Black Box Research & Consultancy

Expert Witness Services

"Our expert witness work is rooted in clarity, evidence and compassion. We provide impartial, trauma-informed assessments that help courts understand the complex realities of modern slavery." 

– Dr. Grace Robinson

About Our Expert Witness Work

Black Box Research and Consultancy Ltd has provided expert evidence in over 700 modern slavery cases across criminal courts and First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber throughout the UK.
Our experts bring extensive academic, professional and frontline experience to every instruction. We have worked with legal teams nationally on cases involving:

  • Modern slavery and human trafficking
  • Child criminal exploitation (CCE)
  • County Lines and cuckooing
  • Forced labour and domestic servitude
  • Sexual exploitation and coercive contro
  • Financial and online-based exploitation

We are recognised for our ability to provide clear, impartial and evidence-based analysis of complex cases - ensuring that victims of exploitation are identified, understood and treated fairly within the justice process.

Our work has contributed to acquittals, successful appeals and accurate recognition of victims of exploitation within the criminal justice system.

National Reach and Flexible Working

We accept instructions from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and can work to tight court and tribunal deadlines.
We offer:

  • In-person assessments – we are happy to travel nationwide to meet clients in custody, detention or community settings.
  • Virtual assessments – secure, trauma-informed assessments via video link when travel is impractical or urgency requires it.
  • Short-notice instructions – we can accommodate urgent cases, including those with court dates approaching.

Our flexible approach ensures that every client - regardless of location or circumstance - can be properly assessed and supported.

Our Approach

At Black Box, we believe expert evidence must be both academically robust and humanly sensitive.
We are proud to be a trauma-aware and trauma-focused organisation, having recently undertaken comprehensive training and independent audits to strengthen our trauma-informed practice.
Our approach ensures:

  • Clients are met with empathy, respect and patience.
  • Assessments are conducted in ways that minimise distress and re-traumatisation.
  • Reports maintain the highest ethical and professional standards expected by the courts.

Giving Evidence in Court

Our experts are highly experienced in providing oral evidence in:

  • Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court proceedings
  • First-tier Asylum and Immigration Tribunal chambers

We are confident giving evidence under cross-examination and are regularly commended by Counsel and the judiciary for the clarity and impartiality of our testimony.

1. Initial Enquiry

  • Contact us by email or phone to discuss your case.
  • We will confirm availability, timelines and the appropriate expert for instruction.

2. Instruction Confirmation

  • Once agreed, you will receive formal terms of instruction, fee structure and deadlines.
  • We can accept instructions from solicitors, barristers, local authorities or the Crown Prosecution Service.

3. Disclosure Review

  • Provide all relevant case materials (see below).
  • We conduct a full review to identify indicators of exploitation, coercion or trafficking.

4. Assessment

  • We meet your client either in person or virtually.
  • Assessments are conducted using trauma-informed methods in line with best practice.

5. Report Preparation

  • A comprehensive expert report is produced, compliant with Part 19 of the Criminal Procedure Rules and the Expert Witness Code of Practice.
  • A number of reports are reviewed internally for quality assurance before submission.

6. Court Attendance

  • Our experts regularly provide oral evidence in Crown Courts, Magistrates’ Courts and tribunal chambers.
  • We can also provide supplementary statements, addenda or written responses to questions.

To ensure our experts can provide a thorough and credible assessment, please supply:

  • Full trial bundles, including witness statements and exhibits.
  • NRM documentation.
  • Police evidence such as MG5, MG11, MG6C, ABE interviews, exhibits, or phone downloads.
  • Social care and safeguarding records.
  • Psychological or psychiatric reports.
  • Education, employment, housing or medical records relevant to the client’s background.

Where material is not yet available, we can work from partial disclosure with addenda to follow as additional evidence is received.

Contact and Instruction

To discuss a new instruction or request a quotation:

Email: info@blackboxresearchandconsultancy.com

Phone:  (+44) 151 380 0278

We aim to respond to all new instruction enquiries within 24 hours. 

"We have used Black Box on a number of cases and found them to be approachable, efficient and producing high quality reports in this area of work. 

The reports we have obtained have had an impact on the outcome of cases and it has been invaluable to have this resource available when you are dealing with Defendants who have experienced some level of exploitation, especially when involved in matters from a young age. 

We would recommend this company to anyone in this area of law and will certainly use them again."

Louise Rodaway, Crown Court Solicitor, Wessex Solicitors

 

"Blackbox have been my go-to company when it comes to instructing skilled experts to assist with our clients’ cases where which concern Modern Day Slavery.

Their team are very efficient and assist with your requirements with speed and professionalism.

I instruct Blackbox experts for their expertise in Modern Day Slavery and their reports have been incremental in achieving the best outcome possible for our clients. I would highly recommend using this company."

Rose Nelson, Senior Legal Consultant, Sperrin Law

 

"I have instructed Black Box in a number of drugs related modern slavery cases and have found the reports of Daniel Robinson and Kieran Walsh to be comprehensive, professional and meticulous in their detail.

Reports are prepared within a very appropriate time frame and there is excellent communication throughout the process.In a Concerned in the Supply Class A drugs case a Black Box report proved to be the determining factor which resulted in a Suspended Sentence as opposed to a starting point of 3 years custody.

I have also asked Black Box to give live evidence at Trial and Kieran Walsh was an excellent witness who delivered his evidence in a balanced and concise manner, fully outlining the background of county lines, the impact on young vulnerable people and the consequences which result.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Black Box."

Joanne Cestaro, Partner, Lawtons Law

"I was referred to Black Box by other members of my firm during a particularly difficult case involving vulnerable issues, individuals and tight timescales.

The staff at Black Box responded quickly and helpfully, providing everything I required to move forward with funding and instruction. Their administrative staff are responsive, efficient, and great to work with.

Their experts are highly qualified and dedicated. They were able to turn around a report in a matter of weeks, in a very complicated case. I was impressed with the detail and sensitivity of the report.

Experts such as the team at Black Box are, in my view, filling a gap in the legal system by providing reports which provide juries with critical context of dangers and exploitation faced by many defendants.

I am grateful for their assistance in shedding light on these issues which remain under-recognised and misunderstood by the legal system and often the general public."

Phoebe Coleman, Solicitor, Sonn MacMillan Walker Law

 

"Our firm instructed Dr Grace Robinson in a complicated case in which our young client faced serious charges in both the Youth Court and the Crown Court.

After meeting our client in person Grace concluded, as an expert, that our client had a valid s.45 Modern Slavery defence and drafted a comprehensive and balanced report in support of this conclusion.

Her report was two-fold in that it detailed the legal complexities of this defence and applied the law to our case drawing from a number of external sources including social workers, police logs and the case papers.

We were able to submit her highly persuasive report to the Crown for consideration and the outcome was the discontinuation of prosecution for all our client’s matters.
 
Grace is personable and professional, her integrity and independence as an expert is exemplary and I would have no hesitation at all in recommending her as an expert."

Felicity Joslin, Solicitor, Shentons Solicitors

"Having known and worked alongside Dr. Grace Robinson for several years, I have witnessed her unwavering dedication as an Expert Witness and her deep commitment to combating Modern Slavery, Child Criminal Exploitation, Human Trafficking, and other related arenas.

Her expertise, professionalism, and genuine passion for helping vulnerable juveniles / individuals make her a true leader in these areas. She consistently brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to every case she works on, ensuring the highest standards are met.

Dr Robinson and her company excel in all they do, delivering exceptional results and making a lasting impact in their field."

Darrell Jones, CEO, Drug Expert Witness Ltd

 

"Dr Robinson is consistently instructed by our firm due to the meaningful and thorough reports she produces in the most complex and serious cases of modern day slavery.

She is one of the very few experts located in the UK that can undertake such reports. Her assistance is a valuable asset when preparing defence cases."

Carly Twyne, Solicitor, Stryders Law

"Dr Grace Robinson and Black Box Research have a uniquely skilled expertise, an ease with clients, and understanding and flexibility in the face of the many challenges posed by the deteriorating criminal justice system.

The reports produced are thorough and the findings reliable. I am more than happy to recommend their work."

Zachary Whyte, Solicitor, Sperrin Law

 

"Dr Grace Robinson and Black Box Research have a uniquely skilled expertise, an ease with clients, and understanding and flexibility in the face of the many challenges posed by the deteriorating criminal justice system.

The reports produced are thorough and the findings reliable. I am more than happy to recommend their work."

Zaynah Dar, Solicitor, Tuckers

 

"Having instructed Dr Robinson in a variety of cases, I appreciate the empathy she shows to the most vulnerable of individuals unfortunate enough to face prosecution when they themselves may be victims of serious criminality.

Her reports are concisely written, realistic and her conclusions backed by detailed research and evidence.

Outcomes include a suspended sentence in a Class A drugs supply case and the Crown offering no evidence against in a County Lines case."

Stephen Garland, Solicitor, EBR Attridge

 

"Dr Grace Robinson was instructed by me in a serious case where I led the defence of a young man, who allegedly harboured a teenager.

The Defendant was a drug addict, who himself had been exploited and “cuckooed”. Dr Robinson was professional and pro-active throughout. 

She attended the lay client remotely and prepared a comprehensive and balanced report in a timely fashion, setting out the hierarchy in county lines operations and the Defendant’s likely position.

The analytical and evidence-based expert report was excellent and persuaded the Prosecution to abandon the modern slavery allegation in the interests of justice. I fully recommend Dr Grace Robinson without reservation."

Kannan Siva, Barrister

Founded by Dr Grace Robinson in 2019.

OUR PRIMARY AIM IS TO SUPPORT VICTIMS AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF MODERN SLAVERY.

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