Expert Witness EXPERT WITNESS
David Sworder Partner HOARE LEA EXPERT WITNESS GROUP AN INDEPENDENT, SPECIALIST EXPERT WITNESS CONSULTANCY Hoare Lea is a firm of consulting engineers specialising in mechanical, electrical and environmental engineering. Founded in 1862, Hoare Lea remains an independent partnership, with more than 500 staff in ten offices throughout the UK and a growing international presence. The Hoare Lea Expert Witness group provides impartial advice and assistance designed to help our clients solve engineering problems and disputes efficiently and economically. Our mission is to deliver a professional service of the highest standard, sharing our experience and knowledge with other professionals, and continually striving to improve the total design and construction process. Left to right: Howard Vollans, Bob King, Brian Doherty Nick Hart, Paul McDonough, Les Mackenzie Working to high professional standards we are widely recognised for the consistent quality of the service we provide to clients faced with difficult technical and legal problems. The impartial advice we offer is based on sound professional judgement, an accurate appreciation of technical issues and a firsthand understanding of the construction industry. Our expertise in engineering and expert witness representation enables us to provide a bespoke service appropriate to our clients needs. We have considerable experience of cases relating to all aspects of building engineering services disciplines, and can also obtain advice from Hoare Lea s other in-house specialists who are acknowledged leaders in their respective fields.
OUR EXPERTISE INCLUDES: Acoustics, Noise and Vibration Accident Investigation Claims Consultancy Communications Construction Disputes Cost Consultancy Delay and Disruption Electrical Energy Engineering Management Engineering Surveys Facilities Consultancy Fire Engineering Health and Safety Healthcare Lighting Mechanical Power Process Public Health Engineering Refrigeration Security Vertical Transportation Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mediation, Adjudication, Early Neutral Evaluations Speedy, informal, inexpensive, and positively encouraged by the Courts, ADR is increasingly the choice of disputing parties in technical commercial cases. Available either as an alternative to formal proceedings at the outset, or once such proceedings have started, the parties can also choose a format that best suits them and their particular dispute. Mediation is particularly popular, since it effectively leaves the decision-making in the hands of the parties involved, and allows the parties to work towards solutions which best suit their particular situation and may preserve the business relationship. The Law Society
Working to the codes and recommendations of the British Academy of Experts and the Law Society, we comply with the requirements of the Civil Procedure Rules 2009, Rule 35 of which requires that our overriding duty is to the court to help on matters within our expertise. Our extensive experience includes acting as independent experts for claimants, defendants, and as a single joint expert on cases in the UK and overseas. We have considerable experience in all phases of litigation support, including initial inspections and investigations, technical advice at every level of detail, expert reports and presenting evidence to the High Court and other tribunals. Much of this work has been concerned with major and highly complex disputes. Our extensive experience of working with solicitors and counsel includes providing expert engineering advice and working as part of multi-disciplinary teams of experts comprising architects, surveyors, structural engineers and testing laboratories. The group is highly experienced in presenting opinion in court. Hoare Lea strongly promotes alternative forms of dispute resolution. Our experts have assisted lawyers and clients in resolving disputes by adopting approaches such as mediation, conciliation, expert determination, early neutral evaluations and other bespoke techniques. The Expert Witness Someone who by virtue of their skill, qualification, knowledge, experience and training in a particular field or subject, is recognized as being especially qualified to render an informed opinion on matters relating to that field or subject. They must be able to present highly technical matters in clear language which can be easily understood by non-experts, and be able to justify their professional opinion under cross examination. High standards in terms of independence, impartiality, objectivity, integrity, confidentiality, reputation and duty to the Court or Tribunal are paramount. Hoare Lea Expert Witness Group
OUR RECENT CASE EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: Building Defects Dilapidation Energy Use Engineering Systems Co-ordination Engineering Systems Failures Industrial and Personal Injury Installation Inspection Inadequacies Loss Noise Nuisance Patent Infringement Professional Negligence Rent Review OUR SERVICES IN THESE CASES HAVE INCLUDED: Analysis of fact and provision of engineering expert opinion Technical advice to clients and insurers Advice on negotiation of settlements Assistance in the preparation of pleadings Preparation of documentation for discovery and use in court or tribunals Preparation of evidence-based databases and Scott Schedules Attendance and negotiation advice at mediation Giving evidence as an expert witness Technical support for solicitors and counsel
INSTRUCTING SOLICITORS INCLUDE: BAKERPLATT BEACHCROFT LLP BEALE & COMPANY BERRYMANS LACE MAWER LLP BERWIN LEIGHTON PAISNER LLP BEVAN BRITTON LLP BRODIES LLP BROWNE JACOBSON LLP BURGES SALMON CLARKE WILLMOTT CLIFFORD CHANCE CLINTONS CMS CAMERON MCKENNA COBBETTS LLP CONINGHAMS SOLICITORS CORBETT & CO DAVIES ARNOLD COOPER LLP DAWSONS LLP DENTON WILDE SAPTE LLP DLA PIPER DUNDAS & WILSON LLP EVERSHEDS LLP FENWICK ELLIOTT LLP FINERS STEPHENS INNOCENT LLP FREEDMAN GREEN DHOKIA FREEMANS FRESHFIELDS BRUCKHAUS DERINGER LLP HILL DICKINSON LLP HOWARD KENNEDY KENNEDYS LINKLATERS LLP LOVELLS LLP MACFARLANES LLP MANN JENKINS MARTINEAU MAYER BROWN LLP MERRICKS SOLICITORS MOORHEAD JAMES MORGAN COLE NABARRO LLP NUT LEGAL DEPARTMENT OSBORNE CLARKE PINSENT MASONS LLP PLEXUS LAW-GASTON WHYBREW REED SMITH LLP REYNOLDS PORTER CHAMBERLAIN LLP SIMMONS & SIMMONS SJ BERWIN LLP STEVENS & BOLTON LLP TAYLOR WESSING TREASURY SOLICITORS DEPARTMENT WEDLAKE BELL WHCG WRAGGE & CO LLP EXPERT WITNESS For further information please contact: David Sworder Hoare Lea Expert Witness Glen House 200-208 Tottenham Court Road London W1T 7PL Tel 020 7890 2612 Fax 020 7436 8466 Email davidsworder@hoarelea.com Website www.hoarelea.com Hoare Lea 2009 Design: CAOS Media Design 020 8404 7128