The Claimant asserted that the Defendant had infringed their patent for an electric shower-waster pump and control unit. The trial related to liability only. Both sides criticised the other’s expert. The Judge rejected these criticisms noting that, while he reached conclusions that differed from the experts in various places, he did not consider either expert to be unreliable or that their evidence generally should be discounted.

David Cowan, Leam Craig. and Kathryn Newns have been recognised for their contribution to the Expert Witness community.  

This month we have a special episode to celebrate 30 years since the Expert Witness Institute was launched on 8 November 2026. We are going to look back at the changes over the last 30 years within the world of expert evidence, look at how we have changed as an organisation, and also dip into the archive for our News Reel. 

Although this is an immigration and asylum case, in which country experts often provide evidence from a variety of sources about conditions in the applicant’s home country, it includes importance advice for all experts about the use of information on the internet.

SU v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Expert reports - format) Bangladesh [2026] UKUT 317 (IAC) 

Catherine Jago is an oil and commodities Expert Witness with nearly four decades of experience in the field. She started her career at BP before working as an oil journalist, broker and trader. In 2023 she founded her own international Expert Witness practice, CJH Experts, which carries between 20 and 30 live instructions at any one time. Here, she tells us how she came to the role in unexpected circumstances, what makes a truly good Expert, and why independence is never negotiable.

The case concerned the non-payment by a tenant of a commercial service charge. In considering the tenant’s permitted contractual defences of “manifest or mathematical error or fraud”, the Supreme Court construed the meaning of “manifest error” narrowly.

This is a fascinating case in terms of the expert’s qualifications, training and experience. As a result of the expert not setting these out in the report, and for other reasons, the judge could attach little or no weight to the expert’s opinions.

RC v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] UKFTT HU670752024 (IAC) 

In this article, Rose Wilson and Mariya Rankin from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, and Bhavina Vasishta from Rimkus consider whether the role of expert witnesses in building safety disputes requires an urgent rethink following Grenfell and the sweeping reforms of the Building Safety Act 2022.

The Claimant was suing in relation to profound disabilities he suffered due to the Defendant’s admitted clinical negligence. While some of the experts were praised, some were severally criticised by the judge, particularly for failing to consider the range of opinion. Two of the experts were also significantly hampered by their nervousness in cross-examination. 

JBX v Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust [2026] EWHC 2294 (KB)

The EWI held the annual Scottish Medicolegal Conference at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on 18 September. The event featured great speakers and panels and lots of interaction with the audience of expert witnesses and legal professionals.