Introduction
Giving expert evidence in public inquiries requires a high degree of skill on the part of the expert witness. This can be gained by experience based on trial and error, or by specialist training.
Through simulated inquiry proceedings, delegates will be subjected to cross-examination by senior barristers on expert proofs written for the inquiry. Counsel will give expert guidance on the legal issues, recent procedural changes and techniques required for giving expert evidence to a high standard.
Those delegates with previous inquiry experience will be able to polish their performance and experience the techniques that barristers use in cross-examination.
Co-operation between the expert and legal team is vital before and during an inquiry. Workshop sessions will demonstrate the role the expert witness is expected to play in meetings with counsel.
Course Content
• illustrate through practical sessions how to give evidence-in-chief and to deal effectively with searching cross-examination, challenges to credibility, and attacks upon the expert evidence
• examine communication between the various players in the inquiry process to enable the participant to develop a greater understanding of the system
• enhance the participant's ability to think on his/her feet and to deal appropriately with the unexpected question or a sudden turn of events in cross-examination
• emphasise the importance of preparation for giving evidence, body language, and non-verbal communication
Speaker/s
• SIMON RANDLE was called to the Bar in 1982. He specialises in planning, local government and environmental law, including the compulsory acquisition of land, its effect on common land and public open space. Recently he has been involved in a variety of major infrastructure projects dealing with land use and transport related issues. In particular, he was instructed by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions throughout the four year inquiry into BAA’s application to build a fifth terminal at Heathrow. He has also represented the Highways Agency at a number of highways inquiries into a variety of highways schemes including the A36 Salisbury Bypass.
• Jonathan Powell was called to the Bar in 1984. He is a barrister of the Inner Temple and the Northern Circuit and practises from chambers in London and Durham. He specialises in all areas of planning, compensation environmental law and local government work. Jonathan is a regular lecturer at the Law Society and author of practice guides on Enforcement, Prosecutions, Injunctions and Planning Agreements Planning & Human Rights. He is also a contributing case editor to the Journal of Planning & Environment Law.
• LYNDEN ALEXANDER is a communication skills consultant who has worked extensively leading consultancies across the professions. He offers training in presentation skills, writing skills and inter-personal communication skills. He leads the forensic report writing programme at Professional Solutions - a leading litigation support company - where he has trained more than 4000 expert witnesses in expert report writing and courtroom presentation skills. He also designs and delivers integrated communication skills training programmes for a number of consultancies.
He has a first-class honours degree in English from London University, is a qualified practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (with an emphasis on advanced learning skills) and has ten years experience working with visualisation techniques. Before working in the field of learning and development, he was a Eurobond and Equity Derivatives trader in the City of London.
Venue
The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
12 Bloomsbury Square
London WC1A 2LP
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