It can be argued that all Chartered Surveyors are experts in their field and therefore should be able to act as Expert Witnesses.

However to adequately fulfil this role, a Surveyor also requires knowledge of court proceedings and the law of evidence, as well as the ability and experience to prepare expert reports in a clear and logical manner.

The Woolf reforms, introduced primarily to speed up the civil procedure system and reduce cost, have also gone a long way to clarify the role of the expert witness.  These changes clearly identify the Expert's responsibility to the Court and hi s duty to partake in discussions with other Experts to reach, where appropriate, an agreed opinion, and to prepare statements showing issues on which agreement has and has not been reached.

Thus, as Surveyors involved in expert witness work, we have within Hills not only an expert knowledge of construction and quantity surveying matters, but also an understanding of the “Civil Procedure Rules” together with the “Code of Guidance on Expert Evidence” as well as the RICS guidance notes “Surveyors Acting as Expert Witnesses”, which are required to properly undertake the role of an Expert Witness.

We also have within Hills surveyors, who in addition to being capable of preparing expert reports, have also had experience of presenting evidence and facing cross-examination in Court, something that few surveyors actually ever get to experience as 98% of cases are settled between the receipt of expert reports and the court hearing.

Hills have acted for various clients from private individuals to large corporate companies e.g. Amec –v- Stork.