About Us

Bench & Bar Experts is a full-service firm providing a comprehensive approach to the search, vetting, engagement, management and education of expert witnesses in the legal system. We offer a variety of methods for access to the best qualified experts, as well as a variety of pricing options to allow all segments of the bar to easily access qualified experts for their clients. From a small transaction charge to search our proprietary database, to an annual subscription fee to access all of our services, to custom searches for those hard-to-find experts, our mission is to make sure you find the winning expert for your case. In addition, we provide CLE programs to help attorneys get the highest and best use of their experts, as well as training for experts and professionals who are interested in learning more about serving as expert witnesses. We also provide litigation support services such as legal research services, consulting on electronic evidence issues, and translation services.

Management

Bench & Bar Experts was formed by legal professionals with over 25 years of experience in issues critical to litigation training and management. Our principals have worked in a variety of litigation settings, including major class actions with 706 hearings. In addition, we have worked as professional consultants and trainers for major legal research providers such as Westlaw, Lexis and BNA; as consultants in the management of electronic evidence; as executive recruiters in the legal placement industry; and as consultants in various aspects of the use of expert witnesses.

LAURIE GALLAGHER, J.D. - PRESIDENT

Laurie Gallagher began her career in the legal profession while still in undergraduate school at the University of Alabama in the early 1980’s as an intern for an attorney representing plaintiffs in the Agent Orange class action. In 1986, Laurie graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law and became a member of the Alabama Bar. After law school, she practiced law in a civil litigation firm handling a variety of matters including personal injury, employment discrimination and intellectual property. Beginning in 1989, Laurie worked for West Publishing Company for several years as a Westlaw Account Executive, training attorneys and law librarians on electronic legal research techniques in some of the nation’s leading law firms and working with state and federal judges and law clerks.  She was then the Director of Client Development for a major law firm for several years before returning to practice as a research attorney for the Silicone Breast Implant litigation in 1999 where she was responsible for maintaining the national expert witness database for the litigation. Laurie has also worked with a national electronic discovery firm, the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), and most recently with a national expert witness search firm recruiting experts throughout the world for major law firms.  She has also been a legal consultant for a number of media outlets.

Laurie’s diverse experience as a practicing attorney and in a variety of roles supporting the legal community has provided her with a unique background to assist other legal professionals in finding and vetting highly qualified experts for their cases.  Contact Laurie directly to discuss your expert witness needs.