24 LAWYER MONTHLY EXPERT WITNESS AWARDS 2025 “It is not only about being able to provide expert evidence; it is also about maintaining the objectivity of being an expert witness.” In high-stakes litigation, what strategies do you use to ensure your technical assessments withstand intense cross-examination? Understanding the fact that the expert witness’s duty of care is primary to the court is the key. I normally conduct a thorough investigation of the legal brief and project documentation received. This allows me to establish a certain degree of understanding of the building structure’s design intention and construction and conclude if additional documents, testing, or investigation are required. By doing so, I can substantiate my findings with credible evidence and references. To further strengthen my argument, I employ a self-examination approach, anticipating potential counterarguments and developing my evidence to address them. I also simulate a debate by assuming the role of the opposing expert, anticipating their questions and criticisms, and crafting my argument and evidence to effectively counter them. Engineering disputes often involve multiple parties with conflicting interests—how do you navigate this complexity to maintain trust and credibility? I cannot agree more that conflicting interests among the litigation parties are often experienced in engineering and construction disputes; in most of the cases in which I gave structural engineering expert witness testimony, the responsibility for the building structure distress or defects crossed over between different parties. It is all about objectivity. Establishing the root cause of structural distress and defects and linking it to the responsibility of certain parties is a complex task that requires a high level of engineering knowledge and a precise analytical approach, as well as honesty and dignity. The ability to draw or proportionate the different parties’ responsibilities depends on a comprehensive analytical approach to the building structure design, construction, and alleged defects, and making necessary enquiries. It is not only about being able to provide expert evidence; it is also about maintaining the objectivity of being an expert witness.
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