Since 1984 Keith Carter & Associates have regularly provided expert evidence for cases relating to people who have been pursuing a career in the performing arts, or were planning to do so.
Our firm is one of the longest established employment consultancies, having compiled over 13,000 reports for more than 1,800 firms of solicitors and for claimants from 30 different countries. Cases are undertaken for claimants, defendants and by joint instruction. We are Law Society checked and are members of both the British Academy of Experts and the Expert Witness Institute and we write regularly for legal journals.
In performing arts cases, assessments are typically required of lost earnings and altered career prospects for claimants following:
Personal injury
Long term health problems It is recognised that for those in the performing arts, such as actors, musicians, singers and dancers, given the uncertainties of employment, the lack of clearly defined career paths and variations in rates of pay in these professions, it is difficult to specify their potential level of earnings but for their injuries. Nonetheless, indicators can be provided to enable a more informed assessment of loss of earnings to be made.
Meeting clients’ needs
Our library of employment data: we have built up a wide range of factual information as a result of years of involvement in performing arts cases. Although particular research regarding an individual case is often necessary, our in-house bank of information provides an immediate foundation for our report.
Monitoring current trends in the performing arts industry: our ongoing assessments of employment patterns in the performing arts industry enable us to keep up to date with developments, for example, the effects of National Lottery funding on employment opportunities in the industry. By monitoring employment trends, our data remains “current”.
Sources of research: we are in regular contact with the professional bodies representing those in the performing arts such as Equity, the Musicians’ Union and DanceUK and use their current research data on patterns of employment, minimum rates of pay and levels of earnings in their sector.
Specific research: given the specific nature of each sector of the performing arts industry, this means that these cases may require specific detailed research to ensure accuracy of a report and justice to the claimant/defendant.
Solicitors who have instructed us in this area include:
Thompsons Levenes Bindmans Douglas-Mann & Co Bolt Burdon Osbornes Irwin Mitchell Pearson Hinchliffe Barker Austin P R Hanna & Co Wynne Baxter
Information normally required from instructing solicitor:
Medical reports
Statement(s) from claimant, including information on education, training and employment history
Other statements relevant to claimant’s employment prospects e.g., from family members or employers
Details of claimant’s gross earnings 13 weeks prior to the injury/incident
Portfolio of work; number of engagements etc (examples, if available, of the individual’s performance
Claimant’s accounts if self-employed
KCA questionnaire on employment
Statement of claim (if available)
We are always happy to discuss how we may assist in a particular case.
Please contact us on:
Telephone: 020 7697 1500
Fax: 020 7700 3819
e-mail: info@keithcarter.co.uk
web: www.keithcarter.co.uk
