handl Group strengthens expert witness offering with Tessa Gough & Associates acquisition

Speed Medical Examination Services and Corporé owner handl Group has acquired Tessa Gough & Associates, a specialist in expert witness reports, rehabilitation and care management services to the personal injury sector.

Tessa Gough, its founder and a registered nurse and experienced expert witness, will remain with the organisation, which handles high-value claims and catastrophic injury work. The existing management team will deliver a ‘business as usual’ operational service.

The acquisition strengthens handl Group’s expert witness offering, broadening its footprint of experts and bringing strong nursing experience to its panels.

This follows last year’s acquisition of Harrison Associates, an expert witness and case management company, Foresight Clinical Services in 2018, and ACCA, a nationwide provider of social work expert witnesses, last year.

Graham Pulford, chief executive officer of handl Group, said: “As part of a strategic move to expand our foothold in the expert witness field, I’m delighted to welcome Tessa Gough & Associates to the group.”

“Here at handl Group, we continue to demonstrate how immensely beneficial our investment can be to developing innovative customer-focused solutions, reinforcing standards of excellence, raising a portfolio company’s profile and driving its growth trajectory and future success. I believe we can add real value here and create growth opportunities due to our agility and deep understanding of the legal and insurance markets.”

Gough said: “I am delighted that Tessa Gough & Associates will be joining handl Group’s roster of respected businesses and have so far been impressed with the leadership team’s knowledge and understanding of our customers’ needs.”

“The evident commitment to retaining the quality that our reputation has been built on and driving forward the growth of the business were both key factors in negotiations and this provides reassurance not only to our loyal customer base, but also to the experienced and dedicated staff and associates.”

Mark Dugdale