Halliwell Expands Insurance Consulting Capabilities through Strategic Acquisitions
Halliwell, a renowned forensic and engineering consultancy, has significantly expanded its presence in the Asia-Pacific region through the acquisition of two Australian-based firms: Imparta Engineers and the assets of du Chateau Chun. These strategic acquisitions are part of Halliwell’s comprehensive plan to build a multidisciplinary consulting offering tailored to the insurance and construction sectors across the region.
Enhanced Engineering Expertise through Imparta Engineers
Imparta Engineers, founded in 1999, has joined forces with Halliwell, bringing its diagnostic and structural engineering capabilities to the group. With offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, Imparta Engineers offers a range of services including damage investigations, causation analysis, and documentation for structural repairs. The leadership team, comprising Phil Prider, Josh Miller, and Sibbe Lodenstein, will remain in place during the transition phase. This integration introduces new civil, structural, and geotechnical engineering services to Halliwell’s portfolio, presenting opportunities for geographic and service line expansion. Prider noted that this move enables the team to collaborate with other business units while broadening their international scope.
Expanded Regulatory Advisory Services with du Chateau Chun
Du Chateau Chun, established in 1987, provides specialized building code and regulatory consulting services across Australia. The firm works with a diverse client base, including insurers, law firms, and public sector bodies, from its offices in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. The directors, Greg du Chateau and Marie Otteren, along with five specialist consultants, have joined Halliwell’s Australian operations. This acquisition enhances Halliwell’s service offering by adding building regulation, compliance, and standards expertise, addressing a significant gap in its current capabilities. Du Chateau emphasized that this integration is a crucial step in scaling their services regionally, positioning the team for future growth.
Transitional Branding and Strategic Objectives
Over the next six months, both Imparta Engineers and du Chateau Chun will operate under their existing names, co-branded as part of Halliwell. During this period, they will report to Halliwell APAC managing director Colin Taylor, with plans to consolidate branding under the Halliwell name. Taylor highlighted that the firm is focused on building a robust, specialized consulting platform across the Asia-Pacific region. He stated that these acquisitions will enable Halliwell to offer enhanced support to insurers and related clients, strengthening its regional competitiveness.
Broader Market Context
These acquisitions follow Halliwell’s recent expansion into Malaysia, where a new office and technical team were established. The moves come amid evolving conditions in the construction sector, including skilled labor shortages and escalating material costs. According to WTW’s latest Global Construction Rate Trend Report, these challenges are influencing insurance underwriting decisions globally. In Australia, residential construction tied to housing affordability programs is expected to drive moderate growth. Insurers are closely monitoring construction valuations, supply chain risks, and evolving cyber exposures, particularly in technology-driven projects such as data centers. Across the Asia-Pacific region, regulatory changes and climate-related risks continue to shape underwriting approaches.
