Bernard Pressman

Bernard is a specialist personal injury and clinical negligence practitioner. He has a considerable amount of experience, having been in court frequently throughout his practice, and having acted for both claimants and defendants at every stage in proceedings, from pre-litigation up to and including appeals. He is a thorough advocate, well-known for his style and effectiveness in cross examination, and prides himself on getting results in the most difficult of cases. Bernard is able to assist with every aspect of drafting, attend court for interlocutory matters, trials, costs matters and appeals.

Talks

Bernard is happy to deliver talks across a wide variety of topics related to any aspect of his practice. Bernard can deliver talks at a client’s office or is equally content to host people in Chambers (where there will be wine). Bernard is an accredited trainer with the Inns of Court College of Advocacy and is able to lecture on advocacy skills too.

Further information

Qualifications

Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law, London, ‘Very Competent’ – 2nd in year for Civil Litigation
Recipient of the Domitius Ulpianus Scholarship Award
LLB (Hons); LLM Corporate & Commercial Law, King’s College, London

Memberships

The Honorable Society of the Middle Temple
PIBA

Interests

Bernard enjoys travel, film, cooking, football, cricket, tennis and chess.

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.