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28 October 2022
Issue: 8000 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Expert Witness
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NLJ this week: Choose your expert & no improper influence

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In an expert witness double-bill this week in NLJ, Mark Solon, founder of Bond Solon, warns of the perils of improper influence, recounting some cautionary tales in the form of recent caselaw.

There are professional risks for experts should they ignore the rules (and the client’s case may also be jeopardised), so why do people continue to do it? As Solon points out, experts ‘risk their reputation and credibility’ and may find themselves named in the judgment!

Solon writes: ‘It sounds basic, but the duty of the expert is to the court and not the paying party. The opinion must not be influenced by the lawyers and be seen not to be influenced.’

Forensic accountant Rakesh Kapila considers the issues at stake when deciding whether or not to hire a forensic accountant, and who to choose. He sets out examples of where they would be required and offers nuggets of advice on what to look for when considering the best expert for the job.

Kapila reminds NLJ readers: ‘The choice of a forensic accountant may make a significant difference to the outcome of a case and it is therefore important that a specialist with the right attributes and level of expertise is selected.’

See Mark Solon's article on improper influence here, and Rakesh Kapila on forensic accountants here.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gateley Legal—Jack Kelly

Gateley Legal—Jack Kelly

Gateley Legal expands Midlands residential development team

Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn adds employee benefits and executive compensation practice in London with partner Richard Surtees

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL appoints new partner and head of intellectual property disputes

NEWS
A series of recent decisions has clarified important principles across property law, from perpetuities to lease renewals and public rights over land
Employers cannot rely on wellbeing services alone to defend workplace stress claims after a High Court decision awarding almost £1m to an overworked employee
Andy Burnham's brand of 'Manchesterism' could offer fresh thinking on legal aid and access to justice if it reaches Westminster, according to Roger Smith, NLJ columnist and former director of JUSTICE
The constitutional fallout from a change of prime minister, rather than the politics, is under scrutiny as questions arise over the limits of executive authority in a leadership transition
The legal profession is undergoing a fundamental shift from selling services to creating technology-enabled products, according to Professor Luke Mason, Head of School of Law at Regent's University London
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