Halliwell, a forensic and engineering consultancy, has expanded its presence in the Asia-Pacific region by acquiring two Australian-based firms: Imparta Engineers and the assets of du Chateau Chun.
The acquisitions are part of Halliwell’s strategy to build a comprehensive, multidisciplinary consulting offering for the insurance and construction sectors across the region.
Imparta Engineers, founded in 1999, has joined Halliwell, bringing diagnostic and structural engineering capabilities to the group.
The company operates from offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, offering services including damage investigations, causation analysis, and documentation for structural repairs.
Its leadership team – Phil Prider, Josh Miller, and Sibbe Lodenstein – will remain in place during the transition phase.
Imparta’s integration introduces new civil, structural, and geotechnical engineering services to Halliwell, with potential for geographic and service line expansion.
Prider said the move allows the team to collaborate with other business units while broadening its international scope.
“We’ve established a market-leading business that excels in technical engineering and structural diagnostics. Becoming part of the renowned Halliwell group will allow us to extend our international reach and collaborate with a range of complementary business lines,” he said.
Founded in 1987, du Chateau Chun provides building code and regulatory consulting services across Australia. The firm works with a broad client base, including insurers, law firms, and public sector bodies. Offices are located in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.
The firm’s directors, Greg du Chateau and Marie Otteren – along with five specialist consultants – have joined Halliwell’s operations in Australia.
The acquisition adds building regulation, compliance, and standards expertise to Halliwell’s service offering, addressing a gap in its current capabilities.
Du Chateau described the integration as a key step in scaling their services regionally, noting that alignment with Halliwell positions the team for future growth.
“This acquisition is a significant milestone for du Chateau Chun and provides a strong platform for our next stage of growth. As part of the Halliwell group of companies, we see a huge opportunity to fast-track our expansion across the region,” he said.
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 noted that the firm is focused on building a robust, specialised consulting platform across APAC. He said the acquisitions will allow Halliwell to offer enhanced support to insurers and related clients, and strengthen its regional competitiveness.
“These exciting developments will create new growth opportunities for us, generate additional benefits for our clients, and, most importantly, further enhance our competitive position in the region,” he said.
The acquisitions follow Halliwell’s recent expansion into Malaysia, where a new office and technical team were established.
The moves come amid shifting conditions in the construction sector, including skilled labour shortages and escalating material costs. These challenges are influencing insurance underwriting decisions globally, according to WTW’s latest Global Construction Rate Trend Report.
In Australia, residential construction tied to housing affordability programs is expected to drive moderate growth. Insurers are monitoring construction valuations, supply chain risks, and evolving cyber exposures, particularly in technology-driven projects such as data centres.
Across APAC, regulatory changes and climate-related risks continue to shape underwriting approaches.
