Find an Expert

UNISEARCH: THE TRUSTED PROVIDER OF EXPERT WITNESSES.

Setting precedent since 1959

Unisearch alleviates the pain points of sourcing an expert through conducting a complete vetting process prior to the recommendation of an expert, to include credentials, experience and reputation.

Appointing Unisearch to identify the appropriate expert for your matter will:

  • Save you time and resources
  • Minimise risk
  • Enhance your efficiency and productivity
  • Increase confidence. Trust Unisearch to connect you with the right expert
  • Strengthen your case with well-reasoned, clearly communicated expert opinions that can withstand scrutiny

FIND AN EXPERT

HOW IT WORKS

Unisearch manages the end-to-end expert selection, vetting, briefing and reporting process. This rigorous quality assurance process ensures that clients receive well-reasoned, clearly communicated expert opinions, on time and to specification.

1 Brief

Connect directly with the Unisearch team to discuss your requirements. You will be assigned a dedicated Client Relationship Consultant responsible for overseeing the matter.

CALL: +61 2 9385 5555

EMAIL: experts@unisearch.com.au

2 Expert match

Your Client Relationship Consultant will:

  • Source the most suitable expert(s) once the brief is narrowed to clarify the true issues in question
  • Advise availability, time frames and any potential conflicts
  • Forward CV(s) for review

Note: No fee is incurred for this service

3 Approve & appoint

  • You consider and approves the expert based on the CV. Unisearch can arrange a brief conversation with the corresponding expert if required
  • Unisearch prepares a fee proposal based on a full brief and letter of instruction
  • You authorise the fee proposal and Unisearch appoints the expert

4 Execution

Your Client Relationship Consultant will manage all aspects of the engagement for the life of the matter, including:

  • Connecting you with the expert
  • Arranging quotations, organising inspections and/ or medical examinations, as required
  • Reviewing and proofing the expert’s report prior to submission to ensure it addresses the brief and is quality checked for admissibility
  • Publishing the expert’s report
  • Liaising re subpoenas, supplementary reports, attendance at court and/ or mediation and arbitration, as required until project completion

5 Payment

A tax invoice will be issued at project completion

Connect directly with a highly experienced team member

(02) 9385 5555

Our Expertise

Commercial
Engineering
PERSONAL INJURY & CRIMINAL
MEDICO LEGAL
MINING & RURAL

Connect directly with a highly experienced team member

+61 2 9385 5555

“We have sought the assistance of the Unisearch team to find the appropriate expert for many cases involving personal injury, product liability and property damage claims for various insurer clients of the firm. Their understanding and knowledge of the litigation process, the requirements and obligations on experts for their reports to be used as evidence and sourcing and instructing the correct expert for cases has been of great assistance. We would recommend Unisearch to any lawyer who requires assistance in obtaining expert opinion in their practice.”

Leighton Hawkes, Principal, McCabe Curwood

THE UNISEARCH SERVICE

In addition to saving you time, minimising risk and increasing confidence, Unisearch provides:

Complete backing:

  • A personalised service: Each case is allocated to an individual Client Relationship Consultant, who manages your project through to completion.
  • Quality control: Unisearch checks every opinion for compliance and admissibility, which includes reviewing, proofing and publishing the expert’s report prior to submission to ensure it addresses the brief and is quality checked for admissibility. This guarantees that the final report is well reasoned, clearly communicated and can withstand scrutiny.

Back-end support: Unisearch manages all expert related logistics, such as:

  • Subpoenas, supplementary reports, attendance at court and/ or mediation and arbitration
  • Travel
  • Inspections and/ or medical examinations
  • Quotations

FAQs

No. The initial service of finding a suitable expert to match the client brief is a complimentary.

Unfortunately, not in the first instance. Unisearch must adhere to Privacy Act obligations regarding the information managed on behalf of the company’s registered experts.

Yes. Unisearch is a national provider of expert opinion services.

Unisearch has a duty to identify any existing or potential conflicts of interest. Knowing the name of the matter helps to fulfil this obligation when sourcing experts.

Please refer to briefing tips for a complete overview, or contact us to discuss further.

When instructing the expert, it is recommended that you:

  1. Discuss the case and the relevant issues with the expert to clarify the basis of your instruction. Explain the way the opinion will be used, the expert’s obligations and the limit/ scope of the brief.
  2. Provide a Letter of Instruction. As the primary reference point for an expert, the content of this document is critical.   
  3. Include in the Letter of Instruction the following information:
     
    1. Key issues
    2. Facts and assumptions
    3. Questions for the expert (be as specific as possible)
    4. Deadlines, hearing dates and expectation of timing
    5. Advise if an appointment or site visit is required
    6. Specify should you require a draft report
    7. Additional information, as required (clarifying the source of information)
    8. Make sure any inclusions are relevant as the expert will list them in their report
    Make sure any inclusions are relevant as the expert will list them in their report
  4. Include a copy of the relevant Expert Witness Code of Conduct and instruct the expert to acknowledge it in their report

Yes, with the prior consent of the expert. However, please note that while a short phone call might not incur a cost, a teleconference or lengthy discussion could incur a fee for the expert's time.

Generally, it takes four to six weeks to produce a report. If the report is extremely urgent, Unisearch will fast-track the service where possible. This may attract an urgency fee.

Please contact your Client Relationship Consultant to arrange a fee proposal, which must be authorised prior to commencement of additional work.

Yes. Unisearch will ensure that the expert is informed of their obligations in regard to attendance at proceedings and producing evidence.

A typical case will take 8-12 hours of the expert’s time, and will cost $3,500-$6,000. However, please be aware that all matters have different parameters and expert’s charges vary, depending on the discipline.

The Unisearch fee includes:

  • Sourcing the most suitable expert(s)
  • Advising availability, time frames and any potential conflicts
  • Forwarding CV(s) for review
  • Appointing the expert
  • Connecting you with the expert
  • Arranging quotations, organising inspections and/ or medical examinations, as required
  • Reviewing, proofing and publishing the expert’s report prior to submission to ensure it addresses the Brief and is quality checked for admissibility
  • Issuing the expert’s report
  • Liaising re subpoenas, supplementary reports, attendance at court and/ or mediation and arbitration, as required until project completion
  • Unisearch is an independent service provider and does not operate on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ model
  • Payment terms are 30 days irrespective of the outcome of the proceedings
  • Advance payment is required for clients that do not have a recent credit history with Unisearch