Contracts decide more than pay. They decide credibility, leverage, and whether your independence will stand up under scrutiny. We sit down with attorney Merry Campbell, Chair of Employment and Labor Law and Corporate Investigations at Shulman Rogers, to unpack how expert witnesses can safely operate as independent contractors without triggering misclassification, payment delays, or discovery landmines. From the default presumption of W‑2 employment to the maze of federal and state tests, Merry explains why “1099” is a claim you have to earn and document.

We walk through the realities that make an independent contractor model viable for experts: freedom to accept or reject engagements, control over rates and scope, and the ability to serve multiple clients. Then we translate those realities into contract language that holds up. You’ll hear concrete guidance on defining compensable work, setting invoicing cadence, structuring milestones for termination, and avoiding any clause that ties payment to case outcomes. Merry Campbell shares pragmatic strategies for getting paid when intermediaries sit between you and the end client, how to request periodic status updates without creating forgettable obligations, and the exact red flags that opposing counsel will use to attack your neutrality.

If you want your practice to run like a business, and your contract to prove it, this conversation will sharpen your approach to classification, negotiation, and payment.

We sit down with Russell Knight, a Chicago and Naples divorce attorney to unpack how experts get chosen, what courts really value, and the quiet ways reputation and rigor steer outcomes.

Russell breaks down the two pillars of expertise he relies on: financial analysts who trace income, valuation, and debt, and mental health professionals who assess parenting time and responsibilities. He explains the reality behind “court lists”, how the courthouse whisper network shapes expectations, and the specific questions attorneys ask before engagement: Are you accepted in this venue? Have you appeared before this judge? The conversation gets practical fast. Retain your expert, set firm delivery dates, and avoid late, stale reports that collapse under new facts.

If you’re an expert witness aiming to be credible, timely, and resilient under pressure, or a lawyer who needs reports judges can trust, this conversation is a field guide. Subscribe and share.

In this episode…

Today’s guest is Robert DeCicco, principal consultant and lead expert in digital forensic technology services and cybersecurity at Quint, LLC. He's an experienced expert witness in the digital technology space, and a sought-after lecturer. Mr. DeCicco holds a BS in mathematics and computer science from Penn State and numerous licenses and accreditations in his field.

According to Mr. DeCicco, ask your attorney before appearing in a new venue. Whether it’s cowboy boots in a Texas court or dressing up for New York, there are advantages to knowing the norms, rules, and procedures before stepping in for the first time.

Check out the entire episode for our discussion on neutral appointments, protecting yourself in engagement letters, and remote demeanor.

Want a masterclass in expert witnessing from someone who’s seen it all? Hydrogeologist Theresa Jehn-Dellaport joins us to unpack how technical experts can protect credibility, communicate complex science with clarity, and navigate high-pressure moments without losing the thread. From her first landfill siting testimony to water court battles and federal cases, Theresa shows how careful preparation and ethical backbone shape outcomes.

We dive into the first call playbook—what attorneys ask, what experts should ask in return, and the single red flag that ends an engagement: any request to ignore data. Theresa explains why credibility is a one-time currency and how to safeguard it across reports, social media, and public talks. She shares actionable deposition tactics, including pacing your answers, asking for breaks, and refusing to opine from flawed exhibits. Her approach centers on visual storytelling: GIS maps, groundwater animations, and simple demonstrations that bridge the gap between advanced modeling and lay understanding.

You’ll hear how venue differences—civil court, federal procedures, and Colorado’s water court with its referee process—change structure but not the essentials of good expert work. We also get into rebuttal strategy: how to evaluate opposing reports, concede valid points without losing your thesis, and frame disagreements in terms of data and methods. Underneath it all is a blueprint for strong attorney–expert relationships built on respect, clear roles, and independent judgment.

If you’re an expert curious about taking the stand, an attorney aiming to get the best from your experts, or a listener who loves the craft of clear communication, this conversation delivers practical, field-tested guidance. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review telling us your go-to tactic for keeping credibility front and center.

Want to know why the best experts rarely “win” a case—and why they still matter so much? We sit down with veteran estate and tax attorney and expert witness John Hartog to unpack the real value of expert testimony: confidence backed by facts, credibility that survives cross, and preparation that starts early enough to shape the entire strategy.

John traces his first expert assignment decades ago to what makes testimony persuasive now. We talk about the line between confidence and overconfidence, how an expert adjusts for a judge versus a jury, and why swagger reads as advocacy when a jury is listening. He explains why experts typically don’t decide outcomes—the facts do—but how a disciplined opinion can frame those facts so a fact finder sees them clearly. If you’ve ever waited until the eleventh hour to hire an expert, John spells out the hidden costs, from shaky disclosures to weakened confidence, and makes the case for bringing experts in early to guide discovery, strategy, and settlement leverage.

We go deep on credibility management: handling old articles and books that pop up on cross, distinguishing best practice from the standard of care, and staying consistent without being rigid when new facts or law emerge. John breaks down smart communication under differing discovery rules, especially in states where an expert’s entire file is discoverable. You’ll hear practical tactics—phone-first for substance, tight emails for logistics, screen sharing for drafts—and how federal versus state rules change report strategy. We also compare venues, from California courts to federal cases and even foreign jurisdictions that admit expert opinions on California law, and why local counsel should set guardrails when testifying elsewhere.

Across it all, one theme stands out: productive tension. Lawyers sharpen an expert’s opinion by challenging it; experts strengthen a case by flagging weak facts and untenable theories. That respectful friction is where durable, persuasive testimony is forged. If you work with experts—or are one—this conversation offers a clear roadmap for building opinions that hold up when it counts.

If you enjoyed the conversation, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help others find Engaging Experts.

In this episode . . .

Ever seen a brilliant expert lose a jury in five minutes? Credentials alone don’t win cases, and today, we’re unpacking why. We’ve brought together three seasoned voices to share what really matters when turning expertise into testimony that persuades:

• Erik Groothuis – Commercial Litigation Attorney and Arbitrator
• Mark McKenna – Professor at UCLA and Partner at Lex Lumina, LLP
• Kevin Hensley – Partner at Barton Gilman

From the first call to cross-examination, our panel dives into the traits that separate great experts from the rest: attention to detail, calm under pressure, and the ability to teach without talking down. You’ll hear why early involvement can save cases from brittle theories and missed evidence, plus the vetting checks these attorneys use to spot credible practitioners versus “for-hire” opinion mills.

We also tackle the messy middle: how much material to share, why oversharing beats ambushes, and the value of starting experts on a consulting basis to preserve candid feedback. The conversation compares venue demands across state, federal, arbitration, and specialized courts, with practical prep tips and mock exam strategies that build confidence. We explore tricky scenarios: when a related specialty is enough, when it falls short, and how cross-examination can expose those gaps.

One message runs through the conversation: great experts combine deep knowledge with clear communication, and great lawyers welcome early challenges to sharpen their case strategy. We wrap up with actionable advice experts can use today: be responsive, avoid surprises, align your schedule with court timelines, and think like a teacher.

If you find this episode valuable, subscribe, share it with a colleague who hires experts, and leave us a quick review telling us the one expert trait you value most.

Media standoffs don’t start in a courtroom—they start at the negotiating table where content owners and distributors wrestle over price, reach, and leverage. We invited Howard Homonoff, senior advisor in media and entertainment, longtime dealmaker, Forbes columnist, and adjunct professor—to unpack how those high-stakes negotiations evolve into legal disputes and what great expert work actually looks like when the lights come on.

Howard traces his path across both sides of the aisle, from acquiring channels for operators to defending brands at networks, and explains why that “Switzerland” perspective is gold when neutrality matters. We get specific about vetting: how attorneys assess fit and performance, how experts run conflict checks that catch hidden ties, and how a deep public record—columns, talks, interviews—can build credibility while also arming cross-examiners. He shares a simple rule for depositions that saves careers: answer the question and stop.

If you care about media law, distribution strategy, expert testimony, or arbitration, this conversation delivers practical playbooks and hard-won lessons. Enjoy the episode, share it with a colleague, and if it helped you think sharper about expert work, tap follow and leave a quick review—we read every one.

Money leaves a trail, but only a clear storyteller can make that trail persuade a jury. We sit down with forensic CPA and litigation consultant Tatevik Torossian to unpack how expert witnesses transform complex financial disputes into simple, credible narratives that hold up under fire. From early career lessons to first-chair testimony, she shares the preparation habits that matter most: reading your own depo transcript, pressure-testing schedules, and anticipating the strongest lines of attack long before cross.

Method and venue shape strategy. We break down a case where the opposing expert compared contingency-based revenue to time-and-material billings and drew the wrong conclusion—a classic apples-to-oranges error that an attentive expert can dismantle. Tatevik also contrasts Federal Rule 26 narrative reports with state court exhibit submissions, touches on family court dynamics, and shares how mediation and arbitration change the pace, cost, and outcome path. Along the way, we cover engagement timing, settlement realities, time-and-materials billing, collaborating with valuation and other specialists, and the daily coordination that keeps trial teams aligned.

If you want to improve expert witness strategy, craft stronger demonstratives, or simply make your damages story stick, this conversation delivers practical steps you can use on your next case. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review telling us your favorite tactic for making complex numbers crystal clear.