How to Select, Prepare, Defend, and Depose a Company Witness

Why Attend?

• Explore strategies for the entire process from company witness selection through the deposition.
• Gain actionable approaches for all company witnesses, not just those under Virginia Rule 4:5(b)(6) and Federal Rule 30(b)(6).
• Review the rules for corporate witnesses.
• Hear tips for timing the depositions.
• Examine witness selection by the plaintiff and the company.
• Evaluate approaches to requesting documents.
• Discover best practices for preparation, defending the deponent, deposing the company witness, and handling the results.

Navigating the complexities of company witnesses can be one of the most crucial aspects of corporate litigation. The ability to effectively manage these witnesses can make or break a case. Whether you are tasked with identifying the proper witness, preparing them for testimony, or taking an effective deposition, this seminar will offer practical strategies for each step of the process from an experienced litigator.

Speaker Chris Spencer prepared, defended, and deposed hundreds of corporate witnesses during his 40 years as a trial lawyer. His work spanned three continents, 48 states, and one territory. Over two hours, Mr. Spencer will reveal the secrets he deployed and learned—sometimes the hard way—during his career.

Topics will include:

• Strategies for deposing company witnesses
• Tips for timing the depositions
• Witness selection by the plaintiff and the company
• Approaches to requesting documents
• A review of the rules for corporate witnesses
• Best practices for preparation, defending the deponent, deposing the company witness, and handling the results

Registration Deadlines:

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation/transfer requests will be honored until 5:00 p.m. the day preceding the seminar. You will, however, be charged $40 if you cancel or transfer your registration to a different seminar after the link to the materials has been e-mailed by Virginia CLE^®.

Full refunds or transfers are available up to two days after a webcast in the unlikely event that you experience technical difficulties.

Dietary Restrictions: If you have dietary restrictions and are attending the seminar in person, please email deanna.mcglothlin@vacle.org.

Inclement Weather Policy and Updates

MCLE Credit Caveat: The MCLE Board measures credits by the time you spend in attendance. If you enter a seminar late or leave it early, or both, you must reflect those adjustments accurately in the credits you report on your credit reporting form. A code will be given at the end of the seminar, which must be written on your MCLE form.

Private recording of this program is prohibited.

Can’t Attend?

E-mail distance_ed@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program is made available as an online or USB seminar.
E-mail publications@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program’s seminar materials are made available for sale.

Course Schedule

• Q&A will be handled via chat room for Webcast attendees.
• Q&A will be handled via e-mail for telephone seminar attendees.

About the Speaker

Chris Spencer, The Product Liability Consultancy / Richmond

Chris Spencer tried cases for over forty years. He got his start in insurance defense litigation throughout Virginia. After about ten years of that, his practice shifted to the defense of product liability cases nationwide.

Mr. Spencer was national counsel, regional counsel, and lead counsel for Fortune 50 manufacturing companies. He tried cases from Puerto Rico to Los Angeles, from Detroit to Houston, and well over a hundred points in between. He has worked up countless cases. He has worked with and opposite some of the best lawyers in Virginia and the United States.

Since retiring from trial work, Mr. Spencer has focused on product liability consulting in North American, European, and other markets; practice development for law firms; mediations and CLE.