In Asia-Pacific, the construction industry continues to boom and exciting times lie ahead for many owners and contractors. However, even the most carefully planned construction project can encounter problems, including claims and other disputes. How those problems are handled, however, can be the difference between success and failure for the project. This is where Hill International can be that difference.

For over three decades, public and private sector clients worldwide have selected Hill International (NYSE: HIL) as project management and construction consultants on their most complex projects. Each client has unique needs and goals, yet they all choose Hill because they need experts who can prevent problems, minimise risks and eliminate surprises - they need a firm they can trust who will deliver results.

Since 1976, Hill has been a world leader in providing project management and construction claims consultancy services on some of the largest and most complex projects in the world. With over 2,100 employees in 80 offices in 30 countries around the world, we have provided consulting services to law firms, owners, contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, insurance and surety companies, commercial and investment banks.

Our mission is to meet our clients' diverse needs in handling construction risk and exceeding their highest expectations. In recent years, Hill has expanded its footprint into the Asia-Pacific region and established its latest Asian headquarter in Singapore in 2007.

Hill's approach to claims resolution is broad-based and relies on the participation of Hill's multidiscipline staff of engineers, architects, project and construction managers, cost and damages experts, scheduling and delay experts, legal specialists, contract administrators, accountants and other specialists. Such a range of expertise is essential in analysing the complex liability, causation and damage components of a claim. Hill's claims experts conduct detailed analysis of the claims, break them down event by event and issue by issue, to help facilitate evaluation and resolution. Hill's array of construction consultancy services includes claims analysis, cost & damages assessment, delay & disruption analysis, litigation support, expert witness testimony, lender / technical advisory services, risk management, mediation and adjudication.

Hill's first landmark assignment in Asia was the provision of claims and expert services on the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Subsequently, the company's reputation grew in the region and recently, the company has been commissioned by clients to assist with claims development and rebuttals on several large development projects in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region.

Key People in the Asia-Pacific region

 
John R. Brells
Senior Vice President and Managing Director - Asia-Pacific
T:+65 63382455
E:JohnBrells@hillintl.com

John R. Brells is Senior Vice President and Managing Director in charge of Hill's Construction Claims and Consultancy operations throughout the Asia Pacific Region. Mr. Brells has over 23 years of experience in many aspects of construction claims and consultancy services focusing primarily on project controls systems. He has worked in both the public and private sectors covering a wide range of industries including power, petrochemical, aerospace, transportation,

Matthew Wills
Director, Singapore
T:+65 63382455
E:MatthewWills@hillintl.com

Matthew Wills is a contract consultant with over 15 years experience in the provision of commercial and contractual advice to local and international contractors, owners and operators in onshore/offshore oil and gas, marine engineering and construction industries. Mr. Wills is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and was named Worldwide Hill International Consultant of the Year for 2006 in recognition of outstanding performance in the field of construction consulting.

Steve Chan
Vice President, Malaysia
T:+603 2274 0917
E:Steve.Chan@jrknowles.com
 
Steve Chan was an Advocate and Solicitor with more than 20 years experience as a general practice solicitor. Steve is responsible for managing the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia construction claims operation and for business development within the region. Mr. Chan is also engaged in advising clients throughout South East Asia including acting as coordinator/counsel in current arbitrations and negotiating settlement of disputes, tailoring standard forms of building contract to clients' requirements, legal research and opinion, writing on all aspects of law, in particular, construction law.

Keith A. Pickavance
Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Hong Kong / China
T:+852 2542 2828
E:KeithPickavance@hillintl.com

Keith A. Pickavance has over 25 years experience as an architect in his own multi-disciplinary practice, of which amongst other things, he is the author of "Delay and Disruption in Construction Contracts" (3rd Ed, 2005), "Delay and Disruption On-Line" (2007, Updated, Informa) and a number of articles in technical and legal journals. He practices as an expert, arbitrator and adjudicator on disputes in construction, civil engineering, oil and gas, petrochemical, shipping and IT industries; and as a consultant in the proactive management of time-related risks.

Colin Fox
Director, Australia
T:+61 3 9699 5124
E:ColinFox@hillintl.com

Colin Fox is a Director in-charge of Hill's Australian operations. Mr. Fox is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager with extensive experience in the building, engineering, process and oil and gas sectors representing both clients and contractors at senior management level.

Note. This firm profile was featured as a paid advertorial in ALB issue 8.8. ALB accepts no liability for the content published.