Expert Witness Journal Issue 68 August 2026 - Flipbook - Page 37
Mr Stephen Marshall
Mr. Mark Finch
Chartered Engineer
Offshore Geotechnical Engineer
BSc CEng FIMechE MCIBSE MIET
CEng MEng BSc (Hons)
I have been a professional engineer for over forty years and a chartered engineer since
1985. I have experience working in several industries and I bring this unusually broad
experience to the field of building services engineering. Until recently I ran a successful
building services practice (Synergy Consulting Engineers) where I built an experienced and
dedicated team of engineers delivering projects of all sizes in most fields of construction.
Mark is a Chartered Engineer with 35 years’ experience of offshore geotechnical
engineering and foundation design for the sectors of offshore Oil & Gas, Renewable
Energy and Subsea Power Cables. Mark has worked for a broad range of offshore
companies, from site investigation and EPCI contractors to operators and
developers.
I am particularly adept at seeing past the rules-of-thumb to the underlying physical processes
in order to understand what can go wrong in complex systems on a fundamental level. Long
practice enables me to communicate what is happening in terms legal professionals can
understand, with an awareness of what aspects have particular significance for them. I tend
to rely strongly on the use of graphical presentation to illustrate engineering concepts simply
and effectively. Where possible I will always look for alternative practical and economic
solutions to any systems which require remediation. I can be most effective if instructed before
disproportionate remedial works have been carried out.
He regularly acts as an Expert Witness in high-value disputes and advises clients on
project issues relating to soils, foundation design and installation. He has produced
numerous Expert Reports and given oral evidence under cross examination in several
arbitrations.
Experience summary:
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I have been undertaking instructions as an expert since 1995, and in 2005 I was accredited
by Cardiff Law School. I have advised on approximately 40 matters relating to Building
Services Disputes and have participated in mediations and arbitrations. I have given
evidence and been cross-examined many times in the High Court.
Core competence is the acquisition, description, and interpretation of offshore
and nearshore soils for marine construction projects and subsequent foundation
engineering analyses.
Significant foundation design and installation experience (e.g. driven piles,
drive/drill/drive piles, drilled & grouted piles, suction caissons, gravity-based
structures, monopiles, marine anchors).
Jack-up emplacement analyses (e.g. punch-through, lateral stability, scour).
Remedial foundation solutions (e.g. rock pads), interaction with existing
structures and removal.
Trenching engineering design, upheaval buckling assessments, dredging, rock
dump and on-bottom stability issues for cables and pipelines worldwide.
Shore approach design, including HDD analyses and installation supervision.
Considerable period spent offshore managing and supervising site surveys and
trenching, piling and rock placement operations.
Certified Expert Witness (CUBS) experienced in writing technical reports and
giving oral evidence in arbitration hearings.
Testimonial:
"First, thank you for preparing such a helpful report. Often technical reports are
difficult to follow by a lay person but your report identifies the key issues and
explains them in a clear and logical way such that even a lawyer like me can follow
it. I am sure that it will help the tribunal understand the issues very well and enable
the tribunal to see a clear way through all the fog created by the defendant's
correspondence."
Michael Hopkins, Partner for Pinsent Masons LLP
Address: 21 Kirby Close, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 3NQ
Telephone: 07976 292065 | Email: steve.marshall@synconsult.co.uk
Webite: www.synergyconsulting.co
Telephone: +44 1224 013 669 | Mobile: +44 7478 745 480
Email: mark.finch@ternan-energy.com | Website: www.ternan-energy.com
Ms. Lavinia Moore
Senior Child Protection Social Work consultant
Mr Hugh Gray
Consultant Chartered Engineer
I am a Senior Child Protection Social Work consultant with over 35+ years’ experience in
front line practice with children, young people and families. My expertise is strengthened
by my role as a Social Care Auditor specialising in pre-Ofsted improvement projects
and post Ofsted improvement planning since 2010, more recently as part of a team of
improvement partners with the DfE.
specialising in Lifts/Elevators
CEng BEng (Hons) BSc FSOE MCIBSE MIET European Engineer
(Eur Ing) MIoD
Hugh Gray is a Consultant Engineer with over 25 years experience. His
I have been an Expert witness in high-risk complex assessments for court proceedings. I
am a Child & adult safeguarding Improvement trainer, mentor, coach and auditor, plus a
SCiE Associate trainer for safeguarding Adults and child protection, Local Authority
Lead Specialist consultant & trainer for child criminal exploitation, child sexual
exploitation and Modern Slavery and trainer and assessor in Domestic Abuse (Freedom
Programme online creator and specialist since 2008 with specialism in coercive control,
cognitive dissonance and disguised compliance)
main area of expertise is lifts, escalators and window cleaning equipment
design. Hugh has hands-on lift experience as he started his career with the
installation and maintenance of lifts. Since 1993 his main area of work has
been statutory inspections of lifts and lift consultancy. Sectors covered are
residential, retail, commercial, transport, health care and social housing.
Hugh is based between his London and Manchester offices providing full
UK coverage.
His experience includes: The design and management of several high end
lift refurbishments projects throughout the City, and West End, of London;
conducting feasibility studies to improve the performance of existing lift
systems; investigation inspections on new lifts which are failing; condition
surveys and dilapidation reports; lift traffic analysis and lift energy reports.
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Specialist assessor for ‘individuals who perpetrate harm and violence’ - high risk
complex DV and sexual violence cases, coercive control, gas lighting.
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Quality assurance and performance and change management
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Specialist assessments of individuals who pose sexual harm to children & young
people
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Clinical supervisor and trainer for Child Protection (introductory & specialist
advanced)
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Independent LADO Service Manager
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Serious Case Review advisor
Mr Gray has been appointed as a specialist expert witness to write reports
and give oral evidence in relation to lift accident investigations, incorrect lift
designs, rent reviews, claims against main contractors and to provide
general lift condition reports. He has also acted and
represented profes-
sional football players and clubs in contract negotiations, including disputes
and arbitration proceedings.
Contact:
Contact
Telephone: 07802 154 922
Email: mooreunderstanding@gmail.com
214-216 Widmore Road, Bromley, BR1 2RH
Area of work: Nationwide
Tel: 0208 850 4778 - Fax: 0208 711 3533
Area of work: Nationwide
Email: hugh.gray@mandpls.com
Website: www.mandpls.co.uk
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
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AUGUST 2026
