Expert Witness Services

An expert witness is an independent specialist appointed to provide objective opinion on matters
that require professional knowledge beyond the scope of the parties or their legal advisers. They are
not there to support one side. Their duty is to the process, and their value lies entirely in that
independence. In senior executive disputes, an effective expert witness is someone who operates at
the relevant level every day, not someone who once did and now comments from a distance.

At senior level, disputes often hinge on questions that neither party can answer without bias. Expert
witness services bring in an independent specialist to examine the relevant evidence, form a
considered view, and set that out clearly in a written statement or, where required, in person. For
Novo, that means providing grounded, commercially informed opinion on how the executive market
works. How boards make decisions. How a dismissal or allegation affects a leader's future prospects.
What the realistic financial picture looks like for someone at that level. It is practical, evidence-based
work with real consequences for the people involved.

Start with the brief, not the register. The question is not simply who is available but who has the
right depth of experience, a genuine track record of independence, and the ability to produce a
clear, well-reasoned statement that holds up under scrutiny. Specialist firms are a more reliable
route than directories, which tell you little about how someone performs when their evidence is
challenged. If the dispute involves senior leadership, remuneration or executive market practice,
Novo is well placed to help. Contact Dale Perrett or Jon Hollier for a confidential conversation.

The four C's are competence, credibility, clarity and conduct. Competence means genuine expertise
in the relevant field, not a broad familiarity with it. Credibility means a professional reputation that
can withstand examination. Clarity means the ability to communicate complex findings in a way that
non-specialists can follow and rely on. Conduct means maintaining independence throughout,
regardless of who is paying the fee. All four matter. A weakness in any one of them undermines the
others.

That depends on the complexity of the instruction and the availability of the relevant expert. Novo
works to defined timelines agreed at the outset, and we are straightforward about what is realistic
from day one. For matters where time is pressing, it is worth having an early conversation so we can
assess scope and confirm whether we can meet your deadlines before you commit to anything.
Speed should never come at the cost of rigour, and a report produced under unrealistic pressure
rarely serves anyone well.

Start with the brief, not the register. The question is not simply who is available but who has the
right depth of experience, a genuine track record of independence, and the ability to produce a
clear, well-reasoned statement that holds up under scrutiny. Specialist firms are a more reliable
route than directories, which tell you little about how someone performs when their evidence is
challenged. If the dispute involves senior leadership, remuneration or executive market practice,
Novo is well placed to help. Contact Dale Perrett or Jon Hollier for a confidential conversation.

Novo works across a broad range of industries at senior leadership level, and expert witness
instructions are accepted across all of them. Sectors we regularly work within include:

• • Technology
  • Financial Services and Accountancy
  • Healthcare and Life Sciences
  • Manufacturing and Industrial
  • Engineering
  • Energy and Renewable Energy
  • Construction and Property
  • Consumer Products and FMCG
  • Aerospace and Defence
  • Legal
  • Marketing and eCommerce
  • Public Sector and Not for Profit

If the dispute involves a senior leader operating in any of these sectors, Novo has the market
knowledge to provide a credible, informed opinion. For sectors not listed, it is worth a conversation.
The question is always whether we can speak to the relevant market with genuine authority, and
we will be straightforward if the answer is no.

Expert witness support is relevant wherever a dispute requires independent, specialist opinion on
how the executive market operates. The most common matters Novo is instructed on include:

• Wrongful dismissal and unfair dismissal claims at senior level
• Constructive dismissal cases involving board or near-board individuals
• Loss of earnings and future income assessments
• Professional negligence claims involving senior appointments
• Disputes around executive remuneration and bonus arrangements
• Shareholder and partnership disputes touching on leadership value
• Regulatory investigations involving senior individuals
• Employment tribunal proceedings at director or executive level
• Mediation and arbitration where independent market opinion is required

Most of these matters are resolved before any formal hearing. The expert witness statement shapes
the negotiation long before that point, which is precisely why the quality of the evidence matters
from the outset.

If you are unsure whether a dispute falls within the scope of what Novo can support, a short
confidential conversation with Dale Perrett or Jon Hollier will give you a clear answer quickly.

Dale Perrett and Jon Hollier lead Novo’s expert witness services. Both are senior figures with
extensive experience operating at board level across multiple sectors. They understand the
executive market from the inside, and that is precisely what makes their involvement in disputes of
this kind useful.

All initial conversations are treated as confidential. To get in touch, please contact:For a confidential discussion regarding potential instruction, please contact:

Dale Perrett, Director, by email Please select one of the following: I’m a recruiter I’m a candidate or phone Please select one of the following: I’m a recruiter I’m a candidate

Jon Hollier by email Please select one of the following: I’m a recruiter I’m a candidate or phone Please select one of the following: I’m a recruiter I’m a candidate