header-logo header-logo

02 June 2017 / James Stanbury
Issue: 7748 / Categories: Features , Expert Witness , Profession
printer mail-detail

Pulling together

nlj_7748_stanbury

Working together makes the expert/instructing solicitor relationship stronger, as James Stanbury explains

In any expert process, there are various key stages for an expert, but I want to focus on just four: selection, instruction, reports and meetings.

Selection

There is a continuing debate over the type of expert that should be used on a case. For an instructing solicitor, it is clearly important to choose the right expert, who has experience relevant to the case. The question arises, in some cases, whether it is better to appoint an industry expert or a “professional” expert. It can and does happen in my field of forensic accounting. Take, for example, a claim for loss of profit from a fire or flood at a hotel: should a hotel expert, who has worked in the industry, be appointed or a professional accounting expert who has experience of dealing with economic damages claims from hotels over many years?

Of course, expert requirements turn on the facts of a case and the balance of choice can be difficult and opens up the

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
Pro bono is celebrating a silver anniversary, with initiatives putting businesses and students at the heart of access to justice
Choosing the wrong expert can cost a clinical negligence claimant more than their case
Judges risk weakening their own independence by staying silent over government reforms, a leading public lawyer argues
A discount on damages does not automatically mean an equivalent haircut for legal costs in military deafness claims
Police powers targeting concealed identities at protests come with procedural conditions that could determine whether prosecutions succeed
back-to-top-scroll