DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) Expert Witnesses: 2

As a Board-Certified Forensic Document Examiner (D-ABFDE) and Ink Chemist and Document Dating Specialist with over 33 years of experience, both Todd Welch and Gerry Laporte are world leaders in high profile extremely complex document cases.

Riley Welch LaPorte & Associates is the leading global forensic document firm having conducted high profile multi-billion-dollar cases in the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Canada, Netherlands, Hungary, Israel, Switzerland, and Denmark. We are considered a top-tier firm having conducted work for foreign governments, and are recognized globally by the most prominent law firms in the world for providing the highest level of forensic document examination services to both governmental and private entities.

Areas of Expertise:

Committed to fostering education and promoting justice, both Todd Welch and Gerry Laporte contribute to the advancement of forensic science through leadership roles, including service on the BOD for the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners and American Society of Questioned Document Examiners; served as the 40th President of the Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists (Welch); and served as members of the National Institute of Justice Forensic Science Technology Working Group.

Both Todd Welch and Gerry Laporte have testified as expert witnesses in numerous notable international ICSID cases (ICSID Case No ARB/06/8, ICSID Case No ARB/14/22, PCA Arbitration Case No 2020-21_The Hague) involving forensic document examination, handwriting analysis, ink dating, and forgery detection. Their experience includes testifying before government officials, international tribunals, arbitrations, and mediations. Their testimony has been presented in courts worldwide handling a wide variety of legal matters including: defamation, investment law, insurance law, medical malpractice suits, will disputes, estate disputes, contract and patent disputes, trademark disputes, divorce disputes, and trade secrets cases. 

Gerry Laporte and Todd Welch have international notoriety and have testified in major courts such as the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) under UNCITRAL Rules, the International Criminal Court (ICC), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and appellate courts in Illinois and Washington D.C., among others. Their involvement in high-stakes litigation across multiple geographical jurisdictions, confirms their reputation and widespread professional acceptance worldwide.

George Schiro is a DNA Technical Leader - Forensic Scientist. His duties include incorporating the DNA Advisory Board (DAB) standards, accountability for the technical operations of the lab, conducting DNA analysis using the 13 STR core loci and Y STR in casework, DNA research, forensic science training and crime scene investigation.

Mr. Schiro has worked over 3500 cases and has qualified as an expert over 175 times in 31 Louisiana parish courts, Arkansas, California, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Texas, West Virginia, federal court, U.S. court-martial, and two Louisiana city courts. Has also consulted on cases in 29 states.

Qualified as an Expert in the Following Areas: