PwC Middle East has announce the acquisition of HLP Consulting Limited, a claims consultancy business, effective from 1 May 2016.

The deal is part of PwC’s continued investment in the Middle East and the regional Capital Projects & Infrastructure Market.

HLP specialise in the provision of claims preparation and analysis, dispute resolution, expert witness, contract management and commercial management services to the construction industry and energy sector.

They are a Middle East based consultancy business, active across the whole Middle East region including UAE, KSA, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait as well as other international locations. This acquisition will bolster PwC’s existing capabilities in the region, enabling it to better serve the needs of its clients.

HLP Directors Mike Harding, Simon Lowe, Alastair Gray, Shaun Crawley and their team will join PwC Middle East effective from 1 May 2016 and complement the current PwC Capital Project Services team.

John Wilkinson, PwC Deals Leader Middle East Region and Senior Partner Forensic Services said, 

"This combination expands PwC’s Middle East capabilities to provide specialist services, in relation to construction disputes and claims. It also helps build on our significant forensic capabilities in the region. With falling oil prices, we are likely to see an increase in construction-related disputes and with this acquisition we seek to better serve and equip our clients."

Chris Scudamore, PwC Capital Projects Services Leader Middle East Region stated,

"An increasing number of our clients are looking to work with firms able to provide services across the whole capital project lifecycle, from strategy to execution. The combination of skillsets of the existing PwC Capital Projects team and the HLP team, across all major markets in the Middle East region, will help create a differentiated, end to end offering for our clients."

Mike Harding, Principal Director of HLP Consulting Limited commented,

"Joining PwC is strategically the right choice. We wanted to join a firm with an established growth track record and with aspirations and values that matched our own. HLP as a business has grown significantly over the past few years and now is the right time to join PwC to access the wider PwC international network and investment that will enable us to develop the business further."