J.S. Held buys fire engineering and building code specialist GHL Consultants
J.S. Held, a US-based technical and forensic advisory firm, has acquired GHL Consultants Ltd., a Vancouver-based fire engineering and building code consulting firm.
Founded in 1992, GHL has 48 employees listed on LinkedIn. The firm has practices in building code compliance, fire engineering solutions, wood fire safety, transportation advisory, Certified Professional services for building permits, and legal and forensic services.
GHL works with developers, architects, government agencies, legal counsel, and institutions, including hospitals and universities.
J.S. Held’s acquisition of GHL will further expand its presence in Canada.
“GHL engineers and other team members’ technical knowledge enhances our ability to advise Canadian insurers; property owners and developers; provincial government agencies; and architectural, engineering, and law firms," said Jim Stanilious, SVP and J.S. Held insurance services division lead.
The GHL deal follows J.S. Held’s acquisition of Technorm, a Montreal-based forensic and building safety consulting firm, earlier this year.
J.S. Held’s other Canadian acquisitions in recent years include Frostbyte Consulting, a Calgary-based firm focusing on environmental, health, and safety (EH&S); Examine Construction Consultants, a boutique Montreal firm focusing on construction-related matters; and Specialized Property Evaluation Control Services, a Langley, BC–based consulting firm specializing in property risk and loss quantification services.
"Joining J.S. Held provides an enhanced platform to continue our growth trajectory. We look forward to working with J.S. Held’s global team of forensic architects, engineers, fire investigators, chemists, materials scientists, and building code experts," said Andrew Harmsworth, founding principal at GHL.
Founded in 1974, J.S. Held has more than 1,500 people across six continents. The firm advises law firms, insurance companies, and Fortune 500 companies in a wide range of sectors, including real estate, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, financial services, and healthcare.
