Forensic Hydrologist Richard Keightley was invited as a guest presenter by global law firm Kennedys to share his expertise on the growing complexity of flood-related insurance claims in a changing climate in their Property Damage webinar.

Joining Kennedys’ Adam Blanchard and Tara Mukerji, Richard explored how climate change is reshaping the risk landscape, driving an increase in weather-related claims, higher costs, and mounting challenges around insurability and resilience across the insurance and property sectors.

His presentation provided an expert overview of the key causes of flood claims, from extreme weather events to drainage failures, infrastructure issues, and design or construction defects, highlighting how multiple factors often combine to cause losses. He emphasised that as severe weather events become more frequent, many incidents may no longer be attributable to third-party fault, making liability assessments more complex.

Richard also outlined the importance of detailed technical investigations in distinguishing between natural events and human or operational failures, using hydrological data, modelling, and site analysis to support or defend claims.

The session offered practical insight into the evolving challenges facing insurers and legal professionals as they respond to increasingly complex flood risks in a climate-affected world.

Richard Keightley is a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager and Chartered Environmentalist. He specialises in the investigation of flooding, water ingress and drainage issues, and has provided CPR-35 expert witness evidence in civil claims for both claimants and defendants. Richard joined Hawkins in 2017 as part of our civil engineering team, having previously worked at two major engineering consultancies, a water and sewerage company, and New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

Register to view Kennedys’ Property Damage webinar here: Property damage webinar

Or read one of Richard’s previous Insight articles on the subject: Basement Drainage Failures: Forensic Insights

Hawkins is pleased to welcome Christopher Bowler to the London office as an Associate. Christopher brings a strong mix of architectural, regulatory, and project delivery experience, across both UK and international markets. A Chartered Architect and registered Building Regulations Principal Designer, he has worked across a wide range of roles covering design, compliance and contract administration.

Before joining Hawkins, Christopher focused on residential fire safety remediation, an area that’s become increasingly important across the industry. His role combined technical and leadership responsibilities, and he was an active member of their Building Regulations Principal Designer steering group. He is also recognised on the RIBA Higher-Risk Building Principal Designer Register.

One of his most recent projects involved leading advisory work for a housing association overseeing a £175 million Building Safety Fund portfolio. Christopher was involved throughout the entire process, from assessing and prioritising risks across the portfolio through to developing technical solutions, supporting procurement, and overseeing delivery on site. His ability to balance regulatory requirements with practical delivery played a key role in helping these complex programmes progress.

Christopher’s academic background is equally strong. He holds an MPhil in Environmental Design in Architecture from the University of Cambridge, where he was awarded an Exhibition. Since qualifying as an architect in 2013, he has delivered projects with values of up to £600 million across a variety of sectors and construction methods.

His experience spans everything from new-build concrete and steel projects to traditional brickwork, timber frame construction, and the refurbishment of historic stone buildings. This allows him to connect design, compliance, and project delivery in a way that supports robust outcomes. Alongside his architectural career, Christopher has also spent five years working in a built environment forensics team. This has strengthened his analytical approach, particularly when it comes to investigating defects, understanding risk, and assessing building performance.

Now part of the Hawkins team in London, Christopher brings valuable expertise at a time when demand for building safety and regulatory knowledge continues to grow.

We are delighted to welcome him to the team and look forward to the valuable contributions he will undoubtedly make.

Hawkins is pleased to welcome Dr Seb Altus to the team as an Associate in our Leeds office. Seb is a materials engineer with a strong background in advanced materials, battery technology, and failure analysis. His experience spans research, industry, and engineering environments, giving him a well-rounded perspective on the investigation of material performance and degradation across a range of sectors.

He began his career as a non-destructive testing (NDT) inspector of subsea oil and gas components. He then went on to gain further industrial experience in the steel sector, where he investigated product performance and helped mitigate equipment failure in high-temperature environments.

Seb holds a First-Class degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Swansea University, where his final-year research focused on sodium-ion battery technologies. He later completed a PhD at the University of Sheffield, funded by the Faraday Institution, where he investigated degradation mechanisms in next-generation solid-state lithium-metal batteries. During this time, he developed strong expertise in electrochemical analysis and advanced characterisation techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray computed tomography.

Following his doctorate, Seb held postdoctoral research roles, working on cutting-edge battery materials and hydrogen technologies, in collaboration with organisations including the Faraday Institution and the Henry Royce Institute. Through this work, he built significant expertise in battery testing, data analysis, and post-mortem cell analysis, alongside broader electrochemical systems.

Seb’s cross-sector experience, spanning energy, manufacturing, and oil and gas, allows him to bring a practical and analytical approach to understanding material behaviour, degradation, and failure. Now part of the Hawkins team in Leeds, Seb brings valuable specialist knowledge at a time of growing interest in energy technologies and material performance.

We are pleased to welcome Materials Engineer Steve Scott to Hawkins as a Principal Associate, having joined us back in February 2026. Based in our Cambridge office, Steve will also work closely with the London team, bringing his experience and insight to a wide range of investigations.

Steve has a strong technical background, having completed a Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering before starting his career in composite materials. He began his career in the motorsports industry as a Project Engineer, where he was involved in building chassis, bodywork, and other composite components for both racing and luxury sports cars.

He later moved into aerospace, helping to develop new primary structural composite materials and supporting manufacturers with automated production processes for aircraft components. This experience gave him a deep understanding of advanced materials and how they perform in demanding real-world applications.

Since moving into forensic investigation in 2009, Steve has built up extensive experience across a wide variety of cases. These range from smaller domestic claims to complex, multi-million-pound disputes involving multiple parties. He regularly works with solicitors and barristers, providing clear and reliable expert advice.

Steve specialises in investigating mechanical and materials failures, covering both metallic and non-metallic components. His work includes investigating structural collapses, such as racking, ceilings, and buildings, as well as failures caused by corrosion, fatigue, wear, and overloading. He is also experienced in cases involving personal injury.

Steve is particularly interested in the investigation of escapes of water in plumbing systems. He has investigated a wide range of causes, from installation issues and defective fittings to corrosion, freezing damage, and even accidental or deliberate tampering.

We are delighted to have Steve on board and look forward to the knowledge and experience he brings to the team.

Hawkins has once again been recognised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), securing a Gold Award for a ninth consecutive year. This 2026 recognition highlights Hawkins’ consistent and embedded approach to protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone across the organisation.

RoSPA’s awards programme is the largest of its kind globally, celebrating organisations that demonstrate exceptional performance in accident prevention and workplace safety. Now in its 70th year, the scheme assesses how effectively businesses manage health and safety through strong leadership, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.

Commenting on the achievement, Health and Safety Manager Stuart Mitchell said:

“Achieving nine consecutive RoSPA Gold Awards is a significant milestone for Hawkins. It reflects the commitment of our people to putting safety at the heart of everything we do and reinforces our belief that strong health and safety standards are fundamental to sustainable success. ”

As Hawkins continues to grow, we remain firmly focused on maintaining the highest standards of health, safety, and security for our colleagues, partners, and the communities we work with.

Hawkins welcomed clients from Crawfords to our Bristol office for an engaging and informative “Forensic Fun Day”, focused on key developments in fire investigation and emerging risks associated with modern technologies. 

The event delivered a practical and insightful exploration of lithium-ion battery technology, an area of growing importance due to its widespread use in electric transport, portable electronics, and energy storage systems. 

The day began with an introduction from Regional Manager Ian Major, who presented a series of real-world case studies and video footage highlighting fires involving lithium-ion batteries. Examples included incidents linked to improperly disposed waste, e-bikes, and e-scooters, illustrating the diverse risks posed by these technologies. 

Fire and explosions expert Lucy Pinkard followed with a detailed forensic overview of lithium-ion batteries, explaining both their advantages and inherent hazards. While their high energy density drives widespread adoption, she outlined how faults such as separator failure can lead to short circuits and thermal runaway. Delegates were guided through battery construction, common cell types, and the progression of failure events, from self-heating and pressure build-up to venting, ignition, and fire spread. She also highlighted key causes of failure, including manufacturing defects, mechanical damage, poor design, and unsafe user practices, noting that incidents most frequently occur during charging. A case study involving an e-scooter fire demonstrated how incompatible charging equipment and aftermarket modifications can significantly increase risk. 

Fire and chemistry expert Paul Willis provided an accessible introduction to lithium-ion battery chemistry, covering common cell types including lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC). He explained how lithium ions are stored within materials rather than as pure metal, and discussed degradation processes such as dendrite formation. His session also addressed the hazardous by-products generated during battery failure, including flammable and toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and hydrogen fluoride, as well as harmful residues, emphasising the importance of appropriate safety measures during fire investigation. 

The focus then shifted to large-scale applications, with Electrical Engineer Jack Holderness presenting on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). He outlined their increasing role in enabling renewable energy integration and supporting net zero targets by storing and redistributing electricity to meet demand. While highlighting their benefits, he also explored associated challenges, including system reliability, operational faults, and the evolving regulatory landscape. Case studies demonstrated how issues such as inadequate monitoring or suppression systems can lead to fire, explosion, or contamination, particularly as adoption accelerates across grid-scale, industrial and domestic settings. 

Overall, the event provided Crawfords attendees with a comprehensive overview of lithium-ion battery risks, from fundamental principles through to complex energy storage applications. It reinforced the importance of understanding rapidly evolving technologies and their implications for fire investigation and safety. 

Hawkins looks forward to hosting further collaborative events, bringing together industry expertise and clients to explore the challenges shaping the future of forensic investigation. 

Hawkins and A Lamb Associates (ALA) recently welcomed clients, colleagues and guests to their Summer Boat Party on the iconic Lake Windermere.

The event marked both ALA’s continued success and the one-year anniversary of them joining the Hawkins group. This milestone reflects the successful integration of complementary expertise, strengthening Hawkins’ combined quantum, delay and forensic service offering.

Guests gathered at the Belsfield Hotel in Bowness, where the evening began with a relaxed drinks reception overlooking the lake. From there, attendees enjoyed a stroll through the hotel’s gardens to the shoreline, where a privately chartered steamer awaited.

Boarding a classic 1930s vessel, guests enjoyed a leisurely cruise across Windermere. The evening featured live music, freshly prepared food and an open bar, providing a vibrant yet relaxed setting for networking as the boat sailed through the heart of the Lake District.

Hawkins Group is pleased to announce its expansion into Australia with the establishment of a new Melbourne presence through its specialist commercial consultancy, A Lamb Associates (ALA).

This development marks an important step in the Group’s international growth strategy, strengthening its ability to support clients across key global markets and enhancing its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

ALA will deliver specialist commercial management, quantity surveying, and dispute resolution services to clients across Australia, providing local expertise backed by the strength and experience of the wider Hawkins Group.

Tom Lamb, Director at A Lamb Associates, commented:

“Expanding into Australia has been a long-term ambition for ALA. We have seen increasing demand for our expertise in the region, and establishing a presence in Melbourne is a natural progression for the business. This move allows us to support our clients more effectively on the ground while continuing to grow our international footprint.”

The Melbourne presence will be led by Zac Oliver, who returns to his hometown following two years in ALA’s London office. Zac will play a key role in establishing and growing ALA’s operations in the Australian market.

Zac Oliver added:

“It’s an exciting time to be launching ALA’s presence in Australia. The construction and infrastructure market here is strong, with a considerable project pipeline, particularly across civil, pipelines, and major projects, exactly where our expertise adds the most value. There is also growing uptake of NEC contracts, where our hands-on experience in contract administration will be of real benefit. I’m looking forward to building relationships and supporting clients across the region.”

The expansion into Australia further strengthens the Hawkins Group’s global network, reinforcing its position as a leading provider of expert services to the built environment worldwide.