US-based Jacobs Engineering Group launched on 6 July an in-house consultancy called LeighFisher.  

The new consultancy will operate globally and provide cost consultancy and strategic planning to Jacobs Group’s transportation-related projects.

LeighFisher will eventually provide consultancy across all of Jacobs’ project sectors once it becomes competitive in the transport sector, says Craig Martin, chief executive, Jacobs Group.

The creation of LeighFisher comes two months after talks to take over UK-based construction consultancy Davis Langdon broke down.

Jacobs Group is considered a major player in Gulf construction and additional consultancy capability could well mean a competitive edge over its competitors.

In April this year, Jacobs Group won a contract to manage the estimated AED4.7bn ($1.3bn) Cleveland Clinic project on Sowwah Island in Abu Dhabi (MEED 25:4:10).  

In Saudi Arabia, Jacobs Group was awarded a contract in March to manage all projects for Marafiq, Saudi Arabia’s private utilities company serving the industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu.

At present, Marafiq cites $56bn of ongoing work in Jubail and Yanbu (MEED 17:3:10).

Jacobs Group is an $11bn company specialising in scientific and specialty consulting and all aspects of engineering, construction, operations and maintenance.

LeighFisher is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jacobs Group.