Instructing Baker Accordia as expert or adviser.
What you need to send, what you will get back, and how quickly. Written for the clerk, paralegal or fee earner who has to get an expert in place by a date.
How to instruct a quantum expert witness.
1. Conflict check
Send the names of the parties, their representatives and the project address. The check covers all ClystCore Ltd and Baker Accordia work, past and present. You will have an answer the same working day. Please do not send privileged material until the check is clear.
2. Scoping call
A short call to understand the forum, the stage reached, the questions the expert is to answer and any directions timetable. If the matter is outside quantity surveying and construction cost, Chris will say so and, where he can, suggest another discipline.
3. Estimate and terms
A written estimate follows once the documents and questions are known, with the hourly rate, a cap if required, the daily rate for hearings and the timetable. Terms of engagement match the role: expert adviser, party-appointed expert or Single Joint Expert, with consumer and business versions. Specimen terms are available on request.
4. Documents
A document request list is issued with the estimate. For quantum work the usual set is the contract and pricing documents, applications, payment and pay less notices, certificates, instructions, drawings, the correspondence bundle and any bank or ledger evidence relied on. Site inspection is arranged where the works or defects need to be seen.
5. Report and after
Reports follow a consistent CPR 35 structure with a short summary first. Schedules are supplied as working spreadsheets with formulae intact. Meetings of experts, joint statements, CPR 35.6 questions and oral evidence are quoted separately and attended wherever the hearing sits.
Where a quantity surveying expert fits, and where another discipline is needed.
Well suited
Final account and valuation disputes; interim payment and notice disputes; alleged overpayment and true value; cause and remedy of building defects, damp and water ingress; professional negligence of surveyors, quantity surveyors and contract administrators, including what a survey should have found and the cost of repair; disputes between adjoining owners; reasonable cost of remedial works; loss and expense quantification; standard of care of quantity surveyors and contract administrators; residential building disputes in the County Court; adjudication quantum.
Usually paired with another expert
Structural engineering causation where movement or load paths are in issue (structural engineer); critical-path delay analysis (delay analyst); design liability (architect or engineer); diminution in value and any other valuation opinion (RICS Registered Valuer, instructed separately); drainage, electrical or gas installations (specialist contractor or engineer).
Documents for your file.
- Expert CV in CPR-compliant form, with appointment history
- Specimen terms of engagement for each role
- Note of current hourly and daily rates
- Confirmation of professional indemnity cover
- Redacted sample report, subject to the instructing party's consent
Need an expert in place by a date?
Send the parties, the project and the deadline. Conflict checks are completed the same working day.