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Equal Representation For Expert Witnesses Pledge

As a group of expert witnesses, counsel, representatives of corporates and governments, arbitrators, judges, academics and others, including professional organisations, involved in the resolution of disputes which call for expert evidence, we commit to increase, on an equal opportunity basis, the number of women appointed as expert witnesses in dispute resolution procedures worldwide, to achieve a fair representation as soon as practically possible, with the ultimate goal of full parity. To achieve this, we will take the steps reasonably available to us – and we will encourage other participants in the selection of expert witnesses to do likewise – to ensure that, wherever possible:

  • organisations providing expert witness services in litigation, arbitration, and other dispute resolution fora, including all forms of ADR, include a fair representation of women in their proposals to act as experts;
  • organisations providing expert witness services in litigation, arbitration, and other dispute resolution fora, including all forms of ADR, build a team of experts that includes a fair representation of women in: their candidates for recruitment and promotion; their proposals to clients to provide expert services, including proposed lead experts; and the relevant training and development opportunities;
  • parties to the dispute and their counsel, ensure the lists of potential expert witnesses to be considered include a fair representation of female candidates;
  • organisations maintaining databases of expert witnesses (such as professional bodies and publishers of directories) include a fair representation of female candidates on the lists of potential experts they maintain;
  • where they have the power to do so, counsel, arbitrators, judges, representatives of corporates and governments, and others who engage expert witnesses appoint a fair representation of female expert witnesses and encourage others to do the same;
  • arbitral bodies, courts and other institutions, where expert witnesses testify, collect and publish gender statistics of expert appointments;
  • senior and experienced experts support, mentor/sponsor and encourage women to pursue expert witness appointments and otherwise enhance their profiles and practices;
  • experienced expert witnesses and those responsible for their appointment give appropriate opportunities, including opportunities to testify, and recognition to the women in their teams; and
  • committees, governing bodies and conference panels in the field of dispute resolution include a fair representation of female expert witnesses.
Team Meeting Take The Pledge

Take the Pledge

Thank you for supporting Equal Representation for Expert Witnesses. You can sign the ERE Pledge by entering the following information:

You may take the Pledge: (i) in your own name; and/or (ii) on behalf of an organisation (for example a law firm) that you represent. If you are taking the pledge on behalf of an organisation and would like your logo featured on the site, please contact us.

If taking the Pledge on behalf of an organisation, you must be authorised by that organisation to do so. At the same time as taking the Pledge on behalf of an organisation, you may choose to take the Pledge in your own name.

Please tick the following boxes that apply: *

Publishing Agreement

The name, job title, company name and country of residence of individual signatories, and the name of organisation signatories, are listed on the ERE website. Organisation signatories may also be used in promotional communications relating to the ERE campaign. The ability to publish this information is very valuable to the ERE campaign to highlight the support for the ERE Pledge.

Diverse Business Professional Take The Pledge (1)