EWJ June 61 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 21
What’s Changing in Expert
Witness and Advisory Recruitment
(and Why It Matters)
by Gordon Roy
Head of Business Advisory & Consulting - /www.spencer-riley.com
Here’s a look at how AI, regulation and shifting client
expectations are shaping the future of talent in
consulting.
profession. While it’s not replacing experts any time
soon, it is changing how they operate; those aiming to
stay competitive are becoming early adopters.
Consulting and expert witness services sit at the heart
of complex legal and commercial disputes. From International Arbitration to IP, Antitrust, and Forensic
Accounting, these are the specialisms clients rely on
when the stakes are high.
Here’s what I’m seeing:
l Efficiency without substitution: GenAI is being
used to support data review, research, and modelling,
but it still requires expert oversight to ensure accuracy
and context.
Demand for expert input is growing; in fact, Gartner
predicts the global legal consulting market to exceed
$50 billion by 2027, driven by rising litigation, tighter
regulation, and the need for credible, defensible
analysis.
l Credibility at risk: Courts are pushing back on AIgenerated inputs that lack transparency. Over-reliance
without validation can undermine expert testimony.
l Opportunity for differentiation: Experts who
understand how to use AI responsibly and explain it
clearly will stand out in a space where trust and
clarity matter most.
In the past year, I’ve noticed a shift where firms are no
longer just hiring for technical knowledge; they’re also
looking for senior leaders who can bring in work, nurture law firm relationships, and hit the ground running. Revenue-generating MDs and Partners with a
transferable book of business are in high demand,
especially across the US and Europe.
AI may be here to stay, but so is human judgment.
The Role of Regulation and Policy
As the legal and advisory landscape becomes more
complex, regulatory changes are having a direct
impact on the work and expectations of expert
consultants.
I go into that and more in this blog. But first, what
exactly is changing in expert advisory recruitment,
and why now?
In the US, recent amendments to Federal Rule of
Evidence 702 have tightened the standards for admissibility of expert testimony. Across the EU, data
protection regulations continue to evolve, with
growing focus on digital forensics, cross-border data
transfers, and evidence integrity.
The Impact of Experience, Networks and
Commercial Credibility
Ask any senior hiring manager what they’re looking
for in an expert witness or advisory Partner, and you’ll
hear one thing loud and clear: commercial value.
Technical ability is expected, but what sets candidates
apart is their client following and their ability to win
work.
For firms and clients alike, this adds another layer to
hiring decisions. The most valuable experts are those
who can combine technical excellence with a deep understanding of the shifting policy environment.
Transferable books of business are now front and
centre in lateral hiring conversations. It’s not just
about strengthening the technical bench; firms want
individuals who can walk through the door with longstanding law firm relationships, introduce new
revenue streams, and deepen client trust.
What Firms Need to Compete in 2025
Across the US and Europe, what’s driving these hires
says a lot about where the market is heading.
Here’s what I’ve been seeing with several live
Partner-level roles:
In recent conversations, I’ve even heard it compared
to the hiring boom of 2021, only now, the bar’s higher.
There’s more scrutiny, more demand for self-sufficiency, and far less appetite for passengers.
l Succession Planning
There’s increasing urgency to secure senior talent who
can lead now and mentor the next generation. Firms
want MDs and Partners who bring both long-term
value and short-term delivery.
Generative AI Isn’t Replacing Experts But It Is
Changing Their Work
Many of the clients I speak with are already exploring
how Generative AI (GenAI) might reshape their
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
l Niche Expertise
Fields like digital forensics, cross-border disputes, and
economic damages are becoming more central.
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JUNE 2025
