While CPR Part 35 technically governs civil court proceedings, its principles on expert independence, duty to the tribunal, and report content are applied by analogy in immigration tribunal proceedings.
The expert's overriding duty is to help the tribunal on matters within their expertise — this duty overrides any obligation to the instructing party. Ikarian Reefer [1993] principles reinforce this paramount duty.
Compliant reports must distinguish assumed facts from expert opinion, identify gaps in evidence, state alternative hypotheses, and not omit material matters that detract from the instructing party's case.
CPR Part 35 also informs Single Joint Expert directions, hot-tubbing procedures, and late expert evidence applications in tribunal proceedings. See our tribunal process guides for detailed procedure.