Five Ways We Make Expert Reports More Digestible for Attorneys

By Kevin Marold, CPA, ABV, CFE, CFF

 

 

 

Attorneys rely heavily on expert reports to build persuasive arguments, establish credibility in court, and ultimately win cases. But overly dense or technical reports can obscure critical insights, making it challenging to efficiently pinpoint and leverage the strongest points.

At Morones Analytics, we’ve refined our approach to ensure expert reports are not only rigorous but also clear, concise, and strategically valuable. Here are five practical strategies attorneys should expect—and experts should deliver—to make expert reports more digestible and impactful:

 

1. Separate and Highlight Expert Opinions

Attorneys need to immediately be able to see an expert’s conclusions. Experts should clearly state and number each opinion separately, ideally with descriptive headings or bullet points. This allows attorneys to efficiently prepare for depositions, streamline trial outlines, and quickly reference essential points during courtroom examination.

 

2. Use Tables to Clearly Present Complex Data

Dense narrative explanations can conceal important findings. Attorneys should ask their experts to use clearly labeled tables instead of burying key numerical results within paragraphs. Tables visually organize data, enabling attorneys—and ultimately judges and juries—to quickly comprehend relationships, comparisons, and conclusions.

 

3. Apply Graphs Strategically to Illuminate Critical Comparisons

Figures and graphs aren’t just decorative—they’re powerful communication tools that tell the story. Points are more easily understood by a judge or jury when experts strategically use visuals to clearly show critical relationships or emphasize the effects of flawed assumptions by opposing experts. A well-crafted visual can quickly communicate the strength and significance of your expert’s analysis, boosting courtroom effectiveness.

 

4. Provide Robust Navigation Guides

Navigating lengthy expert reports can consume valuable preparation time. That’s why reports should always include a table of contents. We also add a table of tables and a table of figures. These simple organizational tools enable attorneys to instantly locate essential analyses, evidence, and visuals, facilitating efficient preparation and in-court referencing.

 

5. Keep it Concise: Everything Necessary, Nothing More

Attorneys should expect concise expert reports. Request that your expert include only the information essential to support opinions and avoid unnecessary repetition. Cross-referencing previous sections rather than repeating content improves readability, reduces document length, and ensures clarity in the courtroom.

 

Example: Effective vs. Ineffective Expert Report Writing

Consider these contrasting examples:

Poor practice:

“We reviewed extensive financial records, noting various discrepancies, some of which might be material. We observed several areas where the opposing expert’s assumptions were questionable.”

Issue: Vague, unspecific, and unclear conclusions.

Best practice:

“Our analysis identified three material discrepancies (summarized in Table 2). Figure 3 illustrates how the opposing expert’s unsupported EBITDA assumption inflated claimed damages by 25%.”

Strength: Clear, specific conclusions backed by easily accessible visuals.

 

Bottom Line

By insisting on these straightforward best practices, attorneys can expect—and experts can produce—reports that are clear, persuasive, and strategically valuable in achieving successful outcomes.

 

 

******************

 

Have questions? Reach out to Kevin Marold.
[email protected]