Event Information

Start Time

9:00 AM

End Time

3:30 PM

DELIVERY

Online

CPD Hours

There will be CPD hours awarded to attendees. Please check directly with your association or awarding body to see how many points they will award.

We are currently experiencing a technical issue with our booking forms.

To secure a place, please contact us on 01 2933650 or email linzi@cmgevents.ie

BOOK YOUR PLACE

About this Conference

This conference provides expert witnesses with clear, practical guidance on the issues that matter most in today’s courts. From high-profile cases that have tested expert evidence, to updates across civil, criminal and family procedure, the agenda focuses on the realities of giving reliable, admissible evidence. Sessions will address ethical pressures, regulator complaints, and how to produce reports that withstand scrutiny and cross-examination.

With discussion on admissibility standards, contested testimony, and the rise of AI and digital tools, the programme is designed to strengthen credibility, protect professional reputation, and prepare experts for the challenges ahead.

A word from our conference chairperson

Agenda

Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

Dr Anthony Walsh BL, The Law Library

Report Writing and Surviving Cross-Examination / Admissibility and Reliability of Expert Evidence Across Disciplines

Speaker: Eavanna FitzGerald, Barrister, Founder, and CEO of The Expert Witness Site

Structuring reports that stand up in court
Common weaknesses counsel will exploit
Techniques to handle aggressive cross-examination
Communicating complex findings in plain language
What courts demand, regardless of the field
Key reasons expert evidence gets rejected or criticised
Handling contested or conflicting expert testimony
Practical guidance for strengthening your position

Expert Evidence Under the Microscope: Lessons from Recent Cases

Speaker: James Nerney BL, The Law Library

Key takeaways from high-profile cases and inquiries (Post Office Horizon, Letby, Bates v Post Office)
How judicial criticism of expert witnesses’ shapes future practice
Strengthening reliability and independence in evidence
Avoiding common pitfalls that undermine credibility

Ethics, Complaints and Fitness to Practise

Speaker: Alana McArdle BL, The Law Library

What happens when experts face regulator investigations
Managing conflicts of interest and client pressures
Duty to the court vs. duty to the instructing party
Protecting your professional reputation

The Rise of Technology in Expert Evidence

Speaker: David Lane, Solicitor, McGroddy Brennan Solicitors

Admissibility of AI-assisted analysis and predictive modelling
Forensic use of digital tools and new reliability challenges
Risks of over-reliance on automated systems
Future regulatory trends for tech-based evidence

The Evolving Role of the Expert Witness: What You Need to Know Now

Speaker: Gemma McLoughlin Burke BL, The Law Library

How recent procedural changes are reshaping expert responsibilities
Judicial expectations: clarity, impartiality, and practical value in reports and testimony
The admissibility test — avoiding the traps that lead to exclusion
Practical insights from recent rulings that directly affect expert witness practice

Who Should Attend?

Professionals acting as expert witnesses across medico-legal, engineering, financial, construction, forensic, and other specialist fields.

Speakers

Dr Anthony Walsh BL

The Law Library

Eavanna FitzGerald

Barrister, Founder, and CEO of The Expert Witness Site

James Nerney BL

Barrister at Law, The Law Library

Alana McArdle BL

Barrister at Law, The Law Library

David Lane

Solicitor, McGroddy Brennan Solicitors

Gemma McLoughlin-Burke BL