Testimonials

"I have had the pleasure of briefing Jae Gerhard as an expert witness in a range of matters. What continues to impress me about Jae’s work is her ability to summarise complex issues and dense material, identify what additional documents and material she requires to provide her opinion, interpret others findings and where necessary critically analyse those findings, and most importantly crystalise the issues and provide expert evidence about those issues. When a matter is outside her area of expertise, Jae helpfully identifies additional experts that may need to be engaged. In a recent matter, Jae provided an expert opinion that supported an exculpatory version for our client’s DNA that was either overlooked and or not acknowledged by numerous expert witnesses for the other side. The report formed a critical part in having the proceedings discontinued."

“As the largest criminal legal practice in the Northern Territory, our service is reliant upon being able to access expertise quickly and of the highest calibre for our clients. Jae Gerhard is the expert I turn to for assistance oncomplex DNA cases and she has always been accessible, professional and able to explain complex information in a manner I can understand, and then make my clients understand. I highly recommend her and her team, you can be reassured you will be dealing with the best experts in this area.”

"Thank you for your knowledge and professionalism, without which, I might have left a few stones unturned. With your invaluable advice I look forward to turning over a few more."

"I want to extend my thanks on behalf of the defence legal team and the accused (and his family) for all your efforts.
I am pleased to advise your report assisted in the Prosecution discontinuing the case against our client.
I am very grateful for all your efforts and look forward to working together in the future."

I had the pleasure of working with Jae Gerhard from Independent Forensic Services on a complicated issues of DNA evidence in a criminal Trial in Victoria in 2022.

The Trial involved an issue of interpreting the possible scenarios by which DNA was deposited on items of clothing, and Jae provided her reports in a good and timely way.

Those reports were excellently researched as well as being very easy to understand.

We spoke for a long time before Jae eventually gave sworn evidence at the Trial, and she was able to describe to me in completely understandable language why it was that the conclusions that had been reached in the case by the police funded Victorian Forensic Services Laboratory were able to be challenged.

Jae then followed that up by giving evidence in the Trial. She was an excellent and thoroughly knowledgeable witness who was able to describe things in a completely comprehensible way.

The result of all of this was that the DNA evidence in the Trial was excluded – as it should have been.

So, I have no hesitation in recommending the expert services of Independent Forensic Services in general and of Jae Gerhart in particular wherever an issue to do with DNA evidence arises.

"Jae has the ability to quickly get to the heart of the issue in terms a non-scientist can understand. She is sensitive to the demands of court proceedings and easy to talk to. She responds directly to what you think you need to know, but also clearly communicates the things you didn’t realise you needed to know. Her high-quality reports are invaluable in proceedings. I highly recommend her services."

"I refer to the above Inquiry. I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the assistance you have provided in sharing your expertise through the provision of information and evidence. This assistance made a significant contribution to the work of the Inquiry and as such will also be
acknowledged formally in the Inquiry's final report"