👋 Intro
Talking about money can feel awkward but your rates are part of your professional credibility.
Set them too low and you risk being undervalued.
Set them too high without justification and lawyers will pass you by.
🔍 The Briefing: What Should Construction Experts Charge?
The Survey Data
The Bond Solon Expert Witness Survey 2024 (537 respondents) shows where UK experts sit across all disciplines:
Hourly Rate Range | Number of Experts |
|---|---|
£0–£50 | 16 |
£50–£100 | 48 |
£100–£200 | 168 |
£200–£300 | 148 |
£300–£400 | 96 |
£400–£500 | 29 |
£500+ | 17 |
What It Means for Construction Experts
£100–£200/hr is the mainstream band. Many construction experts (engineers, QSs, planners) operate here. It’s credible, but at the lower end for complex disputes.
£200–£300/hr is the solid mid-tier. This is where experienced delay and quantum experts often sit. It reflects both technical skill and courtroom familiarity.
£300–£400/hr is selective territory. Typically seen among senior engineers, MEP specialists, or experts with repeated appointments.
£400–£500/hr and beyond is rare air. Only 17 experts in the 2024 survey reported fees above £500/hr. In construction, this level is usually reserved for high-profile names or very specialised niches (for example, tunnelling, major projects, or high-value delay modelling).
Key Insights
Rates are part of your positioning. Too low and lawyers may doubt your authority.
Your discipline matters. QSs and delay analysts tend to sit higher in the bands than more general technical experts.
Experience pays. Repeat appointments, tribunal familiarity, and published work all justify moving into higher brackets.
Transparency is as important as the number. Lawyers don’t mind paying £300/hr if they know exactly what it covers.
Why It Matters for Construction Experts
Construction disputes are complex, document-heavy, and high-value.
If your rate doesn’t reflect that, you risk being seen as less credible than your peers.
At the same time, overreaching without reputation to back it up can price you out.
👉 Takeaway for construction experts: Benchmark yourself in the £200–£300/hr range if you’re experienced. Move higher only when your track record, niche skills, and independence make you stand out.
⚡ Quick Insight
I once heard a barrister say: “When two delay experts look equally credible, we often go with the one who charges more — because it signals confidence.”
🛠 Tech Tool
Harvest — time-tracking and invoicing in one. Construction experts often face scrutiny on hours spent. Harvest lets you show the breakdown clearly if challenged.
🛠 Career Corner (Mini)
Build a one-page “rate card” that sits behind your engagement letter.
List hourly rates for prep, court attendance, site visits, and admin.
👋 Closing
That’s it for this week.
Next time: scope creep and how to handle when instructions go beyond your expertise.