend approximately six months at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia learning various aspects of the job like qualifying with a pistol and shotgun, interviewing techniques, report writing, testifying skills, defensive tactics, evasive driving, executing search warrants, building and entry training, surveillance, etc. You are given equipment that require s a level of responsivity that is unlike any other job. I also studied human behavior and obtained my master’s in taxation while I was an agent to better my skills.

On the job, you learn to use a variety of covert and overt methods to gather evidence while understanding that you need to use the least intrusive method whenever possible. It takes finesse at times. I would frequently execute search warrants, collect evidence, and conduct surveillance and interviews in neighborhoods or with people that most would consider outside the norm. I used undercover agents to assist in gathering evidence. We were always professional, but you can’t be meek. There’s a certain psychology to the job. It’s not just accounting; it’s also understanding what makes someone do the things they do, how they would perpetrate the crime (if they perpetrated the crime), and knowing where to find the evidence to prove or disprove the allegation. It’s a job that combines accounting with behavioral science. Every investigation has nuances, and you need to adjust and learn about the person under investigation or the industry in which they operate.

What kinds of cases did you focus on as a special agent?

I was in the drug task force for five years before moving into investigations of failed banks and savings and loans in the early 1990s. Investigations into a failed bank led me to a large political corruption case called Operation Silver Shovel, then to the prosecution of organized labor leaders with alleged ties to organized crime, and then to several sophisticated white-collar crime cases. The IRS investigates not only criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code but also money laundering and its underlying crimes, such as bank, wire, and bankruptcy fraud, investor fraud, etc. I also had a few stints as an on-the-job instructor, training new agents after they graduated from the training academy, and retired from the IRS as a Supervisory Special Agent.

What was your most interesting case?

I’ve had a lot, and I remember all of them! I recommended and assisted in prosecutions that led to guilty pleas or findings of 75 individuals and seized and forfeited more than $41 million in ill-gotten gains from those crimes.

Drug Task Force

I had several drug prosecutions. When I was working in the drug task force, I was on a Chicago Vice Lords case where we arrested over 100 people; seized their bank accounts, assets, and homes; and put the top 19 individuals in federal prison and the others in state prison. Two of the top leaders went to jail for life for operating a continuing criminal enterprise. I worked on another case related to a Colombian drug dealer and organization. I had an international arrest warrant outstanding (also called a “red notice”) for the leader. I had put two of his brothers in jail who were part of the organization, and we were trying to find him as he was indicted on drug and money laundering charges. I got a call one day while I was at home late at night. They said, “We have him at the airport,” so I met the Drug Enforcement Administration special agent assigned to the case at the airport to pick him up, but it turned out that he was dead and in a casket. He had gotten killed in Colombia, and they were shipping him back to be buried in the United States, where his mother then lived. We had to fingerprint him in the casket to confirm he was the defendant.

Failed Banks/Savings and Loans

I was assigned to a case investigating the failure of Cosmopolitan National Bank. The case involved the executives of the bank, many of the borrowers, and members of organized crime. It was one of the most profitable banks in Chicago, and it failed after an individual purchased the bank and became the president and chairman. The only profit the bank made after the purchase was from day trading in 30-year United States securities, and there wasn’t a losing trade. I subpoenaed the broker where all the trades were taking place and asked for the contra trading tickets to see who was selling the securities. I realized that all the trades were connected to a Fortune 500 company pension fund. In the morning, the president of the pension fund would execute a trade, and if interest rates moved substantially and produced a winning trade that day, he would direct the broker to indicate that Cosmopolitan National Bank was the buyer and subsequent seller. If there was a loss for the day, the trade would stay with the pension fund. The pension fund executive had an interest in Cosmopolitan National Bank and got a portion of the recognized gain. The securities broker was making significant commissions on the trades. I was able to connect the dots and convince the pension fund executive to admit to the scheme, and he eventually testified against the broker at trial, which led to the conviction of the securities broker.

Also, during that investigation, a bank customer who had committed fraud decided to cooperate with the FBI. That customer ran a construction company and was a known organized crime associate with numerous connections to local government authorities. He had made over 1,000 recordings and bribe payments to various state, local, and government officials that led to numerous convictions. The investigation was known as Operation Silver Shovel.

Political Corruption, White-Collar Crime, and Financial Crime

One of my favorite cases involved three international union labor leaders who received bribes from local banks in exchange for directing union funds to the bank. One of the labor leaders purchased a large, expensive home in the suburbs for his girlfriend using a substantial amount of currency as a down payment to the builder. The builder admitted to receiving the currency from the labor leader in a brown paper bag.

I investigated and prosecuted forex principal and broker exchanges for money laundering and tax evasion stemming from defrauding investors in the Middle East and directing the proceeds of their scheme to companies and banks in Chicago. We seized and subsequently forfeited homes, offices, and vehicles.

I was also involved in the prosecution of executives and board members of the Chicago Sun-Times. The chairman was a Lord in the United Kingdom and a former Canadian citizen. The Sun-Times was a publicly traded stock and was selling a lot of newspapers, but the board members and executives were diverting substantial profits from the sales of the local newspapers the Sun-Times owned by insisting they receive non-compete payments when a non-compete was unnecessary or not asked for by the buyer. The executives and involved board members were alleged to have not properly disclosed their purported self-dealing in its public filings.

How long did cases last? Were you working on one case at a time, or did cases overlap?

A typical case can take several years to investigate and prosecute, and a special agent typically has two or three open investigations at any one time. An open investigation can lead to numerous individuals being indicted. For example, there were about 20 different cases that came out of Cosmopolitan National Bank and 19 that came from the Vice Lord investigation. Sometimes, I developed my own cases, but most of the time, the U.S. Attorney’s Office would ask me to work on a case or help them investigate allegations of a crime. Agents can also bring cases to the U.S. Attorney’s Office; it goes both ways.

What were the most rewarding and most challenging aspects of being a special agent?

The most rewarding part of the job was how engaging and interesting it was. It required skill and understanding to articulate your findings and opinions. It’s also rewarding to see bad people pay the price for their actions – it wasn’t just tax fraud or money laundering; these were people who preyed on or bullied others. You see how these investigations can impact a person, industry, and community. Prosecuting those who harm society can have a deterrent effect and shows those who are following the rules that no one is beyond the law.

I also had the opportunity to work with honest, diligent prosecutors and fellow law enforcement agents. I am a firm believer in the judicial system – everyone is innocent until proven guilty. We worked hard to make sure any exculpatory evidence became known so the person under investigation was never wrongly prosecuted.

The most challenging aspect was the bureaucratic process. The process is very necessary to make sure everyone is operating appropriately, so I didn’t mind the regulation, but it tended to make the process slow. You might have determined that there is probable cause that a crime has been committed and assembled and summarized the evidence in a report that could be used to prove it, but it could take a while for the prosecutor to seek court approval to execute a search or seizure warrant or bring the evidence before a grand jury to seek an indictment. You have similar issues in the private sector; it takes time for litigation to come to a final determination. The system takes time, and you have little control over that.

How did your daughter, Ashley, become a special agent?

I didn’t know that she was interested! I think she may have seen the work I was doing from my time as a special agent. You try to keep everything away from the house, but you can’t always do that, like when you get a call for a seizure or arrest warrant and have to leave home at unusual hours. A lot of my work made it to the news media, and I occasionally traveled internationally.

She obtained her bachelor’s and master’s in accounting at the University of Illinois, and she was an auditor at Deloitte for a little over a year after she graduated. One day, she called my wife and me and told us that she had an interview with the IRS. It’s a difficult application process, including a written test and then qualifying for an interview. She had passed the written part and had scheduled her interview before telling us.

Once Ashley was offered a position as a special agent, she had to go through training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. At the end of the training, there is a graduation ceremony. Legacy graduates like my daughter have the option of inheriting the badge number of their retired parent. There was a ceremony with the Chief of Criminal Investigations where graduates got their badge and gun, and I was able to give my badge number to her. That happened about five years ago, in 2018, and then she moved out to LA. My son also moved out here, which is how I ended up at HKA because my wife and I wanted to be closer to them.

What was Ashley like growing up?

She’s always been a good kid. She was a good athlete, into cheerleading, gymnastics, and soccer. She’s very smart, smarter than I am.

What advice would you give to a new special agent starting out in their career, like your daughter?

It’s not just about accounting – it’s an art and a science. If you like a steady routine and want to work 9-to-5, then this is not the right career path. You must get into the head of the person you are investigating and be respectful of a person’s rights and the Constitution. It’s not about winning – it’s about bringing the truth to a trier of facts (a judge or a jury of their peers) so a proper and informed decision can be made. I tell my daughter and son to work hard because time goes quickly when you enjoy what you do!

My daughter has told me that she loves every part of the job since becoming a special agent. She says she made the right decision, and I have no doubt she will remember every investigation, just like I do.

If you want to find out more about joining HKA, contact ryanamaya@hka.com to arrange a confidential discussion or visit www.hka.com/join-us/

Ryan Amaya, Recruitment Manager, Americas

HKA was delighted to welcome our newest colleagues to our diverse global team in October 2023

News

HKA was delighted to welcome our newest colleagues to our diverse global team in October 2023

28th November 2023

A warm welcome to HKA. We are a diverse global team, and our culture is collaborative, honest, transparent, and high performing.

Thank you for joining HKA, a great place for our brilliant people to work, grow and play. Good luck to you and we hope you enjoy being yourself with us.

We understand joining a new company is exciting, yet can also be challenging. As you start a new chapter in your career with us at HKA, please look after your mental and physical health and well-being. Always reach out if you need any help.

Enjoy.

Kate Wood, Partner, Chief People Officer

Ayshah Adris, Senior Business Support Administrator
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ayshah Adris is an experienced administration professional with over 10 years’ experience in the financial and professional services sectors. Ayshah is well-versed in coordinating, planning, and supporting daily operational and administrative functions. Ayshah joins HKA from an insurance company where she was an Office coordinator.

Geoffroy Bertrand, Associate Director
Montreal, QC, Canada

Geoffroy Bertrand is a professional engineer with more than five years of experience in the construction industry. Geoffroy has prepared and defended construction claims and expert reports related to delays, loss of labor productivity (disruptions), and quantification of damages. He joins the Montreal office as Associate Director.

Mariska Botha, Assistant Management Accountant
Johannesburg, South Africa

Mariska Botha is an Accountant with over 7 years of experience in public accounting. She has experience in financial planning, budgeting, and cash flow management. Her expertise also includes corporate tax planning and compliance.

Ephraim Chaoane, Managing Consultant
Johannesburg, South Africa

​​Ephraim Chaoane​ is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with fifteen (15) years of Project Management experience. He is results-oriented and has effective communication and presentation skills. Responsible for the project schedule and all aspects of the Progress Measurement System, including day-to-day activities for the development, maintenance, monitoring, controlling, and integration of the overall project schedule, including verification and reporting.

Ephraim is experienced in the construction of power and gas plants. His regional experience includes Africa and the Middle East.

Kwesi Dadson, International Tax Manager
Warrington, UK

Kwesi Dadson joins HKA as an International Tax Manager and will be working to support the Group Tax Team in corporate head office. He previously worked in Big 4 mergers & acquisition tax focusing on private equity backed businesses and their investors, as well as in-house tax role within an international oil & gas group.

Kwesi has over 9 years of tax and accounting experience and is a Chartered Accountant (CA) & Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) by profession. He also holds an MSc. Financial Economics degree from the University of Manchester, UK and is proud to have joined HKA. Kwesi looks forward to a great learning experience with the company and contributing his skills in building HKA’s tax function. 

Brandon Fu, Senior Consultant
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Brandon Fu is a qualified civil engineer with over 19 years of industry experience and joins HKA as a Delay Analyst. Brandon started his career as a project engineer before moving into planning and delay. Brandon has over 9 years of delay experience gained from Driver Trett and FTI Consulting, working on projects across Asia. 

Jessica Gates, Senior Consultant
Seattle, WA, USA

Click here to view the Seattle office expansion press release.

Zoe Jones, Business Support Administrator
Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Zoe Jones is an experienced office administrator with over 8 years of experience, with a primary focus on contract management and stakeholder management. Zoe has worked in a number of industries, including IT, medical and industrial.

Jasmine Lee, Financial Accountant
Sydney, NSW, Australia

Jasmine Lee is a certified practising accountant with over 10 years of experience in Australia and Hong Kong. Jasmine’s experience comes primarily from working with chartered accountancy firms, and is skilled in financial audits, tax reporting and payroll. 

Jeff Lounsberry, Partner
Seattle, WA, USA

Click here to view the Seattle office expansion press release.

Jon Maus, Manager
Seattle, WA, USA

Click here to view the Seattle office expansion press release.

David Oni, Managing Consultant
London, UK

David Oni is a qualified Chartered Accountant (ICAEW), with 7 years of experience predominantly in forensic accounting across both investigations and commercial disputes. As well as forensic accounting, David’s professional experience is rounded out by time working in audit and management accountant.

He has supported clients and experts in a range of project and dispute types including post M&A disputes, wasted cost claims, damages from competition law breaches and anti-corruption investigations.

David has a passion for investigative analysis and uncovering key insights from data. He is excited to utilise his skills for the benefit of HKA’s clients.

Charlie Patteson, Consultant
London, UK

Charlie Patteson joins our London office as a Consultant in the Forensic Accounting and Commercial Disputes team. He has over four years of professional experience in external audit, financial reporting and tax compliance, predominantly working with clients in the financial services industry. He is an ACA-qualified accountant and has a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He is really excited to be joining the team at HKA and looks forward to gaining exposure to new industries and developing his skillset in commercial disputes and investigations.

Jeremy Sampson, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
Birmingham, UK

Click here to view Jeremy’s press release.

Brett Swanson, Director
Seattle, WA, USA

Click here to view the Seattle office expansion press release.

Maria Tsennykh, Principal
New York, NY, USA

Click here to view Maria’s press release.

Toby Yang, Consultant
Beijing, China

Toby Yang has 7 years of professional experience in construction industry, having worked in various organisations including Hathaway Dinwiddie and Deloitte China. Toby holds a master’s degree in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Southern California.

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HKA rises up global ranking of Who’s Who Legal Top 100 Firms

News

HKA rises up global ranking of Who’s Who Legal Top 100 Firms

10th November 2023

Expanding consultancy stands 2nd overall and remains 1st in construction.

HKA – the global consultancy in risk mitigation, dispute resolution, expert witness, and litigation support services – has leapt to the number two position in the Who’s Who Legal (WWL) rankings.

The firm jumped six places in the latest analysis of the WWL Top 100 Firms worldwide, while maintaining its prime position in both WWL league tables for Construction and for Construction – Quantum, Delay & Technical.

Based upon comprehensive, independent research, the higher rating reflects the increased weighting attached to HKA’s thought leadership and other factors, including feedback from peers, clients and instructing lawyers. The firm also returned very high scores for the breadth of its practice areas and geographical reach. HKA is now judged the number-one consultancy in China (following another six-place rise). The firm also comes top in jurisdictions from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to South Africa, Scotland and France.

In terms of practice areas, HKA not only remains the top firm in the two Construction categories; it is also second in Consulting Experts – Quantum of Damages (up five places) and third in both Arbitration (up five places) and Commercial Litigation. Sustained growth over recent years underlies other increases in the WWL global rankings for practice areas such as Consulting Experts – Forensic Accountants, Investigations, and Energy.

With more than 1,000 consultants, experts, and advisors working from offices across 17 countries, HKA continues to expand through organic growth and acquisition. The consultancy, for example, has consolidated its position in Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages services in the US, EMEA and other territories, with the additions of TM Financial Forensics, Credibility International and ASQ Consulting Group, and also through significant Partner hires.

“I am delighted with our performance in the Who’s Who Legal global rankings. It is a testimony to the high calibre, professionalism and outstanding work of our many experts and their teams worldwide. Reaching the number two position globally in the highly competitive overall rankings of the WWL Top 100 Firms also reflects the success of our strategic growth and our commitment to continuously improving how we service our clients across all of our service offerings. It’s very gratifying that the industry recognises our people and our global reputation for impartial, incisive and authoritative advice.”

Renny Borhan, Partner, Chief Executive Officer

ABOUT HKA

Headquartered in the UK, HKA is the leading global consultancy in risk mitigation, dispute resolution, expert witness, and litigation support services.

HKA brings a proud record of excellent service and high achievement to bear on today’s challenges. As trusted independent consultants, experts, and advisors, we help clients manage disputes, risk, and uncertainty on complex contracts and challenging projects. Our advice is impartial, incisive, and authoritative.

We work with government agencies, local authorities, contractors, legal firms, and other professional service providers, as well as owners and operators, financial institutions, and insurers. HKA’s global portfolio includes some of the world’s largest and most prestigious commissions across a wide range of industries, including aerospace and defence, buildings, energy and natural resources, environment and climate change, financial services, healthcare and life sciences, industrial and manufacturing, marine and shipping, mining and metals, oil and gas, power and utilities, real estate and tourism, sports and entertainment, technology, media and telecoms, and transportation infrastructure.

HKA has in excess of 1,000 experts, consultants, and advisors across 45+ offices in 17 countries with the skills and experience that are essential to get to the heart of even the most complex issues. Our people have vast first-hand experience spanning all major industries and the world’s most complex megaprojects, as well as an international track record of achieving successful outcomes.

For more information about HKA, visit hka.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter, @HKAGlobal), and Facebook.

Media contact

NameJosephine Guckian
TitlePartner, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Number+44 07740 421796
Emailjosephineguckian@hka.com

A conversation with Caryn Fuller, Partner

Colleague Interview

A conversation with Caryn Fuller, Partner

9th November 2023

Caryn Fuller is a Partner in HKA’s Houston office with 24 years of professional experience in engineering and construction project management, project controls, and construction claims analysis. She has provided claims analysis and management consulting services on large-scale global construction initiatives focusing on cost control, scheduling, and reporting.

In 2020, Caryn was recognized by the Houston Business Journal as an honoree for the Women Who Mean Business Awards, and she is a board member of the Rice Global Engineering and Construction Forum and the Energy Industries Council. Her published work includes articles addressing challenges within the oil and gas industry and the impacts of COVID-19 on the construction sector.

Tell me about your background.

I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. After I graduated from college, I went into the construction industry. I started as a project engineer for Whiting-Turner in Boston, where I focused mainly on office buildings, managing concrete and steel sub-contractors. I left Whiting-Turner in 2002 to work for Clark Construction as a project engineer at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. I assisted with managing all of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) subcontractors and gained an extraordinary amount of experience. I was then transferred to Chicago in 2003 as a project engineer for the McCormick Place expansion. I supported the MEP department director and was in charge of renovating the security command center in one of their existing buildings. I was then promoted to project manager for a major 60-story high-rise managing all exterior skin trades. I left Clark and moved to a competitor from 2009-2012, working mainly on claims for KBR, Inc. (formerly Kellogg Brown & Root). I left in 2012 for KBR, and I started off as the project controls department manager in their Chicago office but was transferred to Houston and promoted to senior project controls manager on a major fertilizer project. I started here at HKA in 2017. I have a construction and engineering background with hands-on, boots-on-the-ground experience, which gives me the foundation I need to work on the types of claims I handle today.

What drew you to engineering in the first place? What were some of your major influences?

I always loved math. Growing up, I was drawn to solving problems and doing puzzles, which led me to the career path of an engineer. Also, my grandfather was a Professional Engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) during World War II. He was stationed in Tunisia, working on infrastructure design. After the war, my grandfather had his own civil engineering consulting company. He worked as a technical expert for an insurance company and also designed warehouses, stores, and university buildings.

He enjoyed driving my sister and me around to see some of the stores he helped design that were still under construction. Our little excursions always ended with a trip to Baskin Robbins. He gave me all of his slide rules, which I still have. I also went to an all-girls school in Dallas growing up, and they were really good about helping students follow their passions. I took AP classes and other advanced classes in math and science, and I got great mentoring from my teachers from a young age, which definitely helped push me to where I wanted to be.

What do you feel is the driving factor for your success?

I’ve always been a very focused, diligent person. I always want to do better and learn from my past experiences. My background of working with different trades has led me to become an expert in my field because I have the practical experience of being on a construction job site. The projects that I get here at HKA and the way they are structured have really helped me grow and advance my career.

What does a typical day look like?

I work with clients and counsel in an advisory or claims support role on all different types of projects to help them navigate the issues they are facing, either through developing improvements or diving deep into project issues in the dispute resolution process. As the Partner who manages the Houston office, I help our people on a personal level or mentor them because I want them to grow their careers and be excited about working and gaining experience.

How do you feel that you and your teammates drive change in the industry, from a broad perspective but also as a woman in the construction industry?

When I started in the industry, there were very few females. I’ve always been driven, so I’ve never let anybody’s gender get in the way of my dreams. I never let anyone intimidate me, and it gave me more of a drive to succeed because I wanted to prove that I could be as good, if not better, than somebody else who would be doing my job. I also went to an all-girls school, and we were taught to follow our dreams without allowing gender to get in the way of anything, and I had very supportive parents. Also, at the beginning of my career, I asked to be mentored by a female in a leadership position so I could learn from her about what she did to succeed, and I followed some of her guidance.

At HKA, we have more women than many other companies, especially in the expert field. As a leader in the company, I mentor other women who aspire to become a partner at some point in their careers. I give them the same advice I received and the knowledge I’ve gained from my own experiences so they can build their careers. HKA allows women to succeed and be exposed to different clients, attorneys, etc., who see that we are qualified and the right expert for the job. I also do a lot of speaking engagements. I’m a board member of the Rice Global Engineering and Construction Forum and the Energy Industries Council, and I serve on the Executive Council for the Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute, which exposes me to the broader community.

What are some of your passions or hobbies outside of work?

My passion is my family. Outside of work, I really take that time and spend it with my family and my children. I don’t want them to see that I’m always working. I don’t want to miss out on them growing up, and I want to support them at school events, recitals, and games. I want to be a role model for them and show them that women can be leaders in our industry.

What is something surprising that people might not know about you?

I used to live in Belgium as a kid. My dad worked for IBM and was transferred there for four years. I loved living in Belgium; it was incredibly safe, and we could travel to different countries and experience different cultures and places.

Where are your favorite places that you’ve traveled?

As a kid, I really enjoyed Ireland. It was so beautiful, and where my grandmother was from, so it was nice to see her heritage. As an adult, I really love Saint Kitts. It’s where my husband and I were married, and we just took our kids there to celebrate our anniversary and my birthday (which are on the same day!).

What is your favorite movie or TV show?

The Goonies! I watched it so many times as a kid, and it always makes me laugh and brings me back to my childhood. It’s one of those movies where if it comes on, I have to sit down and watch it.

If you want to find out more about joining HKA, contact ryanamaya@hka.com to arrange a confidential discussion or visit www.hka.com/join-us/

Ryan Amaya, Recruitment Manager, Americas

HKA supports World Mental Health Day 2023

ESG

HKA supports World Mental Health Day 2023

10th October 2023

We recognise the devastating toll mental health issues can put on those who suffer and their loved ones. HKA is committed to doing its part in erasing the stigma and misunderstandings surrounding mental health issues by supporting mental health initiatives, promoting conversation and transparency.

Hear from some of our colleagues who have shared some of the ways they look after and support their mental health, as well as share their tips for others.

Richard Aindow, Partner, Group Finance Director
Daresbury, United Kingdom

Many of us lead busy lives and work in a high-pressure environment, which can make it particularly difficult to be able to switch off. We can fall into the trap of letting work take over our personal lives, which can then start impacting on our mental health as well as our physical health. Whatever our role in the business, we all face challenges professionally and personally on a daily basis, and it’s vital that we take the time to focus on our mental health, as it’s very easy to ignore this given everything else we have going on.

For me, it’s all about making time to do what you enjoy and not feeling guilty about taking time away from work or not responding to emails within a minute of them landing in your inbox!

I’m lucky enough to have a season ticket at Liverpool FC, so that’s a great escape for me – to spend a day socialising with friends from all different backgrounds, talking nonsense and enjoying the football! I also have a 2 ½ year old niece and try to create as much time as possible to spend with her (again, largely talking nonsense!). All of this helps me realise what the really important things in life are: friends and family. It really helps me switch off from the pressures of work.

Exercise is also a great way to improve physical and mental health;

even doing something for just 20 minutes can make a real difference. As the saying goes, you never regret a workout!

It’s also important to talk about any issues you might be facing. It’s great that HKA supports initiatives such as World Mental Health Day, and it’s all part of removing any stigma around mental health issues. You never know what someone might be going through, and even the most outgoing and happy person may have some real challenges they are trying to hide, so it’s really important to reach out to people and check in on them. Just a simple “How are you?” if you haven’t heard from someone for a while may be all it needs to allow that person to open up and to know that they have someone there to support them if needed.

Kayla Begg, Proposal & Marketing Manager
Los Angeles, California, United States

To be honest, I’m not super comfortable publicly admitting that I have mental health challenges, including adjustment disorder and chronic anxiety. But I think it’s more important to destigmatize mental health care, especially in the workplace. Most people will face some kind of mental health issue at some point in their lives, and hopefully, the more we talk about this, the more people will feel comfortable pursuing treatment options that could help them.

Therapy has been the most beneficial thing I’ve done so far for my mental health. The whole process has helped me build tools to manage my chronic anxiety, process emotional challenges and traumas, and gain a deeper understanding of myself. The improvement in my mental health has been tremendous since I started, and I highly

encourage anyone who is thinking about therapy to try it, even if they aren’t totally sure if they need it or not. You might be surprised. Self-care rituals have also become a foundational piece of my mental health care practice. Mental health doesn’t exist in a separate box from my physical health, and a daily walk before or after work allows me to temporarily detach from stress in my professional or personal life. Creating bedtime routines and cues helps me ‘turn my brain off’ so I can fall asleep more easily. I also journal quite often, which helps me get my thoughts out of my head and reduce rumination and cyclical thinking. Everyone’s mental health care needs and practices will be as different and unique as they are, and it’s important to try different methods and approaches to address your specific needs.

Mark Castell, Partner
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

I have played various sports throughout my childhood and adult life and enjoyed the camaraderie, the competition, and the physical health benefits. Over the years, however, I have increasingly recognised that it has also brought mental health benefits.

For the last 15 years, my main sporting activity has been golf. Whilst playing can be highly frustrating as our expectations are often more significant than our ability, it provides me valuable time away from work pressures, enjoying the company of other like-minded people in the fresh air and sunshine. I have learnt to embrace the challenge of the sport without putting too much pressure on myself by welcoming the need for focus, concentration, and strategic thinking within a serene landscape. The photograph shows the natural beauty of a course on the south coast of Ireland.

I find that golf and mental well-being share a harmonious relationship.

Old Head Golf Links, Ireland

The environment is conducive to reducing stress and enhancing mental health. Focusing on trying to get a little white ball into a hole in the ground frees up my mind of daily tasks or concerns. The sport has enabled me to foster valuable friendships and shared experiences and enhance my cognitive skills and resilience.

To recognise World Mental Health Day, HKA is pleased to support and donate to World Federation for Mental Health, National Alliance on Mental Health, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Full Stop Australia, The Befrienders KL, and Scottish Association for Mental Health.

Morgan Kung, Consultant
Hong Kong SAR, China

How I look after my mental health

I enjoy visiting the pet-friendly café during the weekend. Interacting with animals gives me a sense of companionship and connection, which helps relieve my stress. Studies also proved that pets could have a beneficial effect on mental health by reducing the levels of the stress hormone in our bodies. However, keeping a pet might not be easy as it requires lots of time and effort. Instead, I choose to keep houseplants at home and in the office. Like animals, having houseplants allows me to take care of another living organism, creating a sense of connectedness that alleviates feelings of loneliness.

Living in Hong Kong (known as concrete jungle), where access to public green spaces is often limited. Houseplants can remind me of the positive experiences I’ve had in nature, which boosts my mood. Nurturing plants is like a mindful exercise and allows me to have some quiet time to feel relaxed and calm. I like watering my plant when taking a break at work; it helps refresh my mind and distract me from any negative thoughts that I have.

Mental health tips

Stay connected

Spending quality time with friends or family can stop us from feeling isolated as well as improving our mental health. The best way to maintain our social connections will undoubtedly be meeting in person, but it may not always be possible due to location and time zone differences. However, we can always make use of technology and stay connected with people through phone calls, video chats or even text messages.

Friends not only provide us with company to overcome loneliness but also give us emotional support when we need it. It is important to talk to someone when we are struggling. Friends and family can provide us with a safe space where we can let down our guard and talk about how we are feeling without the fear of judgment and the need of having to explain ourselves.

Stay active

Exposure to stress in the long term can put us at higher risk of mental health illness, including depression and anxiety. Physical activities can help mitigate the negative effects of stress and improve our resiliency against stress. Studies show that people can experience lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, even just having short bursts of exercise.

Routine exercise is as powerful as antidepressants in treating anxiety and mood disorders. Exercise can improve our mental health by allowing our brain to release “feel-good hormones” like endorphins and serotonin that help improve our mood. We can also combine our exercise routine with other evidence-based practices such as meditation. Training our ability to focus on the present allows us to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression.

Norah Mudau, Senior Business Support Administrator
Johannesburg, South Africa

My name is Norah Mudau, and I am a single mother of two beautiful girls, 17 and eight years old. Mental health problems can happen to anybody, as we all feel tired, stressed, and not coping at times. I have learned to be honest with myself, admit when it gets too much, and find ways to cope that work for me. I talk to people I trust so that the situation will not get out of hand. I sit back and listen to my little one read for me; it brings me joy and closes off negative thoughts and what happened during the day. She tops it up with storytelling or a song about events that happened during the day at school and aftercare. I get to hear who said and did what. It always ends with a lot of laughter, which works for me. And it is amazing how refreshing and relaxing that is for me.

If we have time on Saturdays, we go on outings with the girls (most of the time, at a park near where we stay), and the kids play while I sit on the bench. I always get a chance to speak to a stranger. The conversation may be about kids or any news of interest while we watch the kids play, and we cheer while they run or rush to queue for a slide, and that helps to take a break and my mind off things.

Sundays are always the best; we do photoshoots anywhere we find interesting. I always take at least a one hour nap on Sunday to prepare for the week ahead. Always do what works best for you and the little things that bring joy and make you feel good.

If you feel distressed, please speak with someone and be honest with yourself. If you are able to help yourself, do what works for you. What works for others may serve as guidelines, but do what will help you, depending on your situation. Accept who you are and seek professional help if you need to.

Colleagues, let us continue to be kind and considerate. If you have a chance, ask how others are doing sincerely and support them in any way you can. Always remember that some situations need a professional or help from someone experienced. And always keep in touch, that will mean a great deal to the other person.

Olesya Prantyuk, Director
London, United Kingdom

I am glad we are looking into mental health and that the firm supports it. A couple of years ago, HKA trained a group of volunteers – including myself – to become Metal Health First Aiders. It was great to see colleagues express genuine interest and fully commit their time and effort to the training (which, of course, competes with chargeable work). I think we have real awareness of mental health continuum across our team.

I am learning to look after my mental health daily, and it looks different every day. I know some things that certainly work for me (yoga, hot bath, sketching, reading a good non-fiction book). However, the days my mental health needs love the most are the ones when I find doing anything from my list the hardest. Instead, I let myself do the smallest thing that I have the energy to do, trying to let go of any expectation of my feeling going away: a walk, a break for a cup of tea, a hug or stroking my dog, Pippa. Pippa “works” from home with me, and her quiet presence (well, she snores loudly even with her eyes open, so not that quiet) is something I take for granted. But whatever it is I do, it is a gift and not a transaction; there is no agenda, and I offer my full presence.

Pippa

Here are three things that I continue learning and practicing that others may find useful:

  • Letting go of an expectation to be “good”/“on it”/“100% of everything” every day, each and every 24 hours.  
  • Noticing the moments when I do not feel great and staying curious (and kind) about them rather than drowning them in busyness.  
  • Connecting with people, asking for support when you need it, and giving it when you notice others need it. It may feel in the moment that our experiences are unique; it is just us, but they never are. And no one can or should go through some things on their own. As one of my favourite authors, Brene Brown, writes, “Love is the last thing we need to ration in this world”.

Rey Saballa, Lead Consultant
Sydney, Australia

When my son was diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) at age four and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and anxiety at age seven, these were challenging times for me, and I felt sad, worried, and overwhelmed. I had trouble sleeping and concentrating, and my mental health suffered.

Initially, I tried to ignore my symptoms, but I soon realized that they were not going to go away on their own. I had to accept that I was struggling and take steps to help myself.

One of the most helpful things I did was to talk to people I trusted about how I was feeling. Simply speaking aloud about my difficulties helped me to process my emotions and feel less alone. Sometimes, the people I talked to were able to offer me support and advice or help me to see my problems from a different perspective.

I also made sure to schedule some “me” time each week. This was time just for me to relax and recharge, without having to worry about my son or my other responsibilities. I would often use this time to play golf or take photographs, which are two of my passions.

Taking care of my mental health has helped me to be a better parent to my son. When I am feeling good, I am better able to manage his challenges and provide him with the support he needs.

If you are concerned about someone, have the courage to check in and ask how they are doing. A conversation could truly change a life, and remember, it is okay not to be okay.

If you have been affected by anything in this article, please visit HelpGuide.org‘s international directory of mental health support services.

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