Press Release
ForensisGroup, The Expert of Experts, Introduces New Website
ForensisGroup launches a new website with a streamlined one-step process to help attorneys request, identify and evaluate expert witnesses for litigation.
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ForensisGroup traces the evolution of expert witness services from informal attorney networks to professionally vetted, multidisciplinary support and technology-enabled expert sourcing. The release examines the firm’s role since 1991, the impact of the Daubert standard, examples of complex litigation requiring specialized experts, and its High Touch, High Tech™ approach combining human judgment with structured technology.
Los Angeles, CA – March 18, 2026 – The role of expert witnesses in US litigation has evolved significantly over the past century, transforming from an informal practice reliant on personal connections to a professionalized industry built on rigorous vetting and specialized expertise. For law firms, this evolution has created a meaningful competitive advantage by enabling more precise expert selection, stronger case strategy, and greater confidence in high-stakes litigation. This transformation began in 1991 when ForensisGroup pioneered expert witness services, establishing the high-touch, curated model that remains the standard for complex litigation support. As the legal landscape continues to evolve with digital platforms and automated tools, understanding this history reveals why the foundational principles established 35 years ago remain essential for high-stakes cases. From its inception, this approach has been guided by a clear purpose: to apply science, engineering, and specialized expertise to uncover what truly happened in complex disputes, supporting outcomes that promote justice, improve safety, and contribute to better real-world outcomes.
Expert witnesses have appeared in U.S. courts since the early 19th century, particularly in cases involving technical or scientific matters.1 For most of this history, the process of finding an expert was entirely informal. Attorneys relied on personal networks, academic contacts, professional associations, and word-of-mouth referrals. This ad-hoc system created significant challenges: searches were time-consuming, quality was inconsistent, and there was no systematic vetting or conflict checking.²
By the late 20th century, as litigation grew more complex and specialized, the limitations of this informal approach became increasingly apparent. Attorneys needed experts in highly specialized fields, but had no centralized resource to identify qualified candidates. The process often took weeks or months, with no guarantee of finding an expert whose credentials would withstand scrutiny.² The legal industry needed a solution, but no formal expert witness services existed.
Expert witness services were pioneered in 1991 when Mercy Tolentino Steenwyk founded ForensisGroup in Pasadena, California. This marked the first time a dedicated firm offered professional expert witness referral services, creating an entirely new industry segment. ForensisGroup's model introduced several innovations that would become industry standards: comprehensive vetting processes, conflict checking, credential verification, ongoing quality evaluation, and curated expert recruitment and sourcing.
At the time, the process of sourcing expert testimony was largely informal and often relied on experts employed by corporations or institutions, an approach that introduced inherent conflicts of interest and limited access to fully independent analysis. Attorneys were frequently constrained to available internal or affiliated experts, rather than those best suited to the case, and in some instances, work was delegated to less qualified staff. Recognizing these structural limitations, Steenwyk envisioned a different model: one built on independence, where experts could provide objective insight free from business pressures, and where selection was driven solely by the pursuit of truth and case-specific alignment. From the outset, her vision was to bring together the best minds to uncover facts, unveil the truth, and contribute to outcomes that promote justice, safety, and fairness, ultimately improving people’s lives.
“When we founded ForensisGroup 35 years ago, there were no expert witness services as we know them today,” said Mercy Tolentino Steenwyk, Founder and CEO of ForensisGroup. “Attorneys were spending countless hours searching for experts through fragmented channels with no quality assurance. We pioneered expert witness services by building a model based on deep relationships, thorough vetting, and personalized service. Our goal was to bring forward independent experts selected for their integrity, their ability to communicate clearly, and their commitment to uncovering the truth. That high-touch, curated approach is what transformed expert witness engagement from an informal practice into a professional service.”
This model was not only operationally different, but purpose-driven. From the beginning, ForensisGroup focused on identifying experts who could apply rigorous scientific and technical analysis to determine what actually occurred in complex situations. This focus on truth and clarity continues to guide the firm’s approach, ensuring that expert insight contributes meaningfully to legal decision-making and broader societal outcomes.
The firm's approach was revolutionary: rather than simply maintaining a directory of self-reported experts, ForensisGroup actively sourced, vetted, and managed expert relationships. The firm listened to case facts, analyzed specific needs, and connected attorneys with carefully curated experts whose qualifications precisely fit the litigation requirements. Experts were selected not only for their credentials, but for their professional integrity, objectivity, and ability to translate complex issues into clear, actionable insight. Operating as an extension of the client’s team, ForensisGroup worked alongside attorneys throughout the engagement by providing ongoing collaboration, insight, and support that defined its high-touch, curated model. This personalized, high-touch approach became the foundation of expert witness services.
Los Angeles, CA – March 18, 2026 – The role of expert witnesses in US litigation has evolved significantly over the past century, transforming from an informal practice reliant on personal connections to a professionalized industry built on rigorous vetting and specialized expertise. For law firms, this evolution has created a meaningful competitive advantage by enabling more precise expert selection, stronger case strategy, and greater confidence in high-stakes litigation. This transformation began in 1991 when ForensisGroup pioneered expert witness services, establishing the high-touch, curated model that remains the standard for complex litigation support. As the legal landscape continues to evolve with digital platforms and automated tools, understanding this history reveals why the foundational principles established 35 years ago remain essential for high-stakes cases. From its inception, this approach has been guided by a clear purpose: to apply science, engineering, and specialized expertise to uncover what truly happened in complex disputes, supporting outcomes that promote justice, improve safety, and contribute to better real-world outcomes.
Expert witnesses have appeared in U.S. courts since the early 19th century, particularly in cases involving technical or scientific matters.1 For most of this history, the process of finding an expert was entirely informal. Attorneys relied on personal networks, academic contacts, professional associations, and word-of-mouth referrals. This ad-hoc system created significant challenges: searches were time-consuming, quality was inconsistent, and there was no systematic vetting or conflict checking.²
By the late 20th century, as litigation grew more complex and specialized, the limitations of this informal approach became increasingly apparent. Attorneys needed experts in highly specialized fields, but had no centralized resource to identify qualified candidates. The process often took weeks or months, with no guarantee of finding an expert whose credentials would withstand scrutiny.² The legal industry needed a solution, but no formal expert witness services existed.
Expert witness services were pioneered in 1991 when Mercy Tolentino Steenwyk founded ForensisGroup in Pasadena, California. This marked the first time a dedicated firm offered professional expert witness referral services, creating an entirely new industry segment. ForensisGroup's model introduced several innovations that would become industry standards: comprehensive vetting processes, conflict checking, credential verification, ongoing quality evaluation, and curated expert recruitment and sourcing.
At the time, the process of sourcing expert testimony was largely informal and often relied on experts employed by corporations or institutions, an approach that introduced inherent conflicts of interest and limited access to fully independent analysis. Attorneys were frequently constrained to available internal or affiliated experts, rather than those best suited to the case, and in some instances, work was delegated to less qualified staff. Recognizing these structural limitations, Steenwyk envisioned a different model: one built on independence, where experts could provide objective insight free from business pressures, and where selection was driven solely by the pursuit of truth and case-specific alignment. From the outset, her vision was to bring together the best minds to uncover facts, unveil the truth, and contribute to outcomes that promote justice, safety, and fairness, ultimately improving people’s lives.
“When we founded ForensisGroup 35 years ago, there were no expert witness services as we know them today,” said Mercy Tolentino Steenwyk, Founder and CEO of ForensisGroup. “Attorneys were spending countless hours searching for experts through fragmented channels with no quality assurance. We pioneered expert witness services by building a model based on deep relationships, thorough vetting, and personalized service. Our goal was to bring forward independent experts selected for their integrity, their ability to communicate clearly, and their commitment to uncovering the truth. That high-touch, curated approach is what transformed expert witness engagement from an informal practice into a professional service.”
This model was not only operationally different, but purpose-driven. From the beginning, ForensisGroup focused on identifying experts who could apply rigorous scientific and technical analysis to determine what actually occurred in complex situations. This focus on truth and clarity continues to guide the firm’s approach, ensuring that expert insight contributes meaningfully to legal decision-making and broader societal outcomes.
The firm's approach was revolutionary: rather than simply maintaining a directory of self-reported experts, ForensisGroup actively sourced, vetted, and managed expert relationships. The firm listened to case facts, analyzed specific needs, and connected attorneys with carefully curated experts whose qualifications precisely fit the litigation requirements. Experts were selected not only for their credentials, but for their professional integrity, objectivity, and ability to translate complex issues into clear, actionable insight. Operating as an extension of the client’s team, ForensisGroup worked alongside attorneys throughout the engagement by providing ongoing collaboration, insight, and support that defined its high-touch, curated model. This personalized, high-touch approach became the foundation of expert witness services.
Just two years after ForensisGroup's founding, the legal landscape shifted dramatically. The 1993 Supreme Court decision in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. replaced the longstanding Frye standard with a more rigorous framework for admitting expert testimony.³ Under Daubert, judges became "gatekeepers" who must assess whether an expert's methodology is scientifically valid and properly applied to the case at hand.⁴
This ruling reinforced the importance of comprehensive vetting model that ForensisGroup had pioneered when establishing expert witness services. The Daubert standard required exactly what ForensisGroup's process provided: thorough evaluation of expert credentials, methodology, peer review history, error rates, and general acceptance in the relevant field.⁵ What had been a competitive advantage became a necessity. The rigorous vetting processes established by ForensisGroup became the standard for expert witness services, ensuring expert testimony would survive Daubert challenges.
As litigation continued to evolve, cases increasingly required expertise across multiple disciplines. Product liability cases needed engineers, toxicologists, and economists. Environmental disasters required geologists, hydrologists, and regulatory specialists. Construction defect litigation demanded structural engineers, architects, and material scientists working in coordination.
ForensisGroup pioneered the multi-disciplinary expert witness team model for complex litigation, developing specialized capabilities in Business, Engineering & Construction, Environmental, and Science. This innovation provided law firms with a single point of contact for assembling and managing coordinated expert teams, ensuring consistency in testimony and streamlined case preparation. The multi-disciplinary approach became another industry standard, with other firms later adopting similar models.
The firm’s multi-disciplinary approach is best illustrated through its extensive case history. The following milestones demonstrate how ForensisGroup has provided specialized, coordinated expert teams for complex, high-stakes litigation across a wide range of industries.
The past 15 years have seen the emergence of online expert witness directories, automated matching platforms, and AI-powered search tools.⁶ These low-touch digital solutions offer speed and broad access to expert databases. However, they often provide broad access to expert profiles but do not offer the same level of tailored sourcing, customized recruitment, or ongoing case-specific coordination that define professional expert witness services.
ForensisGroup's High touch, High Tech™ curated model remains distinct from these automated approaches. The firm's process centers on human expertise: listening to case details, asking clarifying questions, researching specific qualifications, facilitating consultations, and providing ongoing case management. Experts undergo rigorous qualifying methods and continuous evaluation based on responsiveness, communication ability, professional integrity, and courtroom effectiveness. This level of personalized service and quality assurance cannot be replicated by automated or self-service platforms. The distinction is particularly critical in high-stakes litigation, where expert credibility can determine outcomes.⁷
High Touch reflects ForensisGroup’s focus on understanding the context of each expert need, working with urgency, and collaborating closely with legal teams as part of their process.
High Tech refers to ForensisGroup’s use of cleaner data, structured tools, and disciplined workflows to enable efficient expert identification, vetting, and conflict checking in scientifically and technically intensive matters.
For clients, this approach translates into clear, practical advantages. Attorneys gain a competitive edge through access to highly qualified experts selected through a rigorous, tailored process. The full-service model reduces the burden on legal teams by managing sourcing, vetting, and coordination, allowing attorneys to focus on case strategy. Equally important, this process provides peace of mind that expert opinions are credible, well-supported, and prepared to withstand scrutiny in deposition and trial.
ForensisGroup's 35-year track record of successfully handling over 30,000 cases, with case values ranging from approximately $500 to $40B, demonstrates the enduring value of a curated, high-touch approach that supports stronger case preparation, more confident decision-making, and improved outcomes for clients navigating complex legal matters.
As the legal industry continues to evolve, the fundamental principles established when ForensisGroup pioneered expert witness services remain essential. While technology can enhance efficiency, the core value of expert witness services lies in human judgment, relationship management, and quality curation. The High-Touch, High-Tech™ model pioneered 35 years ago continues to define best practices for complex litigation support.
ForensisGroup's commitment to Nothing But The Truth® reflects the firm’s long-standing commitment to uncovering truth through disciplined expert analysis, prioritizing credibility, integrity, and case-specific expert selection over speed or convenience. This approach, combined with the firm's role as a Force For Good™ in the community, demonstrates that industry leadership extends beyond business success to include professional standards and social responsibility.
Just two years after ForensisGroup's founding, the legal landscape shifted dramatically. The 1993 Supreme Court decision in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. replaced the longstanding Frye standard with a more rigorous framework for admitting expert testimony.³ Under Daubert, judges became "gatekeepers" who must assess whether an expert's methodology is scientifically valid and properly applied to the case at hand.⁴
This ruling reinforced the importance of comprehensive vetting model that ForensisGroup had pioneered when establishing expert witness services. The Daubert standard required exactly what ForensisGroup's process provided: thorough evaluation of expert credentials, methodology, peer review history, error rates, and general acceptance in the relevant field.⁵ What had been a competitive advantage became a necessity. The rigorous vetting processes established by ForensisGroup became the standard for expert witness services, ensuring expert testimony would survive Daubert challenges.
As litigation continued to evolve, cases increasingly required expertise across multiple disciplines. Product liability cases needed engineers, toxicologists, and economists. Environmental disasters required geologists, hydrologists, and regulatory specialists. Construction defect litigation demanded structural engineers, architects, and material scientists working in coordination.
ForensisGroup pioneered the multi-disciplinary expert witness team model for complex litigation, developing specialized capabilities in Business, Engineering & Construction, Environmental, and Science. This innovation provided law firms with a single point of contact for assembling and managing coordinated expert teams, ensuring consistency in testimony and streamlined case preparation. The multi-disciplinary approach became another industry standard, with other firms later adopting similar models.
The firm’s multi-disciplinary approach is best illustrated through its extensive case history. The following milestones demonstrate how ForensisGroup has provided specialized, coordinated expert teams for complex, high-stakes litigation across a wide range of industries.
The past 15 years have seen the emergence of online expert witness directories, automated matching platforms, and AI-powered search tools.⁶ These low-touch digital solutions offer speed and broad access to expert databases. However, they often provide broad access to expert profiles but do not offer the same level of tailored sourcing, customized recruitment, or ongoing case-specific coordination that define professional expert witness services.
ForensisGroup's High touch, High Tech™ curated model remains distinct from these automated approaches. The firm's process centers on human expertise: listening to case details, asking clarifying questions, researching specific qualifications, facilitating consultations, and providing ongoing case management. Experts undergo rigorous qualifying methods and continuous evaluation based on responsiveness, communication ability, professional integrity, and courtroom effectiveness. This level of personalized service and quality assurance cannot be replicated by automated or self-service platforms. The distinction is particularly critical in high-stakes litigation, where expert credibility can determine outcomes.⁷
High Touch reflects ForensisGroup’s focus on understanding the context of each expert need, working with urgency, and collaborating closely with legal teams as part of their process.
High Tech refers to ForensisGroup’s use of cleaner data, structured tools, and disciplined workflows to enable efficient expert identification, vetting, and conflict checking in scientifically and technically intensive matters.
For clients, this approach translates into clear, practical advantages. Attorneys gain a competitive edge through access to highly qualified experts selected through a rigorous, tailored process. The full-service model reduces the burden on legal teams by managing sourcing, vetting, and coordination, allowing attorneys to focus on case strategy. Equally important, this process provides peace of mind that expert opinions are credible, well-supported, and prepared to withstand scrutiny in deposition and trial.
ForensisGroup's 35-year track record of successfully handling over 30,000 cases, with case values ranging from approximately $500 to $40B, demonstrates the enduring value of a curated, high-touch approach that supports stronger case preparation, more confident decision-making, and improved outcomes for clients navigating complex legal matters.
As the legal industry continues to evolve, the fundamental principles established when ForensisGroup pioneered expert witness services remain essential. While technology can enhance efficiency, the core value of expert witness services lies in human judgment, relationship management, and quality curation. The High-Touch, High-Tech™ model pioneered 35 years ago continues to define best practices for complex litigation support.
ForensisGroup's commitment to Nothing But The Truth® reflects the firm’s long-standing commitment to uncovering truth through disciplined expert analysis, prioritizing credibility, integrity, and case-specific expert selection over speed or convenience. This approach, combined with the firm's role as a Force For Good™ in the community, demonstrates that industry leadership extends beyond business success to include professional standards and social responsibility.
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