Originally from Take the Witness: Cross Examination In International Arbitration

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The business of preparing a witness for cross-examination begins with the very first encounter between counsel and the prospective witness. Counsel should be conscious from the outset that his manner of dealing with the witness, his calm aura of professional competence, his command of the issues and the relevant documents, is likely to have an impact on the self confidence, the ease, and general demeanor of the witness when, weeks or months later, he undergoes cross-examination. Counsel will also be conscious of the possibility that his discussions with the witness may themselves be the subject of inquiry on cross-examination.  In short, everything that counsel does and says in the presence of a potential witness should be designed to assist the witness in responding confidently, coherently, credibly and, above all, truthfully to the questions that eventually will be put to him.