International Depositions – Should You Attend in Person or Remotely?

International depositions involve several logistical steps which are not a concern when planning depositions in the U.S.  One of the issues to address is whether you should attend your overseas deposition in person.  Travel is a big expense, which could be a major concern for your client.  It is possible to remove that expense if remote attendance is practical.  Read on for points to be considered when determining whether you should attend your international depositions in person.

Attend Remotely: If the deposition will run 4 hours or less, remote attendance is an excellent option.  Additional factors increase the appeal of remote attendance.  If visa requirements are strenuous and time consuming, remote attendance becomes a more attractive option.  If there are few exhibits, and no concerns about witness coaching, remote attendance looks better and better.  If cost is a concern for your client, remote attendance will certainly appeal to them!  If there is no interpreter, this makes remote attendance simpler, as there will likely be fewer interruptions.  If you do decide to attend the deposition remotely, it is necessary that high speed, stable internet is available for all participants, to ensure a smooth connection and no interruptions or delays.

Attend in Person: Conversely, if the deposition is expected to run more than 4 hours, remote attendance is less appealing.  If there are no visa requirements, it is easier to attend the deposition in person.  If there are several exhibits, any concerns over witness coaching, and the witness requires an interpreter, attendance in person is usually the better option.  If cost is not a huge concern for your client, that also removes a big deterrent to attendance in person.

In either event, it is always recommended that the reporter, videographer, and interpreter (if applicable) are with the witness.  This ensures a more accurate interpretation and transcript, as well as fewer interruptions and delays, and higher quality audio and video.  This also helps in dealing with exhibits, whether few or many, as the reporter or videographer can print them and have them at the deposition.    Additionally, if using mobile videoconferencing to participate in the deposition, having the videographer with the witness means he or she can also act as technician to monitor the connection and keep the videoconference running smoothly.  Realtime text, audio and video can be streamed to remote participants.  To eliminate or at least minimize travel costs for the reporter, videographer and interpreter, work with an international firm with court reporting teams living throughout the world.

If you are attending the deposition in person, consider asking the local reporting team for restaurant recommendations, as well as interesting sites to visit during your stay, if you will have the time.  Court reporters and videographers do a lot of traveling and can steer you in the right direction to do some memorable sightseeing!  They can also help coordinate details regarding conference room reservations, allowing you more time to prepare for your deposition, and get in some good local cuisine and tourist time.

For more information on international depositions, please contact Planet Depos International Scheduling at 888.433.3767 or international@planetdepos.com.