New York Stock Exchange listed company, Hill International , the global leader in managing construction risk, has acquired local company Binnington Copeland & Associates which provides commercial and contractual consulting and training services to the construction industry.

Hill International , with over 3 800 professionals in more than 100 offices worldwide , provides programme management , project management , construction management and construction claims consulting services. BCA has been the leading construction advisory and training practice in South Africa for over 25 years. Its principle strengths are a commitment to providing excellent client service with particular emphasis on problem solving by becoming part of the client’s team, an ability to quickly understand complex technical and contractual situations and its ability to constantly be at the forefront of legal and commercial developments in construction law.

“The transaction coincides with an increase in demand for our services from several client organizations so it was logical for us to seek proven local professionals with whom we could partner for a stronger local service offering to those clients,” says Frederic Z Samelian, president of Hills’s Construction Claims Group.

“BCA, which had previously had a co-operation agreement with our UK subsidiary, Knowles, proved to be the obvious fit,” adds Samelian.

BCA will continue to offer its traditional services to clients including commercial and contractual advisory services, construction claims support and all forms of alternative dispute resolution including adjudication and arbitration,” says Chris Binnington, BCA’s managing director.

“Key areas which we intend to develop in conjunction with Hill include expert witness services and forensic planning where there is a shortage of resources in this country , as well as expansion into other countries in the sub-Saharan region,” adds Binnington

Binnington says that “the acquisition will add to BCA’s ability to find experts in any discipline and extend our service to clients wherever in the world they may be working.  South African companies have been exporting their skills increasingly beyond our borders and have to cope with the challenging conditions in which they are competing with established international organizations. Hill’s unmatched global footprint means that we can offer our clients local knowledge and international expertise to effectively manage their risks.”

BCA staff will also benefit from the acquisition as they will have the opportunity of taking up assignments with Hill group companies elsewhere in the world.

BCA’s specialist subsidiary, BCA Training will enjoy the benefit of access to Hill International’s and Knowles’ seminars pool of resources and trainers who have experience in a wide variety of contracts and who will now be available for the local company. Both BCA and BCA Training will operate under the joint BCA / Hill International brand.

BCA staff will be retained in line with Hill’s policy of keeping the established expertise of companies that it acquires. Chris Binnington will continue as managing director and Terry Rensen as Chairman. Two Hill International directors will join the board. BCA head office will remain in Johannesburg with a branch in Cape Town.