header-logo header-logo

13 August 2021 / Dr Chris Pamplin
Issue: 7945 / Categories: Features , Profession , Expert Witness
printer mail-detail

Experts’ fees: what’s reasonable?

54946
Dr Chris Pamplin considers the test of reasonableness under CPR 35.1 when calling expert evidence
  • A player’s agent was ‘reasonably required’ as an expert witness as clubs tend to keep earnings out of the public domain.
  • Application of CPR 35.1 test of reasonableness when calling expert evidence.

The Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) require that expert evidence should be restricted to that which is reasonably required to resolve the proceedings (CPR 35.1). But the test of reasonableness is a subjective one, and so there has always been a degree of uncertainty about precisely how this test is to be applied.

Warren J, in British Airways v Spencer [2015] EWHC 2477 (Ch), [2015] All ER (D) 101 (Aug) proposed a three-stage test to determine whether expert evidence is necessary.

(1) If the evidence is necessary, it should be admitted.

(2) If it is not necessary, then the question is whether it would still assist the court.

(3) If it would assist, then the question is whether it is reasonably required to resolve the proceedings.

This

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft strengthens Scottish real estate capabilitywith partner appointment

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints Brendan Ryan as partner in Public Law Projects team

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers welcomes five new barristers

NEWS
A time-restricted bank tax, a ‘roadmap to fiscal devolution’, extension to parental leave, entrepreneur’s relief and a giveaway on energy bills for households are the headlines in Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey’s 2026 Autumn Budget
A Court of Appeal judge has lamented the ‘very concerning’ state of the law on employee inventor compensation after a chemist’s case took five-and-a-half years to reach court, eventually being listed for a 37-day trial next year
The Law Society has emphasised that responsibility remains human, in a practice note on artificial intelligence (AI)
Respect orders, which enable police, councils, housing associations, transport networks and other authorities to take enforcement action against anti-social behaviour, have come into force across England and Wales
The Land Registry has launched two consultations aimed at making its information more publicly accessible, ‘Restructuring HM Land Registry fees’, and ‘Future of access to HM Land Registry information’
back-to-top-scroll