Board

Sir Martin Spencer, Justice of the High Court, King's Bench Division (Chair of the Board of Governors)

Sir Martin Spencer is a Justice of the High Court, King's Bench Division. Previously, he was a leading clinical negligence barrister, whose practice at Hailsham Chambers involved all aspects of clinical negligence, with particular expertise in complex high quantum claims, representing both claimants and defendants. Significant cases include Daniels v Walker [2000] 1 WLR 1382 Court of Appeal, on the use of joint experts under the CPR.

Sir Martin was called to the Bar in 1979 and took silk in 2003. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2001 and authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2017. As chair of governors of the EWI, Sir Martin is focused on ensuring the Institute continues to lead in supporting experts from all professional disciplines, raising standards through training and education and representing their views across a wide range of stakeholders.

Sir Martin has a law degree and MA (jurisprudence) from Oxford University and studied as a Danish Government Scholar in Copenhagen. He has delivered numerous lectures and contributed to a number of publications in the UK and Denmark.

Sir Martin has been Chair of Governors of the Expert Witness Institute since 2017.

Mr Michael Pilgrem MA (Cantab), FCA, MEWI (Treasurer and Vice-Chair)

Mike Pilgrem is a Senior Managing Director in FTI Consulting’s Economic and Financial Consulting practice and a chartered accountant.

Over the last 35 years, his responsibility has included audit, financial consulting and business valuation in different industries. He has advised on the value of companies and their intangibles in a variety of contexts.

Mike has been appointed as expert witness and prepared reports in matters before arbitral tribunals, the English High Court and other courts, and given oral testimony before tribunals and the High Court.

During the course of his career, he has been responsible in over 100 cases for one or more expert reports or for written submissions to, or determinations by, experts; including some of the largest commercial claims seen in the UK.

Mike joined the Board in 2018.

The Right Hon. Lady Justice Geraldine Andrews DBE

The Right Hon. Lady Justice Geraldine Andrews DBE Geraldine Andrews was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1981 and joined Lincoln’s Inn ad eundem in 1992. She enjoyed a highly successful career at the Commercial Bar as a member of Essex Court Chambers for 30 years, taking silk in 2001. She was appointed to the King’s Bench Division of the High Court in October 2013 and the Court of Appeal in October 2020. Her practice at the Bar not only covered the traditional commercial areas of shipping, reinsurance and international trade but had a strong Chancery element with a particular expertise in banking, finance and derivatives. She is co-author of the leading textbook on the Law of Guarantees, now in its 7^th edition. At the Bar, she appeared regularly in the High Court and Court of Appeal and in international arbitrations, and had a reputation as a formidable cross-examiner. She also appeared in court as an advocate in other jurisdictions, including Singapore. She has been heavily involved in advocacy training since 1997, and trains at every level from students to trainers in this jurisdiction and abroad, including regular trips to South Africa and Singapore. She was Master of Education at Gray’s Inn, from 2017-2020; during an earlier period as chair of the Inn’s Advocacy and CPD committee she was responsible for the introduction of courses on expert witness handling in conjunction with consultant psychiatrists. She is also a former vice-chairman of the Legal Services Committee and the Professional Practice Committee of the Bar Council.

She was co-opted onto the EWI Board in 2021

Mrs Claire Berrington MEWI

I have over 18 years’ experience as a Forensic Accountant having given evidence in Court in both civil and criminal litigation, being familiar with the pressure and demands that legal process can impose. I am a FCCA and became a member of the EWI in May 2009. I have found the organisation to be helpful, providing sound advice and support. I would like to put my experience and professional expertise to the benefit of fellow members. My business, Integrity Accounting and Forensic Solutions, founded in July 2013 has been recognised by a Global Advisory award ‘Boutique Forensic Accounting Firm in 2020’

Throughout my 40-year career I have been involved at management and director level with primary responsibility for accountancy and tax matters, training of staff, career development and financial management of practices, so I am comfortable with working at board level and providing support and advice at all levels.

I am passionate about the importance of justice for all and believe that my role as an expert witness is to firstly identify the matters of contention, and to assist the Court in understanding those contentious issues to achieve a fair and accurate conclusion. This includes working in partnership with other experts, resulting in an early resolution of the dispute.

Unfortunately, in recent times expert witnesses have been headline news for all the wrong reasons and therefore I strongly support the use of the EWI to ensure that members are comprehensively trained with resources available to them, fully understand their role, and uphold the high standards required of expert witnesses.

Robert Clayton FEWI (Cert)

Robert Clayton FEWI I am a medical expert-witness, having graduated from Edinburgh University in 2000 and being appointed a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in 2010. My clinical practice includes general orthopaedic-trauma covering injury to all areas of the musculoskeletal system. I carry out trauma surgery and run a fracture clinic. I have a major subspecialty interest in Foot and Ankle surgery and I have served as a Director of the British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society since 2017.

I have over twelve years experience of writing several hundred expert reports per year, both pursuer and defender, mostly personal-injury but also medical-negligence. I am a Director of “Resolve Medicolegal”, a Scottish based company linking solicitors with medical-experts. Resolve hosts an annual medicolegal conference for medical-experts and lawyers to discuss topics of mutual interest. This meeting was established in 2016 and has been run jointly with the EWI since 2022. I have chaired the meeting and am a regular speaker. I have twice been an invited speaker at the EWI annual-meeting.

Robert joined the Board in November 2023.

Mr Daniel Correa MEWI

Daniel Correa is the Managing Director of DAC Consulting Services worldwide, which is a leading specialist group in providing Forensic Engineering and Expert Witness services to the engineering and construction industry worldwide, headquartered in London UK.

Daniel is a Mechanical Engineer by profession, and holds a Master of Science in Project Management from the University of Manchester. Daniel has also completed a Senior Management Programme at the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School.

Daniel is a Chartered Engineer in the United Kingdom, a member of the Mechanical Engineering Institute in London, a Member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Member of the Project Management Institute, a Member of the Academy of Experts, and a Member of the Expert Witness Institute.
Daniel has extensive experience as a Senior Forensic Engineer, as a Technical Expert, and as a Scheduling Expert (Forensic Delay and Disruption Analysis), with a wide range of expertise within the Construction sector.
Daniel has been appointed by lawyers, insurers, and corporations in various occasions, to analyse different types of complex claims. In the Construction sector Daniel has been appointed as a Delay Expert, tasked with the assessment of the timeline of a project, both in a prospective manner (to suggest accelerating actions and monitoring of a construction Project), and in a retrospective manner (to examine the actions or inactions that could have generated delays in a project as well as cost overruns).

Similarly, Daniel has been appointed on several occasions as a Coordinating Expert, leading complex construction disputes by managing different commercial and technical disciplines. This has led to the preparation of comprehensive and cohesive Expert Reports under one organised group.
Daniel has acted as an expert witness in various jurisdictions. He has given evidence before arbitral tribunals (including ICC, LCIA, DIAC) and in High Court (UK) on a number of occasions.

Mr Colin Holburn MbChB, FRCS(Ed) FRCEM MBA FEWI

Mr Colin Holburn MbChB

Colin has been a Consultant in Emergency Medicine in the West Midlands since 1992. In addition to his clinical work he has been a Clinical and Divisional Director gaining an MBA on a part time basis. He also has been involved in Emergency Planning within the NHS over a number of years.

He has also been involved in local, regional and national training roles in Emergency Medicine and was Chair of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Training Standards Committee for 3 years.

He was a member of the Council of RCEM for 3 years and now sits on the Corporate Governance Committee of RCEM

He is an Examiner for the Fellowship examination of RCEM.

Colin was a founder member of the EWI and has an expert witness practice now mainly concentrating on Clinical Negligence cases and also expert evidence for Inquests. He has prepared over 1000 reports for both Claimant and Defendant and has appeared in Court and at Inquests.

He is a member of the EWI membership committee and was elected as a Governor in 2020.

Mr Sam Makkan

Sam Makkan is a distinguished Rule of Law, Justice Sector, and Access to Justice Specialist, based in the North of England. He was called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn in 1987. He has over 35 years of extensive experience in criminal law. Sam's career represents a deep commitment to justice, underpinned by a solid foundation in criminal law, focusing primarily on prosecution within the UK.

Since 2000, he has worked as an independent justice sector consultant, adeptly navigating complex legal reforms and judicial development, rule of law, justice sector initiatives around the world. His work is characterised by a strategic approach to institutional strengthening, technical assistance, policy formulation, and providing actionable recommendations that drive sustainable change. In this context he has worked in many different countries for agencies such as UNODC, UNDP, UN Women, DFID, FCO, FCDO, EU and commercial entities.

He has authored significant publications such as "The Human Rights Act 1998 – The Essentials" and "The Equality Act 2006 – A Guide to the Constitution & Functions of the Commission for Equality & Human Rights," reflecting his deep engagement with equality and human rights within the legal framework.

Currently, Sam serves on the Independent Ethics Committee for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, providing essential advice on ethical policing issues. He is also a Board Member and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee for the Proper Multi Academy Trust, where he applies his legal and governance expertise to the education sector.

Mr Peter Mulhern

Mr Peter Mulhern Peter Mulhern was admitted as a solicitor in 1993 and retired in 2017.

Prior to retirement he was a specialist personal injury and clinical negligence practitioner, being a partner at Thompsons from 1995 until retirement. During his time as a solicitor Peter developed a specialist interest in brain injury and spinal cord injury cases. He was a member of the Law Society Personal Injury Accreditation Scheme and a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

He held a number of management and professional lead roles within the firm.

Peter established the Court of Protection department at Thompsons and was appointed as a Professional Deputy for Property and Financial Affairs for the firms’ clients.

Throughout his career Peter has instructed and worked with experts from a wide range of specialisms including medical, engineering, care, case management, accountancy, architecture and many therapies.

Since retiring as a solicitor he is a trustee/owner of a well established medical reporting organisation providing medical and other expert witness reports to a number of solicitor firms specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence practice.

Since 2010 Peter has been secretary (until 2016) and a volunteer with Headway Coventry & Warwickshire, a Branch of Headway, the National Brain Injury Association with responsibility for running a twice monthly support group meeting for brain injury survivors.

Peter joined the Board in 2020.

Dr Kathryn Newns FEWI (Cert)

Dr Kathryn Newns is a Clinical Psychologist, with specialist interests in the effects of trauma and chronic pain.
She has been a registered Clinical Psychologist, working across the lifespan (and with people with Autism Spectrum Conditions and/or Learning Disabilities), for over 15 years, both in the NHS and in private practice. She has over 10 years’ experience as an Expert Witness, primarily in Civil Litigation and employment tribunals.

She provides mentoring for Registered Psychologists who are working as expert witnesses and is the director of Applied Psychology Solutions, a corporate partner of the EWI, which provides administrative support for Expert Witnesses and connects instructing parties with experts in Clinical Psychology across the UK. She also regularly runs training events in partnership with the EWI and is a member of the EWI training committee.

In addition to expert witness work, Dr Newns provides psychological therapy, psychological assessments, and is a founder member of In Mind Consulting, a group of psychologists who aim to improve the productivity, resilience and motivations of teams in the workplace.

Kathryn joined the EWI Board in 2021.

Mr Edward Picton BEng(Hons) DipFM CEng FCIBSE MIMechE MEWI ACIArb MIoD

Edward has over 35 years experience in Engineering. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. His Technical and Contractual Expertise is that of Mechanical & Electrical Systems in buildings.

He is significantly involved in Dispute Resolution acting as either an Expert Witness, or Technical Expert, with experience in both the UK and overseas. He has provided evidence for the Court, Arbitrations and also Adjudications. As part of this role Edward has also been involved in mediations, both formal (connected to litigation) and informal(pre-litigation).

As well as his formal qualifications and memberships, Edward is also a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers, Member of the Society of Construction Law and Member of the Arbitration Club (City Branch).

Edward was appointed as a Governor in June 2020. His previous Governor roles include that of a Secondary School for 11 years.

Kitty St Aubyn

Kitty was called to the Bar in 2010 and has over 12 years’ experience as a Barrister in trials and senior appellate courts, professional disciplinary tribunals, inquests and public inquiries. From 2011-2022 she practiced at the leading set 3 Raymond Buildings, acting both as sole and led counsel. Kitty now practices as an employed barrister at CMS, a multinational law firm, where she specialises in criminal law, financial sanctions, investigations and compliance, representing businesses and individuals in contentious and non-contentious matters.

At the Bar, Kitty prosecuted and defended complex cases brought by a range of prosecuting agencies, including the SFO, CPS and London Fire Brigade, Metropolitan Police, and health and safety authorities. In public inquiries and inquests, Kitty acted variously for core participants, families and public authorities. In professional disciplinary proceedings, she conducted investigations and presented cases to disciplinary panels and the High Court on behalf of a range of professional disciplinary authorities, as well as representing individual registrants. With substantial litigation expertise, Kitty has first-hand knowledge of how a tribunal's decision, and the resulting impact on participants and their families, can hinge upon the quality and impartiality of expert witness evidence. She is dedicated to supporting the ongoing work of the EWI in articulating and upholding high standards within the expert witness community.

Kitty was co-opted to the Board in 2024.

Mr Richard Taylor MEWI

I have been practicing as an expert witness for over 30 years. I have had the experience of working within criminal, civil and family courts, as well as arbitration and mediation hearings both nationally and internationally.

During my last 12 months on the Membership committee of the IEW I have enjoyed both the work and the interaction with the other members of the committee.

I am personally committed to the development of expert practice and the development, maintenance, and training of the expert in practice. Although it must always be acknowledged the enormous breadth of specialisms and diversity within the purview of ‘expert witness’ it always strikes me at the universality of many of the requisite skills and standards of practice. A good expert demonstrates certain attributes and knowledge regardless of their subject, that illustrates and demonstrates to me the fundamental importance and relevance of the work of the institute.

My personal ambitions for the institute include enhancement of its reputation and relevance, in combination with the further development of membership benefits.

Captain Chris Turner FEWI (Cert)

Captain Chris Turner FEWI

Chris Turner is an experienced commercial pilot, currently an instructor and examiner on Boeing 787 aircraft for TUI Airways. In a forty five year aviation career he has amassed 19,000 flying hours, worldwide, on a variety of jet, turboprop and light aircraft.

He has also held a number of senior management posts including that of Chief Pilot, and of Operations Director, for a major UK airline. Chris has wide international experience in the recruitment, selection, and training of pilots, as well as in technical and operational matters, and in pilot industrial relations. He has acted as the responsible Operations Manager in the merger of two charter airlines, and in the merger of a charter airline with a low-cost airline.

Chris has acted as an Expert Witness since 2012 on behalf of both claimants and defendants in a variety of cases ranging from airliner and light aircraft accidents and incidents, through airfield planning matters, to pilot employment issues. He is a Director of Axten Aviation Ltd, a member of the British Airline Pilots Association, and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Chris is a Certified Fellow of the EWI (Certification revalidated in 2023).

In his leisure time Chris flies light aircraft in the UK, Europe, and USA, holding both European and USA licences. He is also a qualified seaplane pilot.

Chris joined the Board in 2020.