14 November 2026
Samuel Townend KC will chair ‘(Un)Reliable? The role of expert witnesses’ at the Bar Conference 2026, taking place in London on Saturday 14 November.
Sam will be joined by Professor Lady Sue Black, Baroness Black of Strome LT, Denise Gilling KC of 1GC Family Law and John Hyde to examine the changing role of expert witnesses and the scrutiny of expert evidence.
Expert witnesses across jurisdictions have attracted significant attention in recent years, particularly in high-profile cases including Lucy Letby and the Post Office Horizon scandal, as well as the cases of Sally Clark and Angela Cannings. Against this backdrop, the panel will consider how courts can be satisfied that, when a decision depends on complex expert evidence, the right person has been asked the right questions.
The discussion will also examine how the role of experts has changed, the role of barristers in obtaining the best evidence from experts, and whether and how expert witnesses should be regulated.
The session will take place from 11.45am to 12.30pm.
Date: Saturday 14 November 2026
Time: 9.30am–7:00pm
Location: One Great George Street, London
For further information and booking, visit the Bar Conference 2026 event page.
