HKA enters Benelux market with new office in Rotterdam

Global consultancy firm HKA has expanded its European footprint into the Benelux through the launch of a new office in Rotterdam.

The new hub lifts HKA’s office tally in Europe to nine, with the Rotterdam office to serve the firm’s clients in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. 

London-headquartered HKA is one of the globe’s leading consultancies in the capital projects and infrastructure sector. The firm helps its clients deliver their complex programs, as well as with managing claims and disputes. HKA also provides expert services for litigation cases.

The Benelux region is not new to HKA – the firm has been serving the region since its inception in 2017 through fly-in teams from its other offices, mainly London and Paris. 

Amanda Clack, CEO for EMEA at HKA, said that an on the ground presence will now enable the firm to provide more comprehensive services to its local clients and a platform to grow its base in the region.

“Our new office in Rotterdam will allow us to reinforce our level of service to our clients with additional local expertise, knowledge, and language capabilities. It will also give us the opportunity to consolidate and grow our base into new markets into the region and develop our offerings,” she said.

Leading HKA’s expansion into the Benelux is Mark Castell, a partner at the firm. He is joined by Ernest Heins and Erald Kahman, who both have been hired externally from Driver Trett as associate directors. UK-based partner Charles Wilsoncroft will meanwhile provide substantial support to the Dutch team, leveraging his extensive experience working in the Benelux region.

Commenting on the expansion, Castell said: “We already have relationships with many businesses in the Benelux, and we expect the market to grow significantly in the coming years due to the increasing complexity of projects and the challenges in global markets and we therefore look to the future with confidence.”

“In addition to consolidating our foundation of expertise in construction claims and expert services, we will look to expand our service offering to include advisory, commercial damages and forensic accounting, including economics and investigations services.”

On the decision to pick the Netherlands as its Benelux base, Castell said: “The Netherlands is the ideal location for serving our clients and as Europe’s largest port, our office in Rotterdam also places us in close proximity to the numerous global energy, maritime, and offshore construction groups headquartered in the city.”