Promoting and enhancing best practice and technical expertise

Upskilling Expert Witnesses - Delivering Tomorrow’s Experts

For The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)

Being a successful Expert Witness demands more than just having technical knowledge and experience, you need to understand the context and processes imposed upon you by Tribunal expectations and directions. This programme is designed to equip you with these critical skills. This upskilling initiative is designed for mid to senior level valuers and related professionals – anyone who appears as an expert witness in Business Rates, Compulsory Purchase and Telecoms. Whether you are seeking to develop, or fine tune existing skills, the programme is deliberately broad so both emerging and experienced professionals can benefit. Additionally, the programme will also be valuable for solicitors involved with instructing experts in litigation matters.

Start Date Venue Price  
26 March 2026 Upskilling Expert Witnesses: All 6 Modules £800 BOOK

Note: All prices are to be paid in GBP and are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate

Event duration: 21 Hours CPD in Total (2.3 - 5 hours CPD each seminar). Comfort breaks are included. Seminar timings/locations vary, please see below.

Module Details

  • Module 1 - In Person Event: Thursday 26 March. Squire Patton Boggs, London. Timings: 14:00 - 17:00. Drinks Reception follows
  • Module 2 - Virtual Event: Monday 13 April. Timings: 12:30 - 15:00 
  • Module 3a - Virtual Event: Monday 11 May. Timings: 12:30 - 15:00 
  • Module 3b - Virtual Event: Monday 18 May. Timings: 12:30 - 15:00 
  • Module 4 - Virtual Event: Monday 8 June. Timings: 12:30 - 16:30 
  • Module 5 - Virtual Event: Monday 29 June. Timings: 12:30 - 15:00 
  • Module 6 - In Person Event: Monday 13 July. Venue TBC, London. Timings TBC (*all module details to be confirmed)

Other Available Booking Option

  • Individual Module Booking - If you are looking to book onto individual modules separately, you can do so by clicking here

*Please note dates albeit confirmed, are still subject to change*

Why This Programme?

  • Strong negotiators and valuers don’t automatically make strong expert witnesses. This course will explain responsibilities and assist in adapting from client focused advocacy to impartial commentary to assist the court.
  • Junior team members often support expert reports. This programme builds competence and confidence to contribute meaningfully in that role. Equally, these people may be the experts of the future.
  • Your first case is the most memorable. This course is designed with that moment in mind, to prepare participants thoroughly for their debut case.
  • A library resource when you need it. Few experts are called upon regularly, so it’s important to build skills without the pressure of an imminent court appearance. When those skills aren’t practiced often, procedures can become rusty. With most modules delivered online and fully recorded, you’ll have on-demand access to a library of resources whenever you need a refresher.
  • Expert work is team-based…until it’s not. Understanding context and the Tribunal’s role is crucial. While solicitors, counsel and colleagues may help build the case, only the expert signs the report and stands alone in the witness box. The programme seeks to instil confidence in making the critical decisions.
  • The courtroom is unforgiving. One biased or unsupported comment can damage your credibility beyond repair. The recent case Patarkatsishvili v Woodward-Fisher [2025] EWHC 265 (Ch) is a reminder of how high the stakes can be. What can we learn from the behaviours of others? The need to avoid giving “grudgingly monosyllabic responses”, see Nofax Station Road Limited V London Borough of Barnet [2025] UKUT 241 (LC).
  • Disputes are often negotiated while they’re being prepared for Tribunal. This creates pressure on experts who may also be part of the negotiation team. We’ll explore the boundaries and responsibilities involved and whether this dual role is acceptable.
  • Expert work can be isolating. We’ll share 'war stories', lessons learnt the hard way and guidance to help you avoid the same mistakes. 
  • The need for skilled experts will not fade. Business Rates, Compulsory Purchase and Telecoms work is complex and specialised. So too, their disputes. Experts will always be needed to assist the Tribunal in making its determination.  
  • This is so much more than CPD. There is no formal assessment. A certificate alone does not make a great expert witness - the value lies in mastering the skills, judgement and professional robustness required to be the “go-to” expert in your field and as seniors in your work the latter is far more motivating. It will be your developing career and those of others that will provide the testimony and value of the programme.

Although each jurisdiction has its own procedural nuances, the underlying anatomy of disputes is well understood. Courts and Tribunals apply established procedures for preparing and presenting cases and the expectations placed on experts (in conduct, evidence, and professionalism) are broadly consistent across forums but are quite different to giving evidence at a public planning inquiry. The rigour with which Judges and Tribunal members assess evidence is similarly ingrained, regardless of sector.  

Speakers Confirmed to Date

Programme

Module 1

The Art of Gathering and Weighing Evidence: Whether in Court, at Work or Making Everyday Decisions

Thursday 26 March l In Person Event, Squire Patton Boggs, London 

Registration 13:30 l Start 14:00 l Finish 17:00. Event is followed by a Drinks Reception.

We all value hard facts. However, decisions rarely come with black-and-white answers. We’re often faced with ambiguity and competing perspectives. 

Professionals routinely ask:

  • What information do I need to inform my judgement as to value? 
  • What’s the right value, rateable value or what’s the correct compensation?
  • How should I advise the client as to the cost, risk and time to secure the right value and level of compensation?
  • How should I resolve this dispute in a fair and proportionate way?
  • What’s the other side likely to accept?
  • Should I recommend to the client that they accept this offer? Am I equipped to explain the consequences of doing so; and not doing so? 

These are judgment calls. They demand critical thinking, objective reasoning and a sound understanding of how to weigh evidence - while avoiding bias. This is a vital skill for experts, business leaders and decision-makers alike. Daniel Kahneman won a Nobel Prize in 2002 for his groundbreaking work on human decision-making and understanding his work is a valuable resource for judges, arbitrators and expert witnesses.

Whether you're at work, in court, or navigating everyday life, sound decisions come from properly gathering, analysing and weighting reliable information - while filtering out noise, spin, and misinformation.

This module contains both presentations and a panel debate and the audience is encouraged to participate. 

Current Speakers:

Module 2

Rules, Roles and Responsibilities: Navigating the Transition to Expert Witness

Monday 13 April l Virtual Event

Registration 12:25 l Start 12:30 l Finish 15:00 

Moving from negotiation or advocacy into the role of an expert witness, demands a fundamental shift in mindset. Experts must step away from partisanship and embrace independence, objectivity and impartiality as their duty moves from a client advisor to one assisting the Tribunal.

  • What makes a great expert witness?
  • Legal framework: CPR Part 35, Tribunal Rules and Practice Directions
  • Distinguishing the expert’s role from that of an advocate or negotiator
  • Shifting mindset: from persuasion to impartiality
  • Understanding how the outcome of other expert issues can influence your evidence - preparing to present alternative options
  • Core duties: independence, objectivity and truthfulness
  • Building an effective litigation team: the roles of solicitors, barristers and experts
  • Managing conflict of interest and ethical obligations
  • Practical guidance on presenting evidence credibly without straying into argument

Current Speakers:

Module 3a

Rating in the Valuation Tribunal

Monday 11 May l Virtual Event

Registration 12:25 l Start 12:30 l Finish 15:00 

For rating, most appeals are heard at Valuation Tribunal and go no further. Module 3A will therefore need to be a deep dive into taking disputes to this Tribunal procedure, tips, traps and how the rules and processes vary from the Upper Tribunal. Equally, most disputes initially taken to Upper Tribunal are settled (70% - 80%), so focus needs to be given on how to settle.

Current Speakers:

Module 3b

The Duty for the Parties to Mediate in CPO Disputes

Monday 18 May l Virtual Event

Registration 12:25 l Start 12:30 l Finish 15:00 

Alternative Dispute Resolution is a requirement imposed by Practice Directions, and is, in the judicial world, considered best practice.

This session explores the full ADR toolkit from mediation and negotiation to expert determination. It will examine when and how these methods can be most effective. We’ll cover practical steps for preparing a case, including documentation, presentation and draw on real-life case studies where ADR delivered successful outcomes in disputes.

It is also recognised that CPO experts may participate in planning inquiries, where the procedures, tone and expectations differ significantly from Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) work. This session will highlight these distinctions, helping experts to avoid common pitfalls and present their evidence effectively in both contexts.

Programme highlights include:

  • What must the parties undertake? Why and when?
  • The goals
  • Mediation, negotiation and arbitration and expert determination explained
  • How vigorous is the test for meaningful engagements? The consequences of failing to satisfy the Tribunal
  • What is the role of the expert in a mediation? What skills are required? Are all mediations unique and unpredictable for experts?  

Current Speakers:

  • David Holland, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP
  • John Sayer, Head of Regeneration, Ardent; Past Chair of The CPA

*Those booked onto all 6 modules, will receive both Zoom links for Modules 3a/3b. Whether you watch one or both, is up to you. 

Module 4

Writing Expert Reports: Clarity, Credibility and Compliance in Expert Evidence 

Monday 8 June l Virtual Event

Registration 12:25 l Start 12:30 l Finish 16:30 

A well-crafted expert report is central to presenting effective evidence - whether in the Upper Tribunal, arbitration, or court. The report is more than just words on paper; it represents the expert’s independent opinion and must meet strict professional and legal standards.

This session explores not only how to write reports that meet Tribunal and CPR 35 requirements, but also how the wider team (negotiators, solicitors and support staff) can support the process by preparing reliable, admissible material. It also examines the expert’s duty to narrow the issues and promote resolution wherever possible. We’ll cover structure, substance, standards and examine the evolving impact of PD 57AC on expert roles and reporting.

We will also examine the expectation that reports should largely be the expert’s own work, with only minimal external input - an approach that necessarily differs when preparing joint statements.

Current Speakers:

Module 5

Practice Directions: Narrowing the Issues to Encourage Early Settlement

Monday 29 June l Virtual Event

Registration 12:25 l Start 12:30 l Finish 15:00 

Practice Directions are increasingly used to streamline disputes and encourage early resolution before hearings begin. Through structured case management, they help parties clarify their positions, reduce points of contention and improve communication between experts, solicitors and the Tribunal.

This session explores how procedural tools, such as pre-hearing conferences, expert meetings and SAFIs (Statements of Agreed Facts and Issues) are used to narrow the scope of disputes. We’ll examine the practical and ethical dimensions of engagement with instructing solicitors, other experts and the professional duties that underpin effective case preparation.

Current Speakers:

Module 6

The Hearing and Lessons from the Front Line: What to Expect and How to Perform at the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)

Monday 13 July l In Person Event, London (*date and venue to be confirmed)

Timings to be confirmed

Part 1 - In the Heat of the Court Room

This session prepares participants for the structure, pace and expectations of a Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) hearing. It covers the key stages of proceedings and offers practical guidance on giving oral evidence with clarity, confidence and composure. We’ll use a sequence of short sketches of structured mini-hearing scenarios to illustrate different expert witness challenges in cross-examination. 

This session prepares participants for the structure, pace and expectations of a Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) hearing. It covers the key stages of proceedings and offers practical guidance on giving oral evidence with clarity, confidence and composure. Attendees will learn how to handle cross-examination, respond effectively to challenges and remain focused under pressure.

Programme:

  • The structure of a Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) hearing: what to expect?
  • Giving oral evidence: clarity, confidence and composure
  • Handling cross-examination and challenges to your evidence
  • Observing Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) case law and procedural best practices
  • Purdah rules

    Part 2 - Best Practice and What Can go Wrong: It is Better to Learn from Others Mistakes than your Own

    Panel discussion telling war stories and reflections on hard-earned lessons from experts, solicitors and barristers in a candid discussion about what can go wrong in expert witness work.

    • Common errors made by expert witnesses (in reports and oral evidence)
    • Case law examples of poor expert evidence and their consequences
    • How to maintain credibility and avoid being discredited
    • Dealing with conflicting expert opinions
    • Continuous professional development and staying updated on Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) trends

    Current Speakers: