HKA acquires ASQ Consulting Group
HKA, a global risk and disputes consulting firm, has acquired ASQ Consulting Group, a Houston-based economy financial advisory firm.
Founded in 2014 by Thomas Britven and Doug Ellis, ASQ provides expert witness services and litigation support with a strong focus on intellectual property (IP), patents, and trade secrets. The firm has worked on hundreds of matters in federal and state courts, as well as at the International Trade Commission, and its experts have testified in US and Canadian court cases, arbitrations, and mediations.
ASQ has supported Fortune 500 clients and companies in a wide range of industries. The firm has 20 employees, according to its website.
Britven was previously a managing director and co-leader of the global IP practice within the dispute & legal consulting practice of Duff & Phelps (now Kroll). Ellis was previously a managing director in Duff & Phelps’ dispute & legal consulting practice.
ASQ’s leadership team also includes managing director Ryan LaMotta, who was previously a VP at Duff & Phelps.
HKA’s acquisition of ASQ will enhances its capabilities in forensic accounting, commercial damages, and IP, and bolster its fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing practice.
“We are delighted to welcome Tom Britven, Doug Ellis, Ryan LaMotta, and the colleagues of ASQ Consulting Group to HKA,” said Renny Borhan, CEO of HKA. “Their formidable reputation in litigation and transaction services will bring significant value to our clients, giving them access to an even wider range of risk mitigation and dispute resolution expertise in the forensic accounting and commercial damages arenas.”
The transaction is HKA’s fourth major US acquisition since 2019. The firm earlier this year acquired Credibility International, a Washington, DC-based provider of fraud investigation and expert testimony services; in 2022 acquired TM Financial Forensics, a San Francisco-headquartered disputes consulting firm; and in 2019 acquired The Kenrich Group, a Washington, DC-based business and litigation consulting.
“We are pleased to reunite with many of our former Peterson Consulting colleagues who are now at HKA. Together we share the same high level of commitment to client service and the development of the next generation of leaders,” said Britven.
Headquartered in London, HKA has more than 1,000 professionals across 17 countries. The firm focuses on delivering risk mitigation, dispute resolution, expert witness, and litigation support services to clients in the construction sector.
