Bernard Weatherill QC is hugely experienced in most of the fields of commercial and general chancery practice and is recommended as a leading silk by the legal directories.  Bernard represented some 150 Lloyd’s Names in the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal in their efforts to amend their pleadings to allege negligent misrepresentation against Lloyd’s, a case involving numerous and complex points on limitation of actions and immunity from the suit, as well as serious Human Rights Act issues.  Demonstrating the breadth of his practice, more recently amongst other matters he has been retained to advise members of the Queen’s Club in their dispute with the LTA regarding the latter’s title to sell the club’s assets, has acted in a professional negligence claim against solicitors and accountants arising out of a failed MBI, in a negligence claim against piling contractors who damaged a water authority's sewer, for a joint lottery winner in her successful efforts to force recognition of her interest in the winning sum, and in a long-running minority shareholders' dispute raising a host of important issues relating to the discharge  by nominee directors of their fiduciary duties and the valuation of the company's shares.  His current workload includes a professional negligence claim against a major firm of accountants in respect of a share valuation.

His experience as a non-executive director of a listed plc and of the Bar Services Co Ltd enables him to give particularly cogent advice on commercial and boardroom disputes.

The Directories

Another of the stable's respected general commercial and chancery litigators is Bernard Weatherill QC, a "conscientious, persuasive and intelligent lawyer."  What particularly impresses clients about him is his commerciality.  One stated: "He has all the requisite academic and technical ability that one expects of an eminent QC, but he is also practical and understands the real world."  (Chambers & Partners 2010) 

Bernard Weatherill QC "has great stength and depth in Chancery matters", whilst also "not shy in providing frank and commercial advice"  (Legal 500, 2009)

He is widely seen as "a model of reliability."  (Chambers & Partners 2009)

Bernard Weatherill QC is a "likeable and established practitioner whom the court listens and pays attention to."  (Chambers & Partners 2009)

Bernard Weatherill QC is "an experienced and wise advisor with wonderful gravitas".  He has "extensive knowledge of estates and real property matters" (Chambers & Partners 2007)

Areas of Emphasis                  

• Commercial and business disputes         
• Property litigation
• Company and insolvency
• Professional negligence
• Contentious trust and probate
• The law relating to clubs and unincorporated associations

Career & Associations

• BA (law) at the University of Kent
• Called to the Bar in 1974
• Silk 1996
• FCIArb and accredited Mediator
• Chancery Bar Association (past member of the ChBA Committee)
• Professional Negligence Bar Association
• Property Bar Association
• Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS)
• Past Member of the Bar Council and of the Professional Conduct Committee.

Appointments

• Appointed Recorder in 2000
• Bencher of The Honourable Society of The Middle Temple
• Legal Assessor to the Discipline and Appeals Committee of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers
• Non-Executive director of A Cohen & Co plc 1990-2000
• Chairman and Board Member of the Bar Services Co. Ltd 2000-2008
• Non-Executive director of Croydon Business Venture Ltd 2009-

Relevant Experience

• Regular speaker at conferences, seminars and courses arranged by professional conference organisers, professional associations and in-house.
• Member of the panels of arbitrators and mediators maintained by The Institute of Arbitrators Commercial Arbitration Scheme, The Sports Dispute Resolution Panel and Arbitration for Commerce & Industry