Bernard Pressman

Bernard Pressman

Call: 2004

Bernard Pressman is a specialist personal injury practitioner.

Bernard acts for both claimants and defendants at every stage in proceedings, from pre-litigation up to and including appeals. He has a reputation for being thorough, with great attention to detail, and is well-known for his style and effectiveness in cross examination. Bernard prides himself on achieving positive results for his clients in the most difficult of cases.

Bernard is very approachable and is adept at putting clients at ease, all the while offering robust and commercially sensible advice.

Bernard is able to assist with every aspect of drafting (including complex schedules of loss), and every type of court hearing, including costs and case management hearings (where he is happy to negotiate costs budgets and budget discussion reports), directions hearings, application hearings, trials, costs assessments and appeals. Bernard also attends inquests and pre-inquest review hearings.

Bernard is often able to provide a quick turnaround on advice, be it on liability, quantum or general tactics, where time is of the essence. Bernard regularly holds conferences in chambers for clients, solicitors and medical experts. Where preferred or required, hosting conferences remotely, whether by telephone or by video call, can be arranged.

Bernard encourages, and regularly hosts, joint settlement meetings, and negotiates very favourable settlements for his clients. These can be arranged in-person at chambers, or can be arranged remotely. Bernard is happy to attend JSMs at other locations too, such as at solicitor’s offices.

Bernard has a strong knowledge base regarding the Civil Procedure Rules and has a particular interest in dealing with matters relating to fundamental dishonesty, the application of QOCS (qualified one-way costs shifting), parts 44.15 and 44.16 of the Civil Procedure Rules, and section 57 of the Criminal Justice & Courts Act 2015. He has advised, both in writing and in conference, and appeared in court, a great many times on the issue of fundamental dishonesty and fraud. He also delivered a talk on this subject to Her Majesty’s Association of District Judges.

He is an accredited trainer with the Inns of Court College of Advocacy.


Expertise

Bernard is instructed across the breadth of personal injury work, acting as preferred counsel for many of the country’s leading insurers, as well as acting for individual claimants. Bernard appears at trials and interlocutory matters on the fast track, multi-track and in the High Court. Bernard has a reputation for being a tenacious, and thorough advocate, his expertise is regularly sought to find remedies in complex matters.

Bernard has a special interest and expertise in fundamental dishonesty cases.  He has persuaded courts to make findings of fundamental dishonesty on dozens of occasions. Bernard was invited to address His Majesty’s Association of District Judges on this topic and the talk, attended by the Lord Chief Justice, and hundreds of judges from across England and Wales, was very-well received. Bernard’s expertise in this area means that he is preferred counsel for several top law firms and insurers. Bernard is able to provide expert advice on issues such as notice, or pleadings of, fundamental dishonesty and the applicability of section 57 of the Criminal Justice & Courts Act 2015.

Bernard has been regularly instructed on credit hire matters throughout his career and has significant experience, together with a strong knowledge base of all the usual issues, including rate, period, mitigation, need and enforceability.

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Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. To see my privacy notice click here.

  • Inns of Court School of Law – Bar Vocational Course
  • King’s College – Masters in Corporate & Commercial Law

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