Background
Sir Bernard Eder became a member of the IML in 2015. He originally qualified as a barrister in 1976 when he joined what was then called 4 Essex Court – now renamed Essex Court Chambers. He practised as a barrister for almost 35 years – between 1976 and 2010 - specialising in commercial litigation and international arbitration with a particular interest in shipping, international trade, banking, energy (oil and gas) and insurance/reinsurance. In 1991, he was appointed Queen's Counsel. During his practice at the English Bar, he acted as Counsel in over 100 reported cases (including in the Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords and the Privy Council) and over 200 international arbitrations.
In 2011, he was appointed a Judge of the High Court of England and Wales. He retired from the Bench in April 2015. During his time as a High Court Judge, he sat mainly in the Commercial Court in London where he presided over a number of high-profile trials.
He continues to sit in the Commercial Court from time to time and has also now rejoined Essex Court Chambers as an arbitrator/mediator. In May 2015, he was appointed an International Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court; and in June 2016, he was appointed an Acting Judge in the Commercial Court, British Virgin Islands. He is currently the Senior Editor of the leading shipping textbook, Scrutton on Charterparties & Bills of Lading; and the Chair of ARIAS(UK).
Contact
Sir Bernard Eder
Institute of Maritime Law
Southampton Law School
University of Southampton
Highfield Campus
Southampton SO17 1BJ
United Kingdom