Thomas Batchelor

Tom is a materials engineer with a wide understanding on materials and degradation mechanisms. Tom is an Associate based in our Birmingham office.

Yvonne Ainsworth

Yvonne is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers with over 25 years’ experience in the UK and international construction industry

Caroline O’Keeffe

Caroline O’Keeffe is a Forensic chemist based in our London Office. She has a PhD in Composite materials.

Madeleine Combrinck

Madeleine is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with a background in material failures and building and white goods fire investigation.

Minesh Patel

Minesh is a Chartered Engineer with expertise in structural design and forensic engineering. He holds master’s degrees in Civil and Applied Science Engineering, and has led investigations into structural failures, bridge performance, and construction defects across the UK, Canada, and the Middle East

Luke Hooper-Fitch

Luke Hooper-Fitch is a Forensic Collision Investigator at Hawkins, based in Birmingham. He has expertise in collision reconstruction and vehicle examinations.

Louisa Laing

Louisa graduated with a Masters degree in Chemistry from Durham University, where she developed a strong foundation in analytical and materials science. During her studies, she completed a year in industry with Intrinsiq Materials Ltd, working on conductive nanomaterials for printed electronics. After graduating, she returned to Intrinsiq as a Research Scientist, focusing on the development and characterisation of nanocopper pastes. In 2018, Louisa joined QinetiQ, where she specialised in electro-optical physics and advanced material systems for defence applications. As Team Leader of the Electro Optical Physics group, she led a team of scientists delivering research and development projects focused on coatings, textiles, and composite camouflage materials. Her work included designing and testing novel materials, using optical and infrared measurement techniques to evaluate performance. She also collaborated with military stakeholders and QinetiQ’s legal team, contributing to intellectual property development and presenting technical findings to the NATO Science and Technology Organisation. Throughout her career, Louisa has developed strong expertise in technical investigation and data interpretation—skills that closely align with forensic methodologies. She has authored technical reports for government and industry clients, contributed to multiple patent applications, and provided training and mentorship within her team. Louisa joined Hawkins in August 2025 as […]

Ian Major

Ian started his career working for Aspen Burrow Crocker on a variety of civil engineering projects. He was involved in the design of numerous highway and infrastructure schemes, waste transfer stations and the Thameslink rail project. He has also spent time supervising construction work on site including a year working at wastewater treatment plants. In 1999, Ian joined Hyder Consulting where he spent 11 years working predominantly on the design and project management of major infrastructure projects including the N5 in Ireland, the A2 widening in Kent and the A421 improvements in Bedfordshire. Ian joined Hawkins in 2010, specialising in the investigation of property damage and personal injuries involving civil engineering and building incidents. He is also an experienced fire investigator, having investigated over 200 fires including major and complex losses in domestic, commercial and industrial premises. In his specialist field of engineering, Ian has determined the causes of a wide range of losses from small domestic claims of water ingress through to catastrophic building collapses. Other examples of incidents that Ian has investigated include wall failures, subsidence, flooding and problems associated with ground-borne vibration. Much of this work has involved advising on matters in relation to the requirements of […]

John Gow

John is a highly experienced Fire Investigator and Marine expert who has provided expert testimony in fatal accident inquiry, criminal and civil court.

Jack Holderness

Jack is an electrical engineer who started his career in 2010 by completing a JIB approved apprenticeship in Electrotechnical Technology and Installation.