HKA a top ranked firm on global expert witness index
Risk mitigation and expert witness consultancy HKA has been lauded by a global ranking of the sector. The firm was listed second in the GAR 100 Expert Witness Firms Power Index for 2024.
HKA is a global consultancy specialising in risk mitigation, dispute resolution, expert witness and litigation support services. As well as more than 500 advisors and consultants across 45+ offices in 17 countries, this means HKA also has 500 expert witnesses in its ranks.
In recent years, HKA has been growing its offering in the arbitration market through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Reflecting this expanding prowess, HKA has been named as one of the top performers in Global Arbitration Review’s annual power-ranking of the industry.
The GAR 100 Expert Witness Firms’ Power Index is a list of specialist international arbitration practices. Over the years, it has become obvious that international arbitration is its own skill set – separate from litigation, and the ranking helps users of international arbitration find the firms that have true experience and ringcraft necessary for the best results.
HKA first ranked in the GAR 100 Expert Witness Power Index in 2018 with a rank of 19. Through its service offering diversification to achieve market expansion outside of the construction industry, the firm has been gradually gaining momentum in the arbitration sphere. The firm broke into the top five in 2023 with the highest percentage change of any firm listed in the top spots, with a total claim value increasing from $9.7 billion in 2022 to $25.9 billion.
In the latest year, HKA achieved a total claim value of $53.8 billion for the 2024 benchmark, more than doubling its previous year’s performance, and scoring as the top firm by this metric. Overall, this saw HKA place second on the list.
Renny Borhan, chief executive officer at HKA, commented, “I am delighted to see that HKA now sits at second overall on the GAR 100 Expert Witness Power Index, up three places from last year. The Power Index demonstrates the exceptional work we deliver on complex arbitration dispute cases. This acknowledgement provides our experts and our firm with outstanding recognition for the work we do. It justly commends the exceptional level of expertise among our colleagues, and our firm’s commitment to delivering world-leading arbitration expert witness support services for our clients.”
The Power Index also highlighted HKA’s performance in hearings. Based on disaggregated hearings, the firm again came first with a total of 193 (up from 128). With 135 hearings overall (up from 98), this placed HKA second overall in this measure. HKA also boasted the highest number of disaggregated cross-examinations, with a total of 166, as well as the most disaggregated commercial hearings, with a total of 171.
The publication further points to the firm’s expansion beyond the construction industry with the addition of forensic accounting and commercial damages services, highlighting how “HKA has been expanding through acquisition and lateral hires […] who have helped to change its identity as a construction-only shop, as well as increasing the value being handled.”
Speaking on how the firm has achieved this, Borhan added, “Sincere gratitude firstly to all the work our talented experts and their teams consistently deliver - this latest ranking is a testament to their ability to deliver fair, robust and credible reports and testimony across a growing range of geographies and market industries. Of course our experts would not be here without our clients. We are so grateful in the trust they put in us to help them resolve complex and contentious issues, and we will look forward to working with them to continuously improve our service delivery in the realm of arbitration and beyond.”
