BOOK REVIEW
ON EXPERTS
CPR 35 for lawyers and experts
By David Boyle
ISBN: 978 1 91103 511 4
LAW BRIEF PUBLISHING
www.lawbriefpublishing.com
A FUNDAMENTAL PURCHASE FOR ALL EXPERTS INVOLVED IN ANY ASPECT OF LITIGATION
An appreciation by Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers
and Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”
“Law Brief Publishing” are to be congratulated for producing this short but highly informative and practical title to help experts written by the experienced and formidable David Boyle. This book is written for practising lawyers, experts and judges alike, and that is just what you get.
Boyle provides a “detailed, but ultimately practical, guide to expert evidence in civil litigation” and it is just the sort of book which members of the Expert Witness Institute (EWI) should know about and have lined up in their professional armoury because it dispels so much of the rumours surrounding Civil Procedure Rule Part 35 in favour of hard advice.
What I liked particularly about “On Experts” was the consideration given to the formalities and realities of obtaining and relying upon expert evidence out across in a straightforward manner and it is not too lengthy or as detailed as the notes in the White Book.
For many new to the delights of CPR 35, Boyle examines in detail the process by which experts can “formulate and express persuasive opinions whilst fulfilling their duties to the court and the client”. He explores both written and live evidence, and has (most usefully) included dedicated chapters on specific fields of expertise commonly seen in personal injury actions which cover such a substantial area of contentious litigation for those giving specialist advice.
Dr Hector Chinoy has described this paperback as “a well-written, comprehensive and engaging account of the issues encountered in being a medical expert … clearly important and worthy of wider dissemination”. Spot on as a testimonial!
Then, Gordon Exall of Counsel describes it as “clearly informed by extensive practical experience … this is a book that is needed and should be purchased by lawyers and anyone who is thinking of giving ‘expert’ evidence”.
And the judiciary are not to be left out for DJ Timothy Gray writes that it “should be used as a teaching guide for new judges, let alone Counsel, litigation solicitors and experts”, because David Boyle writes as he speaks, surveying the territory with the advantage of a wealth of experience, richly leavened with a generous helping of personal anecdote, thereby combining authority with accessibility.
These comments from users sums up “On Experts” nicely. A concluding comment of some wisdom from the author ends the book with these words “no book on experts could hope to cover every field of expertise”. Exactly so, but David Boyle has produced a fine book here which takes us all a long way down the road! Thank you.
The date of publication is stated as 2016 but always keep up to date with the Part 35 notes in the White Book as well.
