Expert witnesses

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Our experts give evidence in court and at tribunals. They have acted as appointed or single joint expert witnesses at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Arbitration Institute (DAI), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and Dubai Courts, and represented parties during arbitration and litigation.

In the UAE, we draw from KPMG’s wider network of firms, enabling us to address disputes across a variety of sectors. Internationally, we have access to dedicated experts. We work with our clients across every phase of an engagement, from early-stage assessment to the formal case, where evidence is given.

Arbitration, tribunals and courts

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Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) offers a way for commercial disputes to be resolved without the need for costly litigation. A common approach is arbitration, which is a more formal type of ADR. This involves a tribunal process and an independent arbitrator who hears both sides of a dispute before coming to a decision.

An arbitrator is an independent third party, experienced in handling the arbitration process. Their role is similar to that of a judge—they will listen to both sides and come to a decision. However, they will also encourage collaborative communication, as opposed to an adversarial approach.

Tribunals are often confused with courts. They are a part of the administrative system, whereas courts are a function of the judiciary—an entirely separate structure. Courts and tribunals operate independently of each other.

Role of the expert

There are situations where a given case includes technical aspects beyond what a judge or arbitrator can comprehend. They are specialized in given fields, but not experts in all, such as financial, investigations, forensic technology and others. This is why a KPMG court expert or expert witness is important when it comes to giving evidence.

KPMG experts are well versed in explaining technical aspects of cases to judges or arbitrators, helping them understand the facts before arriving at a decision. Testimony is supported by a report, to aid further understanding of the intricoes of a court or tribunal case.