Working with Expert Witnesses

This program took place on May 21, 2025, but you can still rent the video.

Archive: Working with Expert Witnesses

Rent this 3-hour video to catch up on what you missed at Working with Expert Witnesses and learn about working with experts from A-Z.

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Program Chairs:
Amy Block, WeirFoulds LLP
Crawford G. Smith, Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP

Take the fear out of working with expert witnesses! Learn about working with experts from A-Z.

The plenary program will be held on May 21 and the learning-by-doing skills workshop will be held on May 22. There are two registration options: (1) plenary + workshop or (2) plenary only (see below for more information).

Plenary Details | Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1:00PM to 4:30PM (ET), Via Zoom
Working with expert witnesses is minefield of ethical and practical problems. Learn how to navigate the tricky terrain of experts, from deciding whether to retain an expert, to drafting your initial retainer letter, to preparing your witness for examinations, to qualifying and examining a witness at trial.

Topics Include:

How to decide if you need an expert in the first place
Get the best expert to support your case.
Properly qualify your expert at trial.
Effectively use expert reports at trial.
Instruct experts on report preparation.
Conduct a successful expert examination.
Navigate difficult ethical issues involving experts.

Note that while the skills are applicable to a range of jurisdictions, the course will be largely based on Ontario Rules.
*This program may be delivered entirely online if there is not sufficient demand to hold it in-person.

Please note that while the skills are largely applicable across different jurisdictions, the examples will be drawn from Ontario.

Please review the system requirements to view a Zoom webinar here.

Faculty Includes:
The Hon. Justice Robyn M. Ryan Bell, Superior Court of Justice for Ontario
The Hon. Justice Peter J. Osborne, Superior Court of Justice for Ontario
Shannon Beddoe, McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP
Ryan Breedon, Breedon Mor LLP
Stephanie DiGiuseppe, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
Rebecca Jones, Lenczner Slaght LLP
Ben Kates, WeirFoulds LLP
Cynthia B. Kuehl, Lerners LLP
Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi, Pallett Valo LLP
Carolyn Silver, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Andrew Skodyn, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

1:00 - 1:05
Introduction
Amy Block, WeirFoulds LLP

1:05 - 1:30
10 Years after Moore v. Getahun: Do’s and Don’ts of Working with An Expert
Cynthia B. Kuehl, Lerners LLP
Moderator: Amy Block, WeirFoulds LLP

1:30 - 2:00
Preparing Your Expert for Trial: How to Prepare your Expert for Examination and Cross-Examination
Ben Kates, WeirFoulds LLP
Sudevi Mukherjee-Gothi, Pallett Valo LLP
Moderator: Crawford G. Smith, Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP

2:00 – 2:35
Qualification of an Expert: How’s it’s Done, and How and When to Challenge it
Carolyn Silver, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Andrew Skodyn, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Moderator: Amy Block, WeirFoulds LLP

2:35 – 2:45
Break

2:45 – 3:15
Getting in your Expert Evidence: Examination in Chief of an Expert
Shannon Beddoe, McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP
Rebecca Jones, Lenczner Slaght LLP
Moderator: Crawford G. Smith, Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP

3:15 – 3:50
Challenging Expert Evidence: Preparation for Cross Examining an Expert, and Common Pitfalls of Cross-Examining an Expert Witness
Ryan Breedon, Breedon Mor LLP
Stephanie DiGiuseppe, Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
Moderator: Amy Block, WeirFoulds LLP

3:50 – 3:55
Break

3:55- 4:25
View From the Bench
The Hon. Justice Peter J. Osborne, Superior Court of Justice for Ontario
The Hon. Justice Robyn M. Ryan Bell, Superior Court of Justice for Ontario
Moderator: Crawford G. Smith, Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP

4:25 – 4:3
Concluding Remarks
Crawford G. Smith, Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP

Useful for litigation counsel of all levels
"Excellent program, very useful for litigation counsel of all levels of experience."

Practical and immediately useful
"A practical and immediately useful program. I took away a better approach to examining expert witnesses."

Provides strategic considerations for each step of the process
"Great to have experienced litigators and experts give real-world tips. I enjoyed the practical suggestions on how to prepare your own expert and strategic considerations for each step of the process."

Would definitely recommend the workshop
"Having the workshop to apply my skills and receive feedback made the program significantly more useful. Would definitely recommend!"

Eligible CPD Hours:

Plenary + Workshop:
This program contains 2.5 Professionalism Hours, and is eligible for up to 4.5 Substantive Hours.

Plenary Only:
This program contains 1.5 Professionalism Hour, and is eligible for up to 2.0 Substantive Hours.

Law Society Accredited

This organization has been approved as an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content by the Law Society of Ontario.

For information on CPD requirements and accreditation across Canada, please click here.

Working with Expert Witnesses

Archive: Working with Expert Witnesses

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