This Meeting will be looking at the subject of Concurrent Evidence (aka Hot-tubbing) and presented by Jern-Fei Ng QC of Essex Court. Jern-Fei will be covering a broad range of topics on the subject including:
- concurrent evidence
- the different methods that are used
- the benefits and pitfalls
- how it can be managed when evidence is given remotely
Concurrent evidence, or hot–tubbing as it is also called, is a measure that is being introduced (see below) to help reduce the costs associated with expert evidence. Concurrent evidence has been very successfully used in the Australian Courts as well as in arbitration and has recently been introduced through the CPR to England & Wales Civil Courts.
CPR PD35 gives the court the power to order concurrent evidence/hot-tubbing by allowing it to direct that expert witnesses from like disciplines can give their evidence concurrently. It also sets out the procedure to be followed once such a direction has been given.
Jern-Fei Ng QC
Jern-Fei Ng QC is a Silk practicing from Essex Court Chambers. He is an experienced counsel specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration, with 18 years’ experience appearing before courts and tribunals and sitting as arbitrator in different jurisdictions, including England, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Cayman Islands and Luxembourg.
He has acted as counsel in over 100 commercial disputes and as arbitrator in some 30 cases (as presiding, sole and co-arbitrator) pursuant to, amongst others, ICC, HKIAC, LCIA, LMAA, SIAC, PCA and UNCITRAL Rules.
Described in the legal directories as “an absolutely brilliant advocate!”; a “highly skilled strategist and terrific advocate” with “first-class advocacy skills” that is both “smooth and persuasive”. “A star of the future”; “one of the most talented counsel I have worked with on issues of strategy, where he is always several steps ahead of the current state of proceedings”. He is “a very talented silk” who is “already in the zone of a leader in international arbitration” and who has an ability to “present practical legal solutions that not only win you the battles, but also the war.