By “quantum analyst” I mean the financial appraiser of construction claims. I do not mean the tribunal charged with deciding a construction dispute; the person I have in mind usually acts as a quantum expert. By “construction claims” I mean claims against under-performing professionals, defects claims, claims for components of the contract price, termination claims or, more frequently, delay and disruption claims. As someone who himself practises in this field, I declare an interest.

The single factor likely to be uppermost in the minds of those involved in the resolution of construction claims is the financial worth of those claims. The quality of the quantum analyst can therefore be of the first importance in their satisfactory resolution.

Let me immediately set out what I consider to be the core qualities required. The sound quantum analyst is well-informed yet inquisitive. He is creative, and motivated to trace a problem down to its essential components. He will search for gaps, hypothesise about missing material, and explore justifiable answers.

In England, an expert witness (sometimes called a “testifying expert”) is someone who has been instructed to prepare or give expert evidence for the purposes of contested proceedings. He owes an overriding duty to the tribunal, regardless of the interests of those from whom the expert has received his instructions, or by whom he is paid.1 His work should be independent, uninfluenced as to form or content by the exigencies of litigation.2