Introduction

These Terms and Conditions, referred to as the “Terms,” apply to your access to and use of the International Expert Witness website, expert directory, registration facilities, account areas, communication systems, case-management tools, expert-report audits, trial-readiness services, expert joint-report mediation and related services.

These services are collectively referred to as the “Platform.”

The Platform is operated by LegateHub Limited, trading as International Expert Witness.

In these Terms, references to “International Expert Witness,” “IEW,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to the Platform operator.

References to “you” or “your” refer to any person, professional, business or organisation accessing or using the Platform.

About International Expert Witness

International Expert Witness provides a technology-enabled professional Platform designed to facilitate expert discovery, controlled instructions, secure collaboration and report-quality workflows between:

• attorneys, solicitors, barristers, law firms, corporate counsel, insurers, businesses, public bodies and other organisations seeking specialist professional assistance, collectively referred to as “Clients”;
• independent expert witnesses, consultants and specialist professionals, collectively referred to as “Experts.”

Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing, International Expert Witness provides Platform, administration and workflow services. The parties to an instruction, the services provided by IEW and the services provided independently by an Expert will be identified in the applicable engagement terms.

International Expert Witness is not a law firm, does not practise law and does not provide legal advice, legal representation, expert testimony. Its expert joint-report mediation service is a neutral, structured process concerned with the fair presentation of agreed and disagreed points; it is not general legal or dispute mediation and does not determine or rewrite the science.

Acceptance of These Terms

You agree to these Terms when you:

• access or browse the Platform;
• create or use an account;
• submit an enquiry, request or registration form;
• register for assessment as an Expert;
• search for or contact an Expert;
• accept an introduction or engagement;
• upload information or documents; or
• use any Platform feature or service.

If you use the Platform on behalf of a company, law firm, organisation or other legal entity, you confirm that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

Eligibility

To register for or use the Platform, you must:

• be at least 18 years old or the minimum legal age required to enter into a binding agreement in your jurisdiction;
• have legal capacity to agree to these Terms;
• provide accurate, current and complete information;
• comply with all laws and professional obligations applicable to you; and
• not have been suspended or permanently removed from the Platform.

Expert applicants must also hold the qualifications, experience, registrations, licences, insurance and permissions necessary to offer their stated services.

We may refuse an application, restrict access or request additional information where reasonably necessary for security, compliance, professional standards or Platform integrity.

Registration and User Accounts

Certain Platform features require you to create an account.

When registering, you agree to:

• provide truthful and complete information;
• keep your account details current;
• maintain the confidentiality of your password;
• use a secure password unique to your account;
• prevent unauthorised access to your account and devices;
• notify us promptly of suspected unauthorised access; and
• accept responsibility for activities undertaken through your account, except where caused by our breach of applicable law.

You must not share your login details, allow another person to impersonate you or create an account using false information.

We may require identity, professional or security verification before activating or continuing access to an account.

Expert Registration, Assessment and Listings

Qualified professionals may register for assessment as Experts on the International Expert Witness Platform. Registration does not make anyone an expert.

Applying does not guarantee acceptance or publication of a professional profile.

Expert applicants and listed Experts agree to:

• submit accurate, complete and current qualifications and professional information;
• provide supporting documentation when reasonably requested, which may include a professional CV, certified identification, business-registration documents, core certifications, sample reports, relevant judgments, publications and media features;
• disclose relevant professional restrictions, disciplinary findings or conflicts of interest;
• describe their experience and services honestly;
• keep their profile, availability and contact information current;
• avoid misleading claims, guarantees or representations;
• comply with relevant professional, regulatory and ethical obligations;
• maintain any required licences, registrations and professional insurance; and
• notify International Expert Witness of any material change affecting their suitability for Platform inclusion.

We may review, edit, classify, reject, suspend or remove a professional profile where reasonably necessary to protect users, comply with legal obligations or maintain Platform standards.

Registration material may be verified and submitted to structural or peer review before a profile is approved. Platform inclusion does not constitute employment, create expert status, guarantee court acceptance or guarantee future enquiries or appointments.

Client Responsibilities

Clients are responsible for determining whether an Expert is suitable for a particular matter.

Before appointing an Expert, Clients should independently verify relevant matters, including:

• identity and contact details;
• academic and professional qualifications;
• professional registrations and licences;
• relevant experience and specialist knowledge;
• professional disciplinary history;
• professional indemnity insurance;
• availability and capacity;
• conflicts of interest and independence;
• compliance with court, tribunal or regulatory requirements; and
• suitability for the Client’s specific matter.

Clients should issue clear written instructions and enter into a written instructions and complete the applicable engagement terms before chargeable work begins.

International Expert Witness does not guarantee that a Expert will be accepted by a court, tribunal, arbitrator, regulator or other decision-making body.

Professional Engagements

The applicable engagement terms will identify the contracting parties, the Expert's independent professional duties and the Platform services supplied by International Expert Witness.

The parties are responsible for agreeing:

• the scope and purpose of the engagement;
• instructions and relevant issues;
• professional fees and expenses;
• payment terms and invoicing;
• deadlines and availability;
• reports, opinions or other deliverables;
• confidentiality and data protection;
• ownership and permitted use of documents;
• cancellation and termination rights;
• professional standards and duties;
• applicable law; and
• procedures for resolving disputes.

International Expert Witness does not direct an Expert's scientific or technical opinion. Administrative review, structural audit, formatting checks and procedural-alignment workflows do not permit IEW to rewrite or dictate the Expert's independent conclusions.

Expert Joint-Report Mediation

The Platform provides a structured, neutral process to support experts who are required to confer and prepare a joint report or statement, including a CPR 35.12 joint statement where applicable.

Submission of a request does not guarantee that:

• the matter is suitable for the service;
• all required experts will participate;
• a requested date or deadline can be accommodated;
• the experts will agree on any scientific or technical issue;
• a court will accept the resulting document; or
• the service will produce a particular litigation outcome.

The neutral facilitator mediates the structure and language of the joint document, not the underlying science. Each Expert remains solely responsible for their independent opinion and must not be pressured to agree merely to achieve consensus.

This service is not general dispute mediation, legal representation or a process for negotiating a settlement. Participants should obtain independent legal advice where appropriate.

Fees, Invoices and Payments

Expert searches may be offered without a subscription. Controlled instructions, audits, trial-readiness services, joint-report mediation, case-management services and other chargeable services may be quoted or priced separately.

Where a fee applies, the relevant price, billing period and payment conditions will be displayed or communicated before purchase.

Unless otherwise stated:

• fees are payable in the displayed currency;
• applicable taxes may be added where legally required;
• payment must be made directly to the nominated LegateHub Limited bank account or through another approved payment method;
• users are responsible for ensuring billing details are accurate; and
• the quotation or engagement terms will state whether Expert fees, Platform fees, taxes and expenses are included or separate.

Refunds and cancellations are governed by the quotation, engagement terms and any mandatory rights available under applicable law. IEW does not operate an escrow service unless expressly stated in a later written service notice.

We may suspend paid features where payment is overdue, reversed, disputed or unsuccessful.

Acceptable Use

You must use the Platform lawfully, professionally and responsibly.

You must not:

• provide false, fraudulent or misleading information;
• impersonate another person or organisation;
• misrepresent qualifications, experience, authority or professional status;
• upload unlawful, defamatory, discriminatory or infringing material;
• harass, threaten, abuse or unlawfully discriminate against another user;
• use the Platform for fraud, spam, phishing or malicious activity;
• introduce viruses, malware or other harmful code;
• attempt to bypass security or access another user’s account;
• scrape, harvest, copy or extract Platform data without written permission;
• use automated systems to access the Platform in a manner that places an unreasonable burden on our infrastructure;
• interfere with the operation or availability of the Platform;
• use contact details obtained through the Platform for unsolicited mass marketing; or
• use the Platform in breach of applicable law, court rules or professional obligations.

User Content and Documents

You retain ownership of information, profile material, documents and other content that you submit to the Platform, referred to as “User Content.”

You grant International Expert Witness a limited, non-exclusive, worldwide licence to host, store, process, reproduce and display User Content only as reasonably necessary to:

• operate and provide the Platform;
• publish an approved professional profile;
• process enquiries and introductions;
• provide account and case-management functions;
• maintain security and backups;
• comply with legal obligations; and
• enforce these Terms.

You confirm that you have the necessary rights, permissions and lawful basis to submit and use all User Content.

You must not upload information subject to confidentiality, privilege, court restrictions or third-party rights unless you have authority to do so.

Intellectual Property

The Platform and its original content, branding, software, design, graphics, databases, workflows, text and functionality are owned by or licensed to International Expert Witness.

Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive and non-transferable right to access and use the Platform for its intended purpose.

You may not, without prior written permission:

• copy or republish substantial Platform content;
• sell, licence or commercially exploit Platform material;
• reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code;
• reproduce the directory or create a competing database;
• remove copyright or ownership notices;
• use International Expert Witness branding in a misleading manner; or
• imply endorsement, accreditation or partnership where none exists.

Privacy and Data Protection

Personal information is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data-protection law.

Users must handle personal information obtained through the Platform lawfully, securely and only for legitimate purposes connected with the relevant enquiry or engagement.

You must not use Platform data for unrelated advertising, data brokerage, profiling, list building or unsolicited mass communication.

Third-Party Services and Links

The Platform may contain links to or integrations with independent third-party services, including:

• payment processors;
• video-conferencing providers;
• document-signing tools;
• cloud-storage providers;
• analytics services;
• maps and embedded media;
• social-media platforms; and
• external professional websites.

Third-party services are governed by their own terms and privacy notices.

International Expert Witness does not control and is not responsible for the content, availability, security, conduct or performance of independent third-party services.

Platform Availability

We aim to provide a secure and reliable Platform but do not guarantee uninterrupted, continuous or error-free availability.

The Platform may be unavailable because of:

• scheduled maintenance;
• software updates;
• security incidents;
• hosting or network failures;
• third-party service interruptions;
• events beyond our reasonable control; or
• legal or regulatory requirements.

We may modify, suspend, replace or discontinue Platform features where reasonably necessary.

Where practical, we will provide reasonable notice of material changes affecting paid services.

Professional and Platform Disclaimers

Expert profiles, verification indicators, search results and automated matches are provided to assist users with identifying potentially relevant Experts.

They do not constitute:

• a professional recommendation;
• legal advice;
• certification or accreditation;
• a guarantee of competence or suitability;
• a guarantee of court acceptance;
• a guarantee of availability; or
• a guarantee of a particular outcome.

Information on the Platform is provided for general information and Platform-operation purposes. Users should obtain independent legal or professional advice where appropriate.

Limitation of Liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

Subject to the preceding paragraph and to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, International Expert Witness will not be liable for:

• indirect or consequential loss;
• loss of profit, revenue, business or opportunity;
• loss of anticipated savings;
• loss of goodwill or reputation;
• business interruption;
• loss or corruption of data;
• the conduct, acts or omissions of a Client or Expert;
• the accuracy or quality of a professional report, opinion, testimony or independent professional service;
• the acceptance or rejection of an Expert by a court or tribunal;
• the outcome of litigation, arbitration, investigation or other proceedings;
• fee disputes involving Clients and Experts; or
• interruption, unauthorised access or inability to use the Platform.

Where liability cannot be excluded, it will be limited to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law.

Where IEW supplies a separately contracted paid service, any applicable liability cap will be stated in the relevant engagement terms, subject always to liabilities that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

Indemnification

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to indemnify International Expert Witness and its directors, employees, contractors, agents and affiliates against claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs and reasonable legal expenses arising from:

• your unlawful use of the Platform;
• your breach of these Terms;
• false or misleading information submitted by you;
• your infringement of another person’s rights;
• your professional services, report, opinion or testimony;
• a dispute between you and another Platform user; or
• your breach of confidentiality, privacy, professional, regulatory or contractual obligations.

This indemnity will not apply to the extent that a claim results directly from conduct for which International Expert Witness is legally responsible and which cannot lawfully be excluded.

Suspension and Termination

We may suspend, restrict or terminate access to the Platform where reasonably necessary because:

• you breach these Terms;
• information supplied by you is false or misleading;
• payment is overdue or unsuccessful;
• your activity creates a security or legal risk;
• we receive a credible professional, regulatory or misconduct complaint;
• continued access could harm another user or the Platform;
• we are required to do so by law; or
• you misuse or attempt to interfere with the Platform.

Where appropriate and lawful, we may provide notice and an opportunity to respond before permanent termination.

You may stop using the Platform or request closure of your account at any time, subject to outstanding payment, legal-retention and contractual obligations.

Complaints and User Disputes

Complaints concerning the Platform may be submitted through our contact page.

Where a complaint relates to the professional services of an Expert, the parties should first follow the complaint or dispute procedure contained in their direct engagement agreement.

International Expert Witness may, at its discretion:

• request information from the parties;
• review Platform activity and records;
• suspend a profile while a matter is reviewed;
• facilitate communication between users; or
• refer the matter to an appropriate authority where required.

We are not obliged to adjudicate contractual or professional disputes between independent users.

International Use

The Platform may be accessed from multiple countries and jurisdictions.

Laws, licensing requirements, court procedures, evidential standards and professional duties may differ between jurisdictions.

Users are responsible for ensuring that:

• their use of the Platform is lawful;
• an Expert is permitted to act in the relevant jurisdiction;
• the engagement complies with applicable court and professional rules; and
• international transfers of information are undertaken lawfully.

A profile appearing in search results does not confirm that the Expert is authorised to provide services in every country or jurisdiction.

Events Beyond Our Reasonable Control

International Expert Witness will not be responsible for delay or failure caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including:

• internet or telecommunications failures;
• hosting-provider outages;
• cyberattacks or malicious activity;
• natural disasters;
• epidemics or public emergencies;
• industrial disputes;
• government restrictions;
• war, terrorism or civil unrest;
• power failures; or
• failure of independent third-party providers.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms to reflect:

• changes to the Platform or business model;
• new services or features;
• changes in law or regulation;
• security or compliance requirements; or
• improvements to clarity and user protection.

The revised Terms will be published on the Platform with an updated effective date.

Where a change materially affects an existing paid service or registered user, we may provide additional notice where reasonably appropriate.

Continued use of the Platform after revised Terms take effect may constitute acceptance of those Terms to the extent permitted by applicable law.

General Provisions

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Disclaimer and any applicable service-specific terms, constitute the agreement governing your use of the Platform.

No Waiver

A failure or delay in enforcing a right under these Terms does not waive that right.

Severability

If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect. The affected provision will be interpreted or adjusted to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable where permitted.

Assignment

You may not transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may transfer our rights and obligations as part of a lawful business restructuring, merger, acquisition or transfer of the Platform.

No Agency or Partnership

Nothing in these Terms creates an agency, employment, partnership, joint venture, fiduciary or franchise relationship between International Expert Witness and a Client or Expert.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and any non-contractual obligations arising from them will be governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Subject to any mandatory legal rights available to a user, the courts of England and Wales will have jurisdiction over disputes arising from or connected with these Terms or the Platform.

Before starting formal proceedings, the parties are encouraged to attempt to resolve the matter through good-faith communication, negotiation or mediation where appropriate.

Company and Contact Information

The Platform is operated by:

Contact International Expert Witness