Workplace Investigation Training and Witness Familiarisation Training

Practical Training Drawn from Over 1,000 Cases

My training programmes are built on more than twenty years of experience as a barrister, judge, workplace investigator and mediator, across more than 1,000 cases in litigation, investigations and tribunal proceedings. In that time I have seen the same problems arise repeatedly: people required to conduct investigations without understanding how to do so properly, and witnesses required to give evidence without any real understanding of how the process works.

Both problems are avoidable. My training programmes are designed to close those gaps with practical, experience-based guidance that participants can apply directly in their own roles.

I currently offer two programmes:

Workplace and Corporate Investigation Training for HR professionals, managers and internal investigators
Witness Familiarisation Training for individuals and organisations preparing to give evidence in court, tribunal or regulatory proceedings

Both programmes can be delivered in-house and tailored to the specific needs of your organisation. They can also be combined where both are relevant.

Workplace and Corporate Investigation Training

Workplace investigations are among the most demanding responsibilities facing HR professionals and managers. When allegations are serious, when relationships have broken down, and when the organisation needs clarity quickly and fairly, the quality of the investigation process determines everything that follows. A poorly conducted investigation exposes the organisation to employment tribunal claims, regulatory scrutiny and reputational damage. A well-conducted investigation produces defensible findings that support fair decision-making and reduce legal risk.

My investigation training provides practical guidance on how to conduct fair, structured and legally defensible investigations. It draws directly on my experience as an accredited independent investigator who has conducted investigations involving up to 68 allegations, 29 witnesses, and evidence bundles exceeding 1,000 pages, as well as my experience as a barrister and judge who understands exactly how investigation reports are scrutinised when matters proceed to tribunal.

What the training covers

Topics typically include planning and scoping an investigation, drafting allegations clearly and fairly, conducting effective witness interviews, evaluating evidence and assessing witness credibility, identifying and avoiding common investigative errors, and producing clear, well-structured and defensible investigation reports. The training can also cover how to chair grievance, disciplinary and appeal hearings where that is relevant to the organisation’s needs.

Who this training is for

The training is designed for HR directors, HR managers, internal investigators, and managers responsible for conducting disciplinary and grievance investigations. It is also delivered for organisations that want to develop a consistent internal investigation capability across their HR function, and for governance and compliance teams with investigation responsibilities.

Formats available

Training can be delivered as a half-day introduction to investigation principles, a full-day skills workshop with practical exercises and case study discussions, or a bespoke multi-session programme tailored to your organisation’s specific context and needs. All formats can be delivered in-house at your premises or remotely via video conference.

Find out more about workplace and corporate investigation training.

Witness Familiarisation Training

Giving evidence in court, tribunal or regulatory proceedings is one of the most stressful professional experiences many people face. Lawyers and judges spend years developing expertise in the processes of cross-examination and evidence assessment. Most witnesses receive almost no preparation at all. That imbalance affects the quality of the evidence they give and the confidence with which they give it.

Witness familiarisation training addresses this by explaining the process within which evidence is given and assessed. It does not involve coaching witnesses on what to say, advising them on how to answer specific questions, or attempting to align their evidence with a party’s case. Those things would be improper. What it does is give witnesses a clear understanding of how hearings work, how questioning operates, and how their evidence will be evaluated, so they can give clear, accurate and reliable testimony with greater confidence and composure.

What the training covers

Topics typically include how court and tribunal hearings are structured, the difference between examination in chief, cross-examination and re-examination, the types of questioning techniques lawyers commonly use, how judges and tribunals assess credibility and reliability of evidence, and practical guidance on approaching questioning calmly and clearly. The training is grounded in the principles set out in my book Winning in the Witness Box, which many participants receive as a supporting reference.

Who this training is for

Witness familiarisation training is suitable for professionals preparing to give evidence in court or tribunal proceedings, individuals facing employment tribunal hearings, professionals appearing before regulatory or disciplinary bodies, organisations supporting employees who must give evidence, and law firms preparing witnesses for litigation. It is particularly valuable for those who have never previously given evidence and have no clear picture of what to expect.

Formats available

Training can be delivered as individual preparation sessions for a single witness, group sessions for multiple witnesses involved in the same proceedings, organisational training programmes for employees who may be required to give evidence, and law firm referral sessions for clients preparing to appear in court or tribunal. All formats can be combined with copies of Winning in the Witness Box as a practical reference.

Find out more about witness familiarisation training.

About the Trainer

I am a practising barrister, CEDR accredited commercial mediator, accredited workplace investigator and part-time judge. I have been involved in more than 1,000 cases across litigation, mediation, investigations and tribunal proceedings over more than twenty years.

That breadth of experience is what makes the training genuinely practical rather than theoretical. I know how investigation reports are pulled apart in employment tribunal proceedings, because I have seen it happen. I know how witnesses lose credibility under cross-examination and why, because I have cross-examined thousands of witnesses and evaluated their evidence as a judge. The training translates that experience into guidance that participants can use immediately.

My training draws on two of my published books. The Workplace and Corporate Investigator’s Handbook covers the full investigation process from planning through to report writing and is used by many participants as a reference alongside the training. Winning in the Witness Box explains the practical realities of giving evidence and forms the foundation for my witness familiarisation programmes.

Related Services

My training programmes are closely connected to the investigator and chairing services I provide. Organisations that commission me to conduct independent workplace investigations or to act as independent grievance and disciplinary chair sometimes also arrange training for their HR teams to build internal capability alongside the external support. Both approaches are available and can be combined.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the training be delivered in-house?

Yes. Both programmes are designed primarily for in-house delivery at your organisation’s premises. They can also be delivered remotely via video conference where that is more practical.

Can the training be tailored to our organisation’s specific needs?

Yes. Both programmes can be adapted to reflect your sector, the types of investigations or hearings your organisation deals with, the seniority and experience of participants, and any specific issues you want to address. Contact me to discuss your requirements and I will outline a programme that fits.

Is witness familiarisation training the same as witness coaching?

No, and the distinction is important. Witness coaching, which involves advising witnesses on what to say or how to answer specific questions, is improper and potentially unlawful. Witness familiarisation explains the process of giving evidence so that witnesses understand what to expect. It does not influence the substance of their evidence. My training is firmly within the proper boundaries of familiarisation. This distinction is explained in detail in Winning in the Witness Box.

Can law firms arrange witness familiarisation training for their clients?

Yes. I regularly work with law firms to deliver witness familiarisation sessions for their clients and professional witnesses preparing to give evidence in court or tribunal proceedings.

How long do the training programmes take?

Investigation training is typically delivered as a half-day or full-day programme. Witness familiarisation sessions can be delivered in a half day for groups or in shorter individual sessions for single witnesses. Bespoke programmes can be structured across multiple sessions where that suits the organisation better. Contact me to discuss the format that works best for your situation.

Do participants receive any materials?

Yes. Participants typically receive copies of the relevant books alongside the training: The Workplace and Corporate Investigator’s Handbook for investigation training, and Winning in the Witness Box for witness familiarisation. These serve as practical references that participants can return to after the training.

Do you work outside London?

Yes. I am based in London but deliver training throughout the United Kingdom and will travel as required. Remote delivery via video conference is also available.

Take the Next Step

If you would like to discuss either training programme for your organisation, I would be glad to help. Contact me to outline your requirements and I will provide a clear proposal for a programme tailored to your needs.

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