Services

Expert witness services

Independent expert testimony and consulting support on civil rights compliance practice: what the frameworks require, what defensible process looks like, and whether an institution met the standard.

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At a glance

How expert work is engaged

UnitHourly, across every phase of the work.
BasisThe standard schedule, with an advance before testimony.
NeverNo contingency, no success fee, no outcome-linked rate.
ObligationAccuracy, not the party who retained us.

Published rates

What this covers

Testimony, consulting, and the standard of practice

What the frameworks require, what defensible process looks like, and whether an institution met the standard.

TestimonyDeposition and hearing testimony on compliance practice, process standards, and institutional obligations.
Consulting expertNon-testifying review of a file, a process, or an opposing expert report.
Standard of practiceWhat a reasonable coordinator, investigator, or decision maker would have done, and when.
Process critiqueWhere a grievance process departed from what the regulations and the institution’s own policy required.

How an engagement runs

From the conflicts screen to the stand

Three phases, and what each one actually involves.

Before engagement

ConflictsScreened against the parties, counsel, the institution, and any prior involvement in the facts. We will not opine on a matter we investigated.
Scope and termsRetained by counsel, with scope, rate, and the cost advance in writing. We tell you at this point if we think the opinion will not help you.

The work

ReviewThe record, the policy that governed, the process as it ran, and the standard that applies. We ask for what is missing rather than working around it.
OpinionA written opinion stating the basis, the materials relied on, and the limits of what can be said from them.

Testimony

Deposition and trialPrepared, available, and consistent with the written opinion. We do not adjust a conclusion between the report and the stand.
AfterMaterials retained under our records schedule, and a legal hold applied for as long as the matter is live.

How expert work is priced

One hourly rate, every phase

Never contingent, and never linked to the outcome.

Expert work is billed hourly and never any other way. Preparation, file review, report writing, deposition, and testimony are the same rate, because the work is the same work and a discounted review rate creates an incentive nobody should have.

We do not accept contingency arrangements in any matter, and expert work is where that rule matters most. An expert paid on the outcome is an advocate, and opposing counsel will establish that in the first five minutes.

Review and analysis

File review, analysis, and consultation.

Hourly$550–$700
Minimum incrementOne tenth of an hour
BillingMonthly in arrears, net 30

Report writing

Written opinion and any supplement.

Hourly$550–$700
Supplemental reportSame rate
RebuttalSame rate

Deposition and testimony

Time under oath and preparation for it.

Hourly$550–$700
Cost advance$5,000 before testimony work begins
Travel timeBilled at rate, expenses at cost

Signing a service agreement earns 15 percent off general services and locks the rate for the term.

Terms

What the fee covers, and what it does not

What the fee coversConflicts screening, file review, analysis, the written opinion, preparation, and time under oath. The same rate applies throughout.
What sits outside itTravel expenses at cost. Investigation of the underlying matter is separate work and we will not do both in the same case.
Cost advanceA $5,000 advance is required before testimony work begins, applied against fees rather than held as a premium.
No contingencyWe do not accept contingency arrangements in any matter, expert work included. An opinion that pays more if it lands a certain way is not an opinion.
IndependenceWe are not litigation counsel and do not advocate for a party. Our obligation runs to the accuracy of the opinion, including where it does not help the party who retained us.
InsuranceProfessional liability of $2,000,000 each claim and $2,000,000 aggregate, written through Hiscox.

Before you retain us

A limit worth stating early

We will not offer an opinion we do not hold, and we will tell counsel before an engagement letter is signed if the record does not support the position they are hoping for. That is what makes the opinion worth having when it does support it.

Read the questions we get

Scoping

Tell us about the matter.

A scoping call covers the conflicts screen, the record, and whether our opinion is likely to help you, before an engagement letter is signed.