header-logo header-logo

Checking in expert witnesses

19 June 2024 / Mark Solon
Issue: 8076 / Categories: Features , Expert Witness , International , Profession
printer mail-detail
177920
Mark Solon provides a handy checklist on how to direct experts instructed in overseas cases

Often a foreign lawyer will want to instruct an English or Welsh expert witness to give evidence in matters in their jurisdiction. The lawyer will ask a lawyer in England and Wales to act as agent or ask their office in England and Wales to find and instruct an expert. Several questions arise from such a request—perhaps the most important element being what jurisdiction applies to the matter in question.

The expert may well be familiar with their own court system, but not with that of the foreign jurisdiction. An expert witness needs two skillsets: first, as a professional in their specialist area with the relevant knowledge, experience, and qualifications appropriate to the issues in dispute; and second, the skills to be an expert witness in the foreign jurisdiction. This second skillset requires them to know the appropriate methodology with which to conduct an investigation in a court-compliant way, and know how to construct a court-compliant report,

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

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
The ex-wife of a Russian billionaire has won her bid to bring her financial relief claim in London, in a unanimous Court of Appeal decision
back-to-top-scroll