Laboratories are frequently asked to provide technical answers, expertise and/or testimony in legal proceedings. Our in-house experts offer a wide range of knowledge and expertise in each of our lines of business - environmental, food safety and science, Industrial Hygiene, DNA and Oil and Petrochemicals. Their extensive knowledge has been retained on many occasions. Bureau Veritas expert witnesses:
Alan Segrave
P.G.
Division Manager, Laboratory Services
Alan Segrave
P.G.
Division Manager, Laboratory Services
Alan Segrave is the Division Manager for the Bureau Veritas Microscopy Laboratory. Alan has earned his B.S. in Geology from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, and is a Professional Geologist with 29 years of experience in environmental laboratory management, consulting and business development.
Alan’s specialization is in materials characterization, asbestos identification and nano materials analysis by electron microscopy. His extensive knowledge in mineral identification has allowed him to serve as an expert witness in product liability and personal injury cases in numerous states and federal jurisdictions.
Since 1992, he is an active member of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and currently serves as Vice Chairman of D22.07, Sampling and Analytical Committee for Asbestos.
He is the principal author of ASTM D7521-13 “Test Method for Determination of Asbestos in Soils,” and has assisted in developing ASTM 5755/5756 methods. In addition, he is a technical member of ASTM Committee E54 on Nanotechnology and AIHA Nanotechnology Working Group; plus he is also a member of the Expert Panel for Talc for the United States Pharmacopoeia, where methods are being developed for quantifying asbestos in talc.
His expertise also pertains to nanomaterials characterization and method development by electron microscopy – examples of materials, include carbon nanotubes, graphene, titanium dioxide and other metal oxides.
Given Alan’s in-depth knowledge of asbestos mineral identification in air, dust, water and bulk matrices, he has been retained as an expert witness by both plaintiff and defense firms for matters involving asbestos-related product liability, personal injury and product identification cases. He has provided his subject matter expertise in various states, including California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and West Virginia.
Barry Loescher
Ph.D., C.Chem
Quality Systems Specialist
Barry Loescher
Ph.D., C.Chem
Quality Systems Specialist
Barry Loescher holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Toronto and is a Professional Chemist with over 30 years experience in Environmental analysis. In his role as Quality Systems Specialist he provides technical oversight and support for our quality program. He also acts as our regulatory guidelines specialist, providing valuable input and comprehensive reviews to environmental platforms, and updates to Bureau Veritas staff and customers. Often times, Barry has been directly engaged by regulatory bodies in peer review procedures and to offer a critical review of proposed amendments.
In addition to his liaison role with regulatory bodies at the Provincial and Federal level, Barry was the primary author of both the CCME1 and OMOECC2 methods compendia. He is widely known and respected in the industry and as such is the Chair of the Environmental Division of CCIL (the laboratory trade association) and a member of the CALA Board of Directors.
1 Guidance Manual for Environmental Site Characterization in Support of Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment – Volume 4 Analytical Methods
2 Protocol for Analytical Methods Used in the Assessment of Properties under Part XV.1 of the Environmental Protection Act
Taras Obal
Ph.D., MCIC, C. Chem
Chief Science Advisor
Taras Obal
Ph.D., MCIC, C. Chem
Chief Science Advisor
Terry provides strategic oversight of all our environmental R&D projects and is responsible for ensuring our efforts in this area meet the needs of our customers. R&D initiatives focus on increasing analytical sensitivity, reducing time and costs for field work and improving overall site characterization.
Terry has a Ph.D. in Chemistry and is a Chartered Chemist under the Association of the Chemical Profession of Ontario (ACPO). He is currently President of ACPO. Terry is also a member of the Chemical Institute of Canada, a member on the National Advisory Committee on the Profession of Chemistry in Canada (NACPCC), and a member of the SCC working group for Test Method Development, Evaluation and Non-Routine Testing. He represents Bureau Veritas Laboratories with a number of key industry associations including ONEIA.