Bernard Pressman

Bernard is a specialist personal injury practitioner. Called in 2004, he has many years of experience, appearing in court frequently. 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.

Further information

Qualifications

Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law, London
LLB (Hons); LLM Corporate & Commercial Law, King’s College
Accredited trainer with the Inns of Court College of Advocacy

Memberships

The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
PIBA (Personal Injury Bar Association)

Interests

Bernard enjoys travel, film, food and drink, football, cricket, tennis and chess. He is a keen runner and is a Parkrun enthusiast, gunning for his 250 milestone tee-shirt.

Clinical Negligence

Bernard accepts instructions from both claimants and defendants across the full spectrum of clinical negligence matters. He is able to provide advice and appear at trials, as well as inquests and interlocutory hearings, in disputes involving:

Catastrophic birth injury;
Misdiagnosis;
Delay in provision of treatment;
Unnecessary treatment;
Failure to obtain informed consent;
Negligent surgery, including cosmetic surgery;
Delay in diagnosis;
Delay in treatment
Misdiagnosis;
Injury or death from negligent treatment.

Personal Injury

Bernard was called to the bar in 2004 and has been a specialist personal injury practitioner throughout his time at the bar. Bernard has amassed a wealth of experience, acting for both claimants and defendants, in every type of personal injury action and in courts across the jurisdiction. Bernard’s practice also includes pursuing and defending professional negligence claims arising from personal injury actions. Bernard is able to provide written advice or advice in conference, with lay clients and expert witnesses alike. He also accepts instructions to act in all types of applications and interlocutory hearings, including CCMCs, JSMs, trials, appeals and costs matters. Bernard’s main areas of expertise are:

Serious spinal injuries;
Brain injuries;
Catastrophic and fatal injuries;
Fraudulent claims – with a specialty in cases involving fundamental dishonesty and applications under section 57 of the Criminal Justice & Courts Act 2015;
Cases involving complex causation arguments;
Serious pain disorders, such as somatoform disorder, chronic pain syndrome and fibromyalgia;
Psychiatric conditions;
Road traffic accidents and related insurance claims;
Product liability claims;
Employer’s liability claims.