Sir Bernard practised as a barrister (QC 1990) for almost 35 years specialising in commercial litigation and IA covering a wide range of commercial disputes including shipping, international trade, insurance/reinsurance, banking, construction (including shipbuilding), commodities and energy law. Recorder in 1996 and a Justice of the High Court of England and Wales (QBD) in 2011. In 2015 he was appointed International Judge at the SICC and in 2016, he became a full time arbitrator.