Forensic Engineering Reports for High-Complexity Litigation
Civil forensic engineering does not assist litigation: it underpins it. When a dispute revolves around a structural failure, a construction pathology or the quantification of damage, the expert report is the only evidence the tribunal can measure, cross-reference and verify independently of each party's narrative.
Expert Independence: the Duty to the Court Standard
The expert witness is not the client's expert. They are the tribunal's expert. This principle — enshrined in CPR Part 35 and its civil law equivalents — establishes that the report must be objectively correct even where it is detrimental to the instructing party.
This independence does not weaken the firm's position: it reinforces it. A report issued under the Duty to the Court standard carries a scientific authority that no interest-driven counter-report can equal.
Forensic Methodology: from Hypothesis to Mathematical Evidence
Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
Root Cause Analysis determines the causal chain of a construction failure through a process of systematic hypothesis elimination. It is not a technical opinion: it is an investigation method with a normalised protocol (ISO 17020, EN 13791) that produces verifiable and reproducible conclusions.
Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
For complex structural pathologies — deflection, cracking, partial collapse — we employ numerical simulation models that reproduce the actual structural behaviour. Results quantify with precision the degree of non-compliance with the applicable Eurocodes (EC2, EC3, EC7), converting hypothesis into numerical evidence.
Quantum Assessment
The determination of the quantum — the economic value of the damage — is the most litigated element of the process. We apply certified replacement cost methodology (BCIS, BEDEC) and differentiate precisely between direct damage, consequential damage and loss of profit technically attributable to the defect.
Services for Law Firms
Primary Expert Report
Preparation of the forensic technical report from inspection to conclusions. Normalised structure for Spanish judicial proceedings, ICC/ICSID arbitration and cross-border procedures.
Counter-Expert Report
Rigorous technical audit of the expert report submitted by the opposing party. We identify methodological errors, regulatory non-compliance and causal omissions that enable its conclusions to be challenged on a scientific basis.
Technical Feasibility Consultation
Prior to filing proceedings: analysis of available documentation, preliminary quantum determination and evaluation of the causal strength of the case. Confidential. No financial obligation.
Judicial and Arbitral Ratification
Attendance before the tribunal to present, clarify and defend the expert report under cross-examination by the opposing party and the judge. Experience in proceedings before the Barcelona Provincial Court, Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia and ICC arbitrations.
The Firm's Technical Reputation Begins with the Expert Report
An expert report challenged in court damages the firm's credibility, not just the case. Selecting the expert is not an administrative step: it is a strategic decision that affects the outcome of the litigation and the tribunal's perception of the attorney's professional rigour.
Our reports are designed to withstand the most demanding cross-examination because they are built on evidence, not argumentation.