Description
This session highlighted the crucial role of expert witnesses in the legal process, emphasizing professional ethics, courtroom responsibilities, and systemic industry failures that demand more rigorous inspections and accountability.
Key Points
- Expert witnesses must maintain impartiality, independence, and credibility, serving the court, not the client or solicitor.
- Systemic failures in the construction industry, exemplified by Grenfell, demand higher professional standards, independent inspections, and improved regulation.
- Effective expert testimony relies on clear communication, thorough documentation (e.g. Part 35 reports), and strict adherence to ethical and procedural expectations.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the distinctions between expert advisors and expert witnesses, including their duties and limitations in legal proceedings.
- Learn how to structure and deliver an effective expert report, including preparing for courtroom cross-examination and drafting joint statements.
- Identify ethical pitfalls, risks of poor practice, and the importance of clarity, professionalism, and proper contractual engagement in expert roles.
