FASD Expert Witness Services operates as a network model, bringing together: Clinical psychologists, Chartered psychologists, Forensic psychologists, Psychiatrists, Research/Academic Psychologists, Neurodevelopmental specialists, Educational psychologists, Social workers with FASD expertise, Legal professionals with neurodiversity experience, Each case is matched with the most appropriate expert(s), ensuring tailored, credible input.
Dr. David Junior Gilbert is a chartered psychologist, formally trained expert witness (Bond Solon–trained), and BPS-certified Forensic Test User. This is in addition to his role as University Fellow and Lecturer in Forensic Psychology at the University of Salford, Manchester, England. Gilbert’s Doctoral research was focused on the exploration of the vulnerabilities of individuals with FASD to, and within justice system. His research work was the first globally to experimentally evidence suggestibility and confabulation in individuals with FASD immediately and after one week of reassessment. His PhD work received the Professor Lindsey Dugdill Memorial Award for Outstanding Doctoral Studies (2024). He is a member of the academic network of Her Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS), Society for Evidence-Based policing, Neurodivergence in the Criminal Justice Network, and SalfordFASD research group. Gilbert has served as expert witness in a number of legal cases including tribunal cases within England.
Dr Cassie Jackson is a clinical director at the Psychology Clinic of East Anglia, providing expert witness services to courts and professionals. She also specialises in paediatric neuropsychology and neurodevelopmental disorders including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) [Neurodevelopmental Assessment Service]. Dr Jackson is an HCPC registered practitioner psychologist and has chartered membership with the British Psychological Society, for whom she is also an Associate Fellow. She holds a post-doctoral diploma in Paediatric Neuropsychology.In addition to being clinical director at PCEA and clinical lead for our neurodevelopmental service, Dr Jackson also holds a part-time role with the Surrey FASD Clinic. She is a member of the National FASD Experts Committee, working closely with the National Organisation for FASD, FASD Southwest, FASD UK Alliance and other affiliated organisations.
Dr Jackson additionally has the expertise in the psychological assessment of adults, families and children of all ages for the family courts. This includes providing an understanding of often complex dynamics which may be maintaining poor functioning within family systems, including parental capacity for change. Dr Jackson has extensive experience in receiving instructions with the following areas of difficulty:
Fabricated/ induced illness, domestic violence and abuse within relationships, controlling and coercive behaviour, substance misuse (drugs and/ or alcohol), mental health difficulties, neglect, early childhood trauma and abuse, non-accidental injury and neurodiversity.Dr Jackson has almost twenty years of experience in assessing for a range of neurodevelopmental conditions [Neurodevelopmental Assessment Services] and advising on best support and management following diagnosis. She has specific expertise in the assessment and diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Uzma is a UK-qualified lawyer with over 15 years’ professional experience in the commercial and not-for-profit sector. She holds a part-time Judicial Appointment as a Senior Member of the Valuation Tribunal, England is currently the In-House Head of Legal for a Commercial Company. She completed her LLB (Law) at King’s College London and went on to obtain an LLM (Public International Law) with Distinction at the London School of Economics, where she was awarded the Derby/Bryce Prize, the Higgins Lauterpacht Prize; and the Georg Swarzenberger Prize. She completed the Legal Practice Course with Distinction at the University of Law she was awarded the Roger Leylan Award for most outstanding student. She went on to train and qualify as a solicitor at Clifford Chance LLP, which included a secondment to the civil liberties organisation, Liberty. Uzma has previously worked at the UNHCR, London, and the United National International Criminal Tribunal at the Hague, Netherlands. In recent times, she has volunteered as a researcher at Coram International undertaking research on international children’s rights and currently sits as a Panel Member for One Adoption West Yorkshire and Infinity Foster Care.
Tania Goddard is a UK-qualified solicitor with a master’s degree in psychology and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Forensic Psychology and the legal profession. Tania has experience of working as a Court Clerk in a Magistrates Court and prosecuting for a Local Authority. Having emigrated to New Zealand, she gained extensive experience of working in legal publishing, editing the New Zealand Criminal Law Review, New Zealand Lawyer, and contributing to the New Zealand Family Law Reports and Business Law Review. On having her own family Tania studied child development through the New Zealand Playcentre Association, learning the value of early child education and the value of child-initiated play. On her return to the UK, she worked in education supporting students 1:1 of all ages with Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Following this period of study, and on further investigation, it became clear that there is currently no agreement on how FASD should be considered in the Courtroom around the world and in England and Wales. It also became clear that there is a lack of knowledge and inadequate training for those involved in the legal process, including the police, prosecutors, defence solicitors and barristers, judges, expert witnesses and juries. Using her experience of working within the Criminal Justice System Tania is pursuing a PhD exploring the common law doctrine of fitness to plead and investigating whether FASD is a barrier to receiving justice within the criminal court in England and Wales. Tania is a member of The Law Society, British Psychological Society, JUSTICE and the Criminal Justice Alliance.
