Why Highly Specialized Experts May Risk Exclusion at Trial
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July 07, 2026
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This article from Law360 was first published in June 2026.
Even highly accomplished professionals can face challenges when their testimony appears to extend beyond the specific area in which they have established expertise. Recent rulings in cases involving medical and engineering experts show how this issue can arise: an expert may have deep experience in a field, but still be found unqualified to offer opinions on a related question if the court views that opinion as outside the expert’s narrower specialty.
This creates a practical risk for attorneys and experts alike. Specialization is often what makes an expert valuable, but it can also provide a basis for exclusion when opposing counsel argues that the expert’s knowledge is too limited for the opinion being offered. The issue is especially important in fields with multiple subspecialties, certifications or areas of practice, such as medicine, engineering, accounting, psychology and economics.
Managing that risk requires more than identifying an impressive résumé. Attorneys should understand how an expert’s education, training, publications, professional activities and work experience fit within the broader field. Peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations, academic work, government experience, consulting projects and prior testimony may all help demonstrate that an expert is qualified to speak to issues beyond a narrowly defined specialty.
This article explains how overspecialization can create exclusion risk and how attorneys can better assess and support an expert’s qualifications before trial.
Posted with permission from Law360 ©2026 Portfolio Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
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