Expert Services
Technical experts for legal disputes
Rockwey's experts work directly in network engineering, cyber security and data centre infrastructure. We design, build and operate complex technical environments for clients today.
Our experts remain active practitioners. Our experience comes from doing the work and dealing with the problems that arise when systems fail, projects go wrong or technical claims are challenged, and we bring that current experience to every instruction.
We help legal teams establish what happened, test whether the technical explanation is credible and explain the findings in clear language.
Technical advice and assessment
Technical opinions
We provide clear written assessments of network failures, cyber security incidents, data centre projects and technology delivery disputes.
Our findings explain what happened, why it happened and what the available evidence supports, in language that solicitors, counsel and clients can use.
Review of technical evidence
We review expert reports, vendor root cause analyses, incident reports and other technical evidence.
We test whether the conclusions are supported by the underlying facts, identify assumptions or gaps and highlight anything important that may have been overlooked.
Early case assessment
Before committing to a claim or defence, it is often useful to understand whether the technical facts support the position being taken.
We provide an early and honest assessment of the evidence. Where the case is technically weak, we say so.
Plain English briefings
Complex technology should not become a barrier to understanding the case.
We explain the systems at the centre of a dispute to solicitors, counsel and other members of the legal team. This may involve explaining how BGP routing works, why a cooling design failed, how an ST 2110 broadcast network should operate or whether a proposed architecture was ever capable of meeting its stated requirements.
Dispute support
We provide technical input during settlement discussions, mediation and expert determination.
Formal testimony
We selectively accept formal expert witness instructions, including CPR Part 35 reports and oral evidence.
We only take on matters that fall clearly within our experience and expertise. Where an expert may be required to give oral evidence, contact us early and we will confirm whether we are the right fit.
Areas where we can help
IP networking and network architecture
We assess the design, performance and failure of routing, switching, network fabrics and segmentation controls.
The key questions are often straightforward. Did the network meet the agreed specification? Was the design suitable for its intended purpose? Could the failure reasonably have been foreseen?
Cyber security and incident analysis
Our work includes reconstructing incidents, reviewing the controls that were in place and assessing whether those controls were reasonable at the relevant time.
We focus on technical adequacy, causation and the sequence of events. We do not provide opinions on legal liability.
Data centres and physical infrastructure
We assist with disputes involving data centre design, construction, fit out, capacity, resilience and migration.
A recurring issue is whether the infrastructure that was delivered matched what was specified, sold or contractually promised.
Broadcast and media over IP
Rockwey has specialist experience in ST 2110, PTP timing and live production networks.
We design and deliver these environments as part of our day to day work. It is a specialist area and one that few traditional expert witness practices cover in depth.
Cloud and hybrid connectivity
We assess cloud interconnects, hybrid network designs and outages involving services spread across data centres and cloud platforms.
The evidence often turns on a simple question: was the proposed architecture technically capable of delivering what had been promised?
How we work
We carry out a conflict check before reviewing any substantive material.
Every engagement begins with a written scope and agreed terms of instruction. Fees are charged on an hourly or daily basis, excluding VAT. Our fee schedule is available on request.
Our opinion is the same whoever instructs us.
When instructed as an expert under CPR Part 35, our overriding duty is to the court. We decline instructions that fall outside our expertise or where we do not have the capacity to complete the work properly.
Make an enquiry
Nothing on this page is legal advice. No client relationship arises from an enquiry. No outcome is guaranteed.