'The Perfect Expert's Report' - 02.04.14

Date: Wednesday, 02 Apr 2014, 19:00 Location: The Offices of Dentons LLP, The Pinnacle, 170 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 1FE Member cost: £90 (including VAT) Non-member cost: £114 (including VAT)

A talk by Mark Thomas BSc, MSc, LLM, Dip Adj, FRICS, FCIArb, MAE

Expert witnesses evidence is required by all manner of tribunals. Many practitioners worry about appearing at a hearing and being cross-examined but by far the most important and frequent role for an expert is the preparation of a coherent and persuasive report (both preliminary and final). Mark Thomas will consider the essential ingredients within an expert's reports, including:-

• The status of a privileged prelim report
• What to include in a preliminary report
• Consideration of the evidence
• Matters to consider from a site inspection
• The use of simple plain English
• Formation of the Final Report for Exchange
• How to keep a fully annotated set structure
• Preparing reports on Liability
• Preparing reports on Quantum
• The use of photographs
• The presentation of figures
• Appropriate use of appendices
• Resisting pressure from lawyers
• Declarations and Statements of Truth

Mark Thomas is a Chartered Surveyor specialising in construction contracts advice and dispute resolution. He has acted as an expert witness in litigation and arbitration for over 25 years. He has served on the Councils of the Academy of Experts, the CIArb and the RICS QS division and has lectured widely on expert witness topics both in the UK and overseas. He is current Chairman of the Thames Valley Branch of the CIArb and is a past Director of the CIArb's Expert Witness Courses.