25/01/08

The Academy is happy to announce that it's Corporate Scheme has been relaunched with the addition of accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy to its ranks.

Wilkins Kennedy are a Top 30 firm (Accountancy and Accountancy Age June 2007) of Chartered Accountants with 13 offices in the South East of England. Their dedicated Forensic Accounting team comprises a range of specialists with substantial experience in forensic accounting, dispute resolution, and mediation and litigation support.

26/07/07

On Tuesday 24th July The Academy of Experts and the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

For full details click here >>

25/01/07

On 21st March an Academy team comprising of the Chairman, the Chairman Emeritus and the Secretary General will sit as a panel on Dispute Resolution practices in Singapore.

For full details click here >>

The newly launched designation of "Accredited Expert Environmental Witnesses" recognises specialists who are both registered expert members of the Academy of Experts and Chartered Environmentalists registered with the Society of the Environment. They provide recognised expertise in both environmental and expert witness matters.  

To download the press release please click here >>

Sir Roy was initially struck off the medical register

The Appeal Court has overturned a ruling that expert witnesses should be exempt from disciplinary action by their regulatory body.

The issue was debated following the case of Professor Sir Roy Meadow.

The paediatrician was struck off after giving flawed evidence at Sally Clark's 1999 trial for the murder of her sons.

The High Court previously ruled that regulatory bodies such as the General Medical Council could not punish expert witnesses over "honest mistakes".

The GMC said that ruling rendered it "toothless", preventing it from doing its work comprehensively, and establishing a principle which would affect other regulators.

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, supported the GMC's case. He said it was not up to a court to decide if expert witnesses should escape punishment.

However, the three Appeal Court judges also ruled that the High Court decision that Sir Roy was not guilty of professional misconduct should stand.

The full text of the judgement may be found at: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2006/1390.html

New membership category

As part of it's policy of working with other organisations The Academy of Experts has created a new 'forensic practitioner' grade, at a special subscription rate, available only to practitioners registered with the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP). Those taking up the offer will have access to the Academy's services and activities, including conferences, seminars, training and other events, in the company of experts from a wide range of professional disciplines.

The July newsletter of the CRFP stated "We commend this scheme, a tangible benefit of being registered with CRFP".

For further details of this and other membership grades click here>>

Code of Practice for Experts

On 26th June the Master of the Rolls, Rt Hon Sir Anthony Clarke and the President of the Queens Bench Division, Rt Hon Sir Igor Judge endorsed The Academy of Experts' Code of Practice for use by Experts in criminal cases.

The Academy's Code of Practice has long been used by Academy members in both Civil and Criminal proceedings. A joint Code of Practice was agreed and endorsed in June 05. It is this same Code of Practice which has now been endorsed for use by all Experts in Criminal Proceedings in England and Wales

Conference 2006 - The Immune Expert

The Academy's conference a the Brewery was well attended with representatives from around Britain and Europe.

The conference was opened with a keynote address from The Hon Mr Justice Colman, a vice president of the Academy.

His paper is available for download click here>>

Conference 2006 - The Immune Expert

30th June 2006

Details of the Academy's 2006 Conference have been announced. Taking place on 30th June, 2006 at the Brewery the conference will examine the effects of the Meadow case on the Expert Witness world and provide an update of the most recent developments effecting Experts.

The Conference is supported by a number of organisations including: Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, EuroExpert, Expert Witness Institute, Forensic Group of the ICAEW, Institute of Structural Engineers and the Society for the Environment.

[click here] for full details of the conference.

New President

Today The Rt Hon The Lord Saville of Newdigate took over as President of The Academy of Experts from Lord Howe of Aberavon CH QC.

At a reception at The Academy of Experts attended by many members of the Judiciary and the legal profession - including Mr Justice Jackson, Lord Dyson, HH Judge Nic Madge and Lord Phillips, Lord Saville expressed his delight at the appointment and his intention to work closely with the Academy.