Document background
The Expert Witness Engagement Letter is a crucial document used in New Zealand legal proceedings when specialist expertise is required to assist the court in understanding technical, scientific, or complex matters. This document serves multiple purposes: it formally engages the expert, establishes their scope of work, confirms their compliance with the Expert Witness Code of Conduct under the High Court Rules, and sets out commercial terms. The letter is typically used when expert testimony is needed in litigation, arbitration, or other dispute resolution processes, and must be carefully drafted to ensure the expert's independence and primary duty to the court is maintained while also protecting the commercial interests of all parties involved. It's essential in jurisdictions following New Zealand law, where expert witnesses have specific obligations under the Evidence Act 2006 and High Court Rules 2016.
