This section captures fundamental case identification and the professional credentials of the proposed external consultant. Accurate completion ensures proper conflict screening and jurisdictional compliance.
Matter Name/Case Caption
Case Docket/Reference Number
Nature of Proceeding
Court Litigation
International Arbitration
Domestic Arbitration
Regulatory/Administrative Proceeding
Investigatory Matter
Mediation/Conciliation Support
Other Dispute Resolution
If 'Other Dispute Resolution' selected, please specify
Court or Arbitral Tribunal Name
Seat/Venue Location
Governing Law of the Dispute
Case Phase at Time of Engagement
Pre-Litigation Advisory
Pleadings Stage
Discovery
Expert Discovery
Pre-Trial/Motions
Trial/Hearing
Post-Trial/Appeal
Settlement Negotiations
Consultant Full Legal Name
Professional Title & Academic Qualifications
Primary Firm/Organization Affiliation
Professional Registration/License Number (if applicable)
Primary Contact Email Address
Primary Contact Phone Number
Type of Engagement Requested
Expert Witness (Testifying)
Expert Consultant (Non-Testifying)
Jury Consultant
Hybrid Testifying & Consulting Role
Shadow Expert/Advisory Capacity
Will the expert also provide consulting services beyond testimony?
Describe the consulting services to be provided:
Explain why a non-testifying consultant is necessary and how work product will be protected:
Select specific jury consulting services required:
Mock Trial Design & Execution
Focus Groups
Jury Selection/Voir Dire Assistance
Witness Preparation
Trial Strategy Consulting
Post-Trial Juror Interviews
Community Attitude Surveys
Shadow Jury
Clearly delineate the separate roles and billing structures for testifying vs. consulting functions:
Explain the rationale for shadow expert arrangement and privilege protection measures:
Date of Engagement Request
Proposed Engagement Start Date
Proposed Engagement End Date
Is this consultant replacing a previously retained expert?
Provide explanation for replacement and prior expert termination details:
Urgency Level of Engagement
Routine - Standard Timeline
Moderate - Discovery Deadlines Looming
High - Expert Discovery Cutoff Imminent
Critical - Trial Date Within 90 Days
Emergency - Imminent Hearing or Motion
This section establishes the substantive justification for retaining this specific expert, detailing their unique qualifications and the precise scope of anticipated litigation support. Courts and arbitral tribunals increasingly scrutinize expert necessity and proportionality.
Upload Consultant's Complete Curriculum Vitae
Executive Summary of Expert's Unique Qualifications
Primary Field of Specialized Knowledge
Accounting & Financial Analysis
Economics & Damages Quantification
Engineering & Technical Sciences
Intellectual Property & Patent Law
Life Sciences & Medicine
Environmental Science
Forensic Technology & Cybersecurity
Industry-Specific Commercial Practices
Human Resources & Employment
Regulatory Compliance
Valuation & Appraisal
Other Specialized Domain
Years of Relevant Professional Experience in This Field
Has this expert previously provided expert testimony in legal proceedings?
Approximately how many times has the expert testified?
List notable prior testimony experience including venues and case types:
Has the expert's testimony ever been excluded or limited by a tribunal?
Provide case details and explanation:
Relevant Publications, Research, or Academic Contributions
Detailed Scope of Work and Specific Services to be Provided
Expected Deliverables (select all that apply)
Detailed Written Expert Report
Rebuttal Expert Report
Expert Report Supplement
Deposition Testimony
Trial/Hearing Testimony
Consulting on Cross-Examination Strategy
Jury Presentation Materials
Interactive Data Visualizations
Confidential Attorney Advisement
Expert Conference/Meeting of Experts
Other Specialized Deliverable
Specific Technical Issues or Questions the Expert Will Address
Deadline for Initial Expert Report (if applicable)
Scheduled Deposition Date(s)
Trial or Hearing Start Date
Estimated Total Hours of Expert Testimony at Trial/Hearing
Will the expert require access to confidential competitor information or trade secrets?
Describe protective measures and confidentiality protocols:
Is the opposing party's expert known at this time?
Opposing Expert Name and Affiliation
Do you anticipate an admissibility challenge to this expert's testimony?
Explain the basis for potential challenge and preparation strategy:
This section imposes rigorous financial controls, requiring detailed budget estimates, expense caps, and audit trails. Litigation cost management is critical for enterprise clients facing multi-jurisdictional disputes.
Compensation Structure Type
Pure Hourly Rate
Flat Fee (Fixed Price)
Hybrid (Hourly + Flat Fee Components)
Capped Fee with Hourly Billing
Phase-Based Billing
Detailed Hourly Rate Structure
Activity Category | Hourly Rate | Estimated Hours | Estimated Subtotal | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | B | C | D | ||
1 | Case Familiarization & Document Review | $450.00 | 40 | $18,000.00 | |
2 | Research & Analysis | $500.00 | 30 | $15,000.00 | |
3 | Expert Report Preparation | $550.00 | 25 | $13,750.00 | |
4 | Deposition Preparation | $500.00 | 10 | $5,000.00 | |
5 | Deposition Testimony | $600.00 | 8 | $4,800.00 | |
6 | Trial Preparation & Testimony | $650.00 | 20 | $13,000.00 | |
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9 | $0.00 | ||||
10 | $0.00 |
Total Flat Fee Amount
Clearly delineate which services are flat fee vs. hourly:
Maximum Capped Fee Amount
Phase-Based Fee Breakdown
Litigation Phase | Phase Fee | Phase Completion Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
A | B | C | ||
1 | Initial Report & Discovery | $25,000.00 | 6/30/2025 | |
2 | Deposition & Rebuttal | $15,000.00 | 8/15/2025 | |
3 | Trial Preparation & Testimony | $20,000.00 | 10/30/2025 | |
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Is an upfront retainer required?
Retainer Amount
Retainer Replenishment Terms
One-Time Retainer (Non-Replenishing)
Monthly Replenishment to Fixed Balance
Quarterly Replenishment
Replenishment When Balance Falls Below Threshold
Will expenses be reimbursed separately from professional fees?
Select reimbursable expense categories:
Airfare/Transportation
Accommodation
Meals & Incidentals
Ground Transportation
Research Materials & Database Access
Court Reporting & Transcripts
Administrative Support
Communication & Technology
Printing & Document Production
Specialized Equipment
Other Direct Costs
Do you require hard caps on travel-related expenses?
Travel Expense Cap Matrix
Expense Category | Maximum Daily/Unit Rate | Requires Pre-Approval | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
A | B | C | ||
1 | Domestic Business Class Airfare | $2,500.00 | Yes | |
2 | International Business Class Airfare | $8,000.00 | Yes | |
3 | Hotel Accommodation (per night) | $450.00 | ||
4 | Daily Meals & Incidentals | $150.00 | ||
5 | Ground Transportation (daily) | $200.00 | ||
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Will international travel be necessary?
International travel requires separate written pre-approval from General Counsel
Is first-class or premium travel permitted?
Justify the business necessity for premium travel:
Total Estimated Budget for Expert Engagement (All Fees & Expenses)
Budget Approval Tier
Under $25,000 (Managing Counsel Approval)
$25,000 - $75,000 (General Counsel Approval)
$75,000 - $150,000 (GC + CFO Approval)
Over $150,000 (Executive Committee Approval Required)
Has Executive Committee pre-approval been obtained?
Billing Frequency
Weekly (for active trial periods)
Bi-Weekly
Monthly
Upon Milestone Completion
Single Final Invoice
Payment Terms
Net 15 Days
Net 30 Days
Net 45 Days
Net 60 Days
Billing Currency
United States Dollar (USD)
Euro (EUR)
British Pound (GBP)
Swiss Franc (CHF)
Other Currency
Is a budget variance approval process required?
Budget variance threshold requiring re-approval:
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Explain how this expert's contribution justifies the anticipated expense
This section implements rigorous conflict-of-interest screening and confidentiality protocols. Failure to conduct adequate conflict checks can result in expert disqualification, waiver of privilege, or professional disciplinary action.
Has a comprehensive conflict-of-interest check been completed?
Explain why not and provide timeline for completion:
Has the expert or their firm previously been engaged by any adverse party in this matter?
Prior Adverse Party Engagement Details
Adverse Party Name | Nature of Prior Engagement | Date of Engagement | Confidentiality Obligation Exists | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | B | C | D | ||
1 | Competitor Corp | Economic damages analysis | 3/15/2022 | Yes | |
2 | Rival Industries | Industry practice review | 7/22/2023 | ||
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Does the expert have any current business or personal relationships with any party or counsel in this matter?
Current Relationship Disclosure
Party/Individual Name | Nature of Relationship | Conflict Severity | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
A | B | C | ||
1 | John Doe, opposing counsel | Former law school classmate | De Minimis | |
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Has a formal conflicts waiver been obtained from client if any moderate or significant conflicts exist?
Explain plan to mitigate or address conflict concerns:
Has a litigation-specific Non-Disclosure Agreement been fully executed?
Planned NDA Execution Date
NDA Execution Status
Executed - Standard Corporate Form
Executed - Litigation-Specific NDA
Executed - Custom Negotiated Agreement
Execution Pending - In Negotiation
Not Yet Initiated
Confidentiality Designation Level
Attorney Eyes Only (Most Restrictive)
External Litigation Counsel Only
Named Litigation Team Members Only
Client Litigation Committee
General Corporate Access
Public Disclosure Permitted
Will the expert be exposed to attorney work product or litigation strategy materials?
Describe the privilege protection protocol and firewall procedures:
Data Security & Information Handling Requirements (select all applicable)
Encryption at Rest (AES-256)
Encryption in Transit (TLS 1.3)
Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)
Virtual Data Room Access Only
No Cloud Storage Permitted
Physical Document Security Protocol
Two-Factor Authentication Required
Access Logging & Audit Trails
Geographic Data Residency Restrictions
Device Management & Remote Wipe Capability
Information Exchange Protocol
Direct Transmission to In-House Counsel Only
Through Designated Litigation Counsel
Secure Client Portal Upload
Encrypted Email with Tracking
Physical Courier with Chain of Custody
Is there a risk that the expert could be subpoenaed by opposing counsel for documents or deposition?
Outline document retention and subpoena response protocol:
Has a document retention and destruction policy been communicated to the expert?
Retention period after matter conclusion (in years):
Will the expert generate work product claimed as attorney-client privileged?
Explain the factual and legal basis for privilege assertion:
Are there any third-party vendors or subcontractors that the expert intends to utilize?
Identify vendors and confirm they are bound by equivalent confidentiality obligations:
This final section establishes the formal internal approval chain, documenting sign-off by managing litigation counsel and General Counsel. No expert engagement may commence without requisite approvals, except in documented emergency circumstances.
Managing Litigation Counsel Full Name
Managing Litigation Counsel Bar Registration Number
Managing Litigation Counsel Email
Managing Litigation Counsel Approves This Engagement
Provide detailed reasoning for rejection and alternative recommendations:
General Counsel Full Name
General Counsel Email
General Counsel Approval Authority Level
Full Independent Authority to Approve
Conditional Approval Authority
Requires CFO Co-Approval
Requires CEO/Executive Committee Approval
Board-Level Approval Required for Amounts Over Threshold
Has CFO co-approval been obtained?
Has Executive Committee approval been secured?
Board approval threshold amount:
General Counsel Approves This Engagement
Detail alternative approval pathway or escalation procedure:
Final Approval Date
Final Authorized Budget Amount
Engagement Authorization Reference Number
Special Conditions or Limitations on Engagement
Signature of Requesting In-House Counsel
Signature of Managing Litigation Counsel
Signature of General Counsel
Final Authorization Status
Fully Authorized - Proceed with Engagement
Authorized with Conditions - See Special Terms
Conditionally Approved - Pending Further Information
Rejected - Do Not Engage
Escalated to Higher Authority
Documentation Filing Location (e.g., matter management system path)
Compliance review completed - Conflicts check, NDA, and budget approval verified
Risk Assessment Level of This Engagement
Low Risk - Routine Expert Engagement
Medium Risk - Complex Issues or High Cost
High Risk - Novel Theories or Aggressive Timeline
Critical Risk - Bet-the-Company Implications
Is a formal risk mitigation plan required?
Summarize risk mitigation and contingency strategies:
Is a formal risk mitigation plan required?
Summarize risk mitigation and contingency strategies:
Post-Engagement Evaluation and Performance Review Required
Scheduled review date upon engagement completion:
To configure an element, select it on the form.