Articles Posted in Expert Witness Marketing

Marketing experts may consult on marketing effectiveness, marketing research, marketing strategy, and more. At Expert Communications.com, Rosalie Hamilton provides methods for experts to find attorneys, companies and insurers that need their expert consultant services. ExpertCommunications.blogspot.com writes:

Following Rosalie’s June newsletter article, “How Much to Say in the Initial Inquiry Call,” several experts sent me their own “initial call” procedures. Here is one so clear and comprehensive, I wanted to share it:

My retainer agreement not only lists the fees and scope of my work, but I also have a clause (in bold) that expressly forbids the attorney from disclosing me as an expert witness if the attorney has not retained me. This happened many times in my early career, and that is why I put it into my retainer agreement. The clause also states I will take action against the attorney if I am listed without being retained. This clause has stopped attorneys from listing me as expert without retaining me. In addition, I have proof that I sent them the retainer agreement, thus I know my clause has been read.

Marketing expert witnesses may opine on marketing effectiveness, marketing research, marketing strategy, and more. At Expert Communications.com, Rosalie Hamilton provides methods for experts to find prospect attorneys, companies and insurers that need their expert consultant services. Here, an expert witness contributes to ExpertCommunications.blogspot.com:

I never, never offer an opinion of a case based on information given to me by the attorney. On the initial call, when asked my charges, and if I think I can help them, I simply reply that I cannot determine the cost until I have seen the documentation, and that I do not know what my final opinion will be until I have reviewed all documents and have performed my analysis. I do tell them I’ve done this for many years and I work quickly. By seeing my Rule 26, they can view the types of cases I have testified, and who the hiring attorney was. That lends to credibility.

Read more: expertcommunications.blogspot.com.

Marketing expert witnesses may opine on marketing effectiveness, marketing research, marketing strategy, and more. At Expert Communications.com, Rosalie Hamilton provides methods for experts to find prospect attorneys, companies and insurers that need their expert consultant services. Here, an expert witness contributes to ExpertCommunications.blogspot.com:

My retainer agreement not only lists the fees and scope of my work, but I also have a clause (in bold) that expressly forbids the attorney from disclosing me as an expert witness if the attorney has not retained me. This happened many times in my early career, and that is why I put it into my retainer agreement. The clause also states I will take action against the attorney if I am listed without being retained. This clause has stopped attorneys from listing me as expert without retaining me. In addition, I have proof that I sent them the retainer agreement, thus I know my clause has been read. [editor’s note: see other experts’ experiences on being designated without permission in this past discussion.]

Read more: http://expertcommunications.blogspot.com/.

Marketing expert witnesses may opine on marketing effectiveness, marketing research, marketing strategy, and more. At Expert Communications.com, Rosalie Hamilton provides methods for experts to find prospect attorneys, companies and insurers that need their expert consultant services. ExpertCommunications.blogspot.com writes:

Following Rosalie’s June newsletter article, “How Much to Say in the Initial Inquiry Call,” several experts sent me their own “initial call” procedures. Here is one so clear and comprehensive, I wanted to share it:

When a new attorney calls me and tells me general information about a case he has, I listen politely, I take notes to protect myself, and then I offer to send the attorney a copy of my CV, my Rule 26 disclosure, and a standard copy of my retainer agreement. Since the attorney calling always wants to know what my rates are, I simply tell them I will forward the retainer agreement, and all costs are fully disclosed. I then email all the documents to the “new” attorney.

In EXPERT PAY DISCUSSION, Rosalie Hamilton, Legal Marketing Strategist for Expert Consultants, writes:

My recommendation is to use an agreement that lays out simply and clearly, at a minimum, your rates for review, deposition, court appearance, travel time, and expenses, as well as your required retainer. I also recommend that you include a cancellation policy so you are not left holding an empty bag along with an empty waiting room or office when deposition or court appearances are postponed or cancelled. There should be signature lines for you and the client and dates for both signatures.

In your engagement agreement, you can also choose to spell out your expected payment schedule and other details. You can specify additional elements as venue in case of disagreement, although some experts do not wish to bring up the negative.

In When the Phone Rings … Twelve Questions for Prospective Expert Witness Assignments, insurance expert witness Kevin M. Quinley, CPCU, ARM, AIC, writes:

(12) How did you find me? The answer can be valuable “intel” about your marketing and where you get the most bang for your promotional buck. Did the lawyer find you through a paid ad, a directory, an Internet listing, a Google search, by word of mouth? How? Keep track of how you get referrals. Consider beefing up your investment in those media. This question helps you fine tune your business development efforts, though chances are you may want to have fishing lines in each of these marketing “ponds” to maximize the odds of getting calls.

This is not an exhaustive list, and some of these questions may be unnecessary, depending on what the prospective client covers in the initial discussions. Other consultants and experts may adapt this template to the needs of a particular case. Getting these questions out in the open and getting straight answers can help the expert make a fully informed decision about accepting a case and determining the appropriate pricing approach.

In When the Phone Rings … Twelve Questions for Prospective Expert Witness Assignments, risk management expert witness Kevin M. Quinley, CPCU, ARM, AIC, writes:
(11) When is it likely that expert depositions would be taken? Have dates been set? If not, would my deposition likely be taken in the next 30 days? Sixty days? Ninety days? This can be handy to know in terms of your own preparation, especially in conjunction with the amount of documents or materials you may need to review on a given case. A compressed time frame may also impact your fee structure, based on the idea that rush jobs cost more and merit premium pricing. Ask if the court has entered a scheduling order and, if so, determine the deadlines for depositions.

Kevin M. Quinley is a leading authority on insurance issues, including risk management, claims, bad faith, coverages and litigation management. He is the author of more than 600 articles and 10 books. You can reach him through http://www.insuranceexpertnetwork.com/.

In How to Write a Medical Malpractice Expert Witness Report, attorney Vivian Pearson explains:

Your medical malpractice expert witness report should be targeted to your attorney’s specifications. Before you begin to prepare your report, know what he or she is expecting in terms or length, formatting, font, and amount of details to include. To ensure that you meet your attorney’s guidelines and ensure you are paid on time, give your attorney a draft of the report to review before you put it in final form.

7. Disclose your fees. In some jurisdictions, you may be asked to disclose pay or other compensation you received in exchange for your report.

In How to Write a Medical Malpractice Expert Witness Report, attorney Vivian Pearson explains:

Your medical malpractice expert witness report should be targeted to your attorney’s specifications. Before you begin to prepare your report, know what he or she is expecting in terms or length, formatting, font, and amount of details to include. To ensure that you meet your attorney’s guidelines and ensure you are paid on time, give your attorney a draft of the report to review before you put it in final form.

5. Give an objective medical assessment of the situation. To ensure that your report is valuable, discuss the medical issues accurately and in-depth, but avoid using medical jargon or overly-technical language that the attorneys and other parties to the case may not understand.

In How to Write a Medical Malpractice Expert Witness Report, attorney Vivian Pearson explains:

Your medical malpractice expert witness report should be targeted to your attorney’s specifications. Before you begin to prepare your report, know what he or she is expecting in terms or length, formatting, font, and amount of details to include. To ensure that you meet your attorney’s guidelines and ensure you are paid on time, give your attorney a draft of the report to review before you put it in final form.

3. Describe the education and experience that makes you qualified to be an expert witness in the case. You will need to begin your report by discussing what degrees you hold, how long you have been working in the medical field, and for how many cases you have served as an expert witness.