Navigant adds Paul Taplin and Chris Hewkin to Dubai office

Navigant has appointed two construction industry experts in its Middle East construction consulting practice. Paul Taplin joins as a Managing Director, while Chris Hewkin joins as a Director. Both senior advisors will work out of the firm’s Dubai office.

Prior to joining Navigant, Paul Taplin worked at Diales as Head of Middle East for four and a half years. He previously worked as an Operational Director for the Driver Group for two years. Earlier in his career he worked at Arcadis as Head of Contractual Services; at FTI Consulting as a Managing Director; as an Equity Partner at EC Harris; at James R Knowles as a Managing Consultant; and at Berkeley Consulting, which he served for around ten years.

Taplin, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying from the University of the West of England and a Postgraduate Diploma in Arbitration from the College of Estate Management, brings nearly three decades of industry experience in the domain of construction and complex construction claims, across domestic and international projects, to the firm. He joins as a Managing Director, based in Dubai.

Chris Hewkin previously worked at Augment International as a Partner for almost two years. Prior to that, he worked at the Sweett Group for almost seven years, most recently as a Director of Contract Services in Dubai, and previously as a Director and as an Associate Director. Earlier in his career he worked as a Consultant for Armstrong Davis Associates; a Senior Consultant for Blake Newport Associates; a Managing Surveyor and Senior Surveyor at B&K in the UK; and as a Commercial Manager at Naylor Concrete, among others.

Hewkin joins Navigant as a Director, also based in Dubai. He brings 24 years of construction industry experience to the consulting firm, covering, among others, the residential, leisure, petrochemical, energy, education, health, and commercial sectors. Hewkin, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying from the University of Portsmouth and a Master of Science in Construction Law and Arbitration from Leeds Metropolitan University, will provide considerable quantum expertise to the consultancy’s Middle East arm.

Commenting on the appointment, Darin L. Buchalter, Managing Director and leader of Navigant’s global Construction practice, said, “Paul and Chris come with a wealth of regional experience and industry knowledge. By further developing our highly effective team in the Middle East, Navigant is well positioned to support our clientele on highly complex disputes and advisory projects throughout the region.”

With over 5,500 employees globally, generating revenues of over $1 billion, Navigant is one of the globe’s larger consulting firms. In the Middle East, Navigant has offices in the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) and in Qatar (Doha).