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
Date of Engagement Request
Proposed Engagement Start Date
Proposed Engagement End Date
Is this consultant replacing a previously retained expert?
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?
List notable prior testimony experience including venues and case types:
Has the expert's testimony ever been excluded or limited by a tribunal?
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?
Is the opposing party's expert known at this time?
Do you anticipate an admissibility challenge to this expert's testimony?
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
Is an upfront retainer required?
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?
Do you require hard caps on travel-related expenses?
Will international travel be necessary?
Is first-class or premium travel permitted?
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)
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?
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?
Has the expert or their firm previously been engaged by any adverse party in this matter?
Does the expert have any current business or personal relationships with any party or counsel in this matter?
Has a formal conflicts waiver been obtained from client if any moderate or significant conflicts exist?
Has a litigation-specific Non-Disclosure Agreement been fully executed?
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?
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?
Has a document retention and destruction policy been communicated to the expert?
Will the expert generate work product claimed as attorney-client privileged?
Are there any third-party vendors or subcontractors that the expert intends to utilize?
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
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
General Counsel Approves This Engagement
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
Post-Engagement Evaluation and Performance Review Required