CPR 35 Expert Reports
1. Duty to the Court
Our chambers prepares CPR 35 expert evidence for civil litigation, clinical negligence, and personal injury claims. Members of our chambers act as independent experts whose primary duty is to the court, not the instructing party. This obligation is enshrined in CPR 35.3 and reinforced by the Civil Justice Council 2014 Guidance.
2. CPR 35 Report Requirements
Our reports comply with CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35, ensuring impartiality and procedural rigour. Each cpr 35 compliant report includes a signed declaration confirming the expert’s duty to the court, detailed instructions received, and all materials relied upon.
- Expert’s qualifications and experience
- Documents and evidence reviewed
- Assumptions and reasoning basis
- Signed CPR 35.3 declaration
3. Expert Qualifications
Members of our chambers hold consultant-grade qualifications recognised by UK regulatory bodies. Our experts are listed on the GMC Specialist Register, HCPC register, or are Chartered Psychologists with the British Psychological Society.
| Regulatory Body | Qualification | Specialist Register |
|---|---|---|
| GMC | Consultant Psychiatrist | Specialist Register |
| HCPC | Clinical Psychologist | Registered Practitioner |
| BPS | Chartered Psychologist | Chartered Status |
4. Instruction Transparency
We accept instructions from solicitors, insurers, and local authority legal teams under CPR 35.7, ensuring full disclosure of the instructing party’s identity, the case context, and the specific questions the court requires the expert to address.
| Instruction Source | Case Type | Disclosure Requirement | CPR Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solicitors | Clinical negligence | Letter of instruction | CPR 35.10(3) |
| Insurers | Personal injury | Claimant/defendant status | CPR 35.10(4) |
All instructions are logged and retained for audit under Practice Direction 35, paragraph 3.2.
5. Assumptions & Limitations
Our reports explicitly state any assumptions made and the limitations of the evidence reviewed. This transparency aligns with CPR 35.10(3)(b) and the Civil Justice Council’s guidance on expert evidence.
| Assumption Type | Disclosure Requirement | CPR Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical assumptions | Stated in report body | CPR 35.10(3)(b) |
6. Professional Body Standards
Our experts adhere to the standards set by their respective professional bodies, ensuring clinical and procedural compliance. These standards complement CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35.
- Royal College of Psychiatrists — www.rcpsych.ac.uk
- British Psychological Society — www.bps.org.uk
7. Managing Non-Compliance
Non-compliance with CPR 35 can result in evidence being ruled inadmissible. Our chambers coordinates internal peer reviews to ensure every report meets procedural and professional standards before submission.
Common compliance checks include:
- Signed CPR 35.3 declaration
- Full disclosure of instructions
- Impartiality statement
- Peer review confirmation
Reports are returned for correction if any element fails compliance audit.
8. Joint Expert Meetings
Our experts participate in joint expert meetings under CPR 35.12, facilitating court-directed discussions to narrow issues or reach agreement. These meetings are documented in a joint statement compliant with Practice Direction 35, paragraph 9.9.
9. Contact Our Chambers
To instruct an expert for a CPR 35 compliant report, contact our chambers directly. We accept instructions from solicitors, insurers, and local authority legal teams.
Telephone: 0800 161 3395
Email: enquiries@chambers.co.uk
All instructions are processed within 24 hours, with preliminary availability confirmed within 48 hours.