Our Story

The HBA Legal Story

HBA Legal was formed to challenge the traditional law firm model and instead bring clients fast, efficient, and commercially savvy legal services.   Our mission remains the same today as at the beginning –   to simplify and solve clients’ problems across the insurance industry, working innovatively in all that we do.

Following HBA’s inception in 2011, legal entrepreneurs Nathan Hepple and Brett Ablong went on to create the HBA Group, three allied businesses (including claims management business Paratus and legal process and technology provider Pillion) that powered new solutions and exceptional outcomes for clients.  Together clients were offered a seamless approach to legal, claims and risk management – the first integrated offering of its kind in Australia.

In 2019, HBA’s success and traction in the Australian market was noticed by Crawford, the world’s largest publicly listed independent provider of claims management and outsourcing solutions to carriers, brokers and corporates with a presence in more than 70 countries.  In late 2020, HBA became part of Crawford Legal Services (one of the many global solutions of Crawford & Company).

For potential clients who already work with other parts of the Crawford, we can tap into your business challenges at the appropriate point pre or post litigation.  This integrated Crawford model means your challenges are essentially tackled under ‘one roof’, with our end-to-end approach saving you time and money across claims, adjusting and legal fees.

In addition, HBA continues to offer a stand-alone law firm experience and is a trusted advisor to underwriters, brokers, insurers, insureds,  large self-insured companies and governments.  We lead the way in creative problem solving and commercially orientated solutions. We pride ourselves on clever solutions to legal challenges and exceptional outcomes for clients aligned with your business goals.  We structure service, fees and anything in between to suit each client.

So, whether you want to leverage our expertise as part of an end-to-end Crawford claims process, or as a stand-alone service provider, we are here to make that process smoother and more efficient.