Expert witness: reports and mediation
The role of the expert witness is central to litigation, arbitration and virtually any form of dispute resolution, especially in construction, property and other areas of practice with a high technical content.
Simon Crago’s skills as an expert witness are based on experience, thorough research, extensive preparation and regular training and skills updates to maintain levels of knowledge in his specialist fields.
Specialist fields covered are:
- Defects diagnosis and defective works
- Building contract claims and administration
- Landlord and tenant disputes, including service charges
- Boundary demarcation and boundary wall issues
- Dilapidations
- Professional negligence
- Building surveys (residential and commercial)
- Building pathology
Geographical areas of work covered are London, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Berkshire and Hampshire.
Membership of professional bodies:
- Fellow of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Building Surveyors division)
- Member of Expert Witness Institute
Initially, we assist lawyers in investigating the facts and issues and to identify strengths and weaknesses of a case. We assist in assessing technical merit of initiating legal proceedings through to full report writing and onto Court appearances as an expert witness, including a High Court. We also undertake technical reports for submission to arbitration proceedings.
When negotiation is unsuccessful or inappropriate, we believe in fighting extremely hard, but fair. However, we retain a practical and commercial approach.
We actively encourage mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution, wherever practical, rather than go to law.
Although mediation is private, informal and flexible, it is non binding (until a signed agreement is reached).
Simon Crago has acted as mediator, single joint expert, expert witness and given expert determinations in matters within his specialist fields. He has given oral evidence in County and High Courts.