Claims management group Crawford & Company has strengthened its legal service offerings for insurance clients in Australia with a “game-changing” purchase of HBA Group, a law firm with a significant presence in the industry.

The global claims management group announced the acquisition last week, paying an initial lump sum of $US5 million ($6.9 million) and a maximum $US3.2 million ($4.5 million) over the next four years if certain revenue and earnings goals are achieved.

HBA Group comprises HBA Legal, claims management business Paratus and legal process and technology provider Pillion. HBA Legal works with underwriters, brokers, insurers and self-insured companies across Australia and the London market.

The addition of HBA Group will strengthen Crawford Legal Services, which was formed in the UK in 2016 and is an integrated part of the Crawford & Company claims management process.

“We see significant opportunity to expand our legal service capabilities in Australia,” Crawford President Joseph Blanco said. “With its market standing, geographical reach and depth of expertise, HBA Group provides a fantastic platform from which to restore and enhance lives, businesses and communities.”

HBA Group MD Brett Ablong says becoming part of the Crawford family “creates huge potential” for the business.

Now that HBA is the Australian arm of Crawford Legal Services, Mr Ablong says Crawford “is really the only provider to bring insurance clients a full claims, legal and risk management service in one seamless package”.

“It’s positively game-changing for the insurance industry,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

He says the idea for Crawford to create a global law firm has largely come from client feedback.

“Crawford has been using this end-to-end idea, which includes legal, for around three years within its UK operating model with great success,” Mr Ablong said. “What this means is that Crawford in Australia can now offer a complete end-to-end claims management offering to its clients across the insurance industry.”