Skip to main content

Facilitator Guide

Defending a Corporate Deposition

What’s covered

  • What to aim for while defending a corporate deposition
  • What to avoid while defending a corporate deposition
  • What to do if a corporate witness doesn’t know an answer
  • Dealing with questions outside the scope of the corporate deposition
  • Dealing with confidential and highly confidential topics at a corporate deposition
  • Using re-direct at a corporate deposition

Before the session

Prepare the Attendees

Send the attendees an invitation for the session. Include this link, which has the videos and exercise they’ll need to prepare.

https://www.hotshotlegal.com/discussions/defending-a-corporate-deposition/attendee

Prepare Yourself

Watch the videos and read the exercise so you’re familiar with the Hotshot material.

  • still frame from Defending a Corporate Deposition

    Course

    Defending a Corporate Deposition

    Strategies and procedures for defending a corporate witness, including what to do when your witness doesn’t know the answer, questions outside the scope of topics, and rehabilitating the witness through re-direct.

  • Icon of a document

    Exercise

    PDF

During the session

Part 1: Knowledge Check

Ask attendees these questions to ensure they understand the topic:

  • What is your role when defending a corporate deposition?
  • What outcomes do you want to avoid when defending a corporate deposition?
  • What are your options if a corporate witness doesn’t know the answer?
  • How do you deal with confidential and highly confidential information at a corporate deposition?
  • How would you use re-direct at a corporate deposition?

Part 2: Group Exercise

Lead a group discussion based on the exercise. To encourage collaboration, divide the attendees into groups to discuss the exercise, then have a representative from each group summarize their views to the larger group. Call on people to share their thoughts and ask others to respond.

Tip for remote sessions: use your web conferencing system’s breakout room feature to divide people into groups.

Part 3: War Stories and Firm Specifics

Share your own experiences and guidance, including:

  • Anecdotes and war stories (e.g., about a near-disaster or a tough negotiation)
  • General practice tips (dos and don’ts)
  • Firm-specific guidance and practices

After the session

To continue their learning, attendees can check out related courses in Hotshot’s Depositions topic.