One weak expert can turn a strong case into a courtroom disaster, and one great expert can change the entire settlement conversation. In this podcast episode, we sit down with nationally recognized employment attorney Derek Smith of Derek Smith Law Group PLLC to talk about what actually works when hiring, managing, and preparing expert witnesses in sexual harassment and employment discrimination cases.

We start with the moment Derek learned the stakes firsthand: a first case that forced him to get serious about emotional distress damages, diagnosis, and how expert testimony holds up under scrutiny. From there we get practical about expert witness vetting, including the must ask questions that protect you from the nightmare scenario of a judge refusing to qualify your expert after you’ve already spent months and thousands preparing for trial.

Then we dig into the mechanics that trip people up: privilege and confidentiality, what is discoverable, why every document you give an expert matters, and how compensation discussions can create bias issues. Derek also shares his unorthodox approach to deposition and cross-examination prep, including improv based warmups to help experts stay calm and sharp, plus a mock cross that is tougher than the real thing. We wrap with engagement letter terms, flat fees vs hourly billing, demonstratives and visuals that persuade juries, and why long-term relationships with experts are a career advantage.

If you work with expert witnesses, want better trial preparation, or simply want to understand how credible testimony is built, this conversation is a practical guide. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review with your biggest expert witness lesson learned.