Zero environment Ltd.

Roger D Braithwaite

The Sweet & Maxwell Expert Witness Program
Previously the Law Society "CHECKED" Scheme

There are now dozens of registers and directories of consultants / 'expert witnesses', most of which charge the applicant a significant sum for inclusion on their list, then they are usually free to the client. In contrast, the Sweet & Maxwell Expert Witness Directory is the cheapest to the expert, but the dearest to the client.

John Ruskin had something to offer on what he knew as, 'the law of business balance':

It is unwise to pay too much, but it is unwise to pay too little. When you pay too much you lose a little money, that's all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing you bought it to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot, it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better.

John Ruskin 1819 - 1900

The Sweet & Maxwell Checked Expert Witness program requires strict vetting of witnesses approved by at least two independent professional referees (solicitors / barristers) verifying both the quality of written evidence, and presentation skills in front of the court. As well as a comprehensive grasp of the legal and technical issues surrounding the subject, a wealth of experience in court and / or inquiries is necessary to achieve this standard.

It is impossible to know for sure whether the expert you choose is what s/he says, but with Sweet & Maxwell Checked Witnesses you can be sure that considerable effort has been made to verify at least these key skills.

I am contacted several times a year by the other list makers, and none enquire whether I am what I say I am (or a road sweeper?) as long as I pay their exorbitant fee.

So beware.

I have been principal expert witness in over twenty court cases / public inquires during the course of my career, and involved in hundreds more which were resolved before that stage. Examples of the types of cases can be viewed in:

Recent projects

Curriculum Vitae

Full name		Roger David Braithwaite MSc MCIEH MIOA FRSH
DOB		02-04-53
Profession		Independent Environmental Consultant & Trainer Sweet & Maxwell Checked Expert Witness
Present employer		Zero environment Ltd Registered Office: 1st Floor 2 Church Street Warwick CV34 4AB
Position		Director
Time with present employer		Set up new company April 1999
Contact points		Operating address: Zero environment Ltd PO Box 1659 Warwick CV35 8ZD
Telephone		+44 (0)1926 62 49 66
Facsimile		+44 (0)1926 62 49 26
Mobile		07930 57 87 17
E-Mail		roger@zeroenvironment.co.uk
Web site		www.zeroenvironment.co.uk

Attributes skills & qualities
KEY WORDS

The work		High quality In depth Consistent Clear High value Reliable continuity (throughout the project)
The person		Adaptable Accommodating Commercially aware Innovative Industrious Enthusiastic Pragmatic Practical Precise Professional Positive Reliable Broad experience Depth of knowledge Breadth of knowledge Excellent negotiator Seeks challenge Desire to succeed
Areas of expertise		Environmental law Environmental monitoring Environmental assessment Environmental planning Town & Country Planning & Pollution Control Water pollution Contaminated land investigation, assessment & remediation Brown field development Specialist in Environmental Protection Act 1990 Environmental Acoustics, assessment & control Report writing Producing written evidence Delivering evidence in court and public inquiries Environmental training Photography (library of over 4000 images)
Other relevant knowledge		Two decades experience in environmental control Comprehensive knowledge of Environmental law, Enforcement Agencies, Town & Country Planning and development control Experience of many complex planning inquiries and Court hearings Published and delivered several papers at major conferences in the UK and overseas Experienced trainer and University Lecturer (at Master level) Advisor to Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Member of the UK national working party on Landfill Gas for the Institute of Waste Management Author Sweet & Maxwell Checked Expert Witness
Recent Employment History		1985 - 1999 Warwick District Council Senior manager (operational) Head of Pollution Control April 1999 to present - Director of Zero environment Ltd
Educational History		1964 - 1971 Thorne Grammar School 1971 - 1974 Leeds Metropolitan University 1991 - 1995 Derby University (part time)
Qualifications		Diploma in Environmental Health (3 yrs full time) Post graduate Diploma in Acoustics 1991 (I yr part time) Master of Science Degree in Environmental Pollution Control 1995 (3 yrs part time )
Affiliations		Corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Corporate member of the Institute of Acoustics Fellow of the Royal Society of Health
Motivation		Challenge
Leisure interests		Photography, classic cars, golf, scuba diving.


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