Bernhard Maier

Bernhard is a Partner and head of the arbitration practice at Browne Jacobson.

Bernhard has nearly two decades of experience in complex international dispute resolution and public international law, with a particular focus on the natural resources, technology and healthcare sectors. Bernhard is also a visiting professor at King’s College, London, a member of the UK Attorney General’s C Panel for Public International law and regularly sits as an arbitrator in commercial arbitrations.

Bernhard is recommended in legal directories as “a very smart litigation attorney” who is “deeply knowledgeable and technically skilled” (Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) 2024). Bernhard’s advice is described as “precise, to the point and very valuable” in the Legal500 directory.

Bernhard has acted for claimant and respondent parties in a wide range of commercial and investment treaty disputes (including under the Energy Charter Treaty and ICSID, UNCITRAL, SIAC, ICC, LCIA, VIAC, DIS and AAA Rules), as well as in related cross-border litigation and enforcement matters.

Recent highlights of Bernhard’s practice include securing a significant damages award on behalf of the founders of leading fintech startup in Asia, advising an oil and gas company in two parallel multi-billion-dollar arbitrations against a Central Asian State and representing a leading mining company in a US$350m UNCITRAL arbitration against a West African State.

Bernhard is qualified to practise in England and Wales and New York. He speaks English, German and Spanish, is widely published and regularly speaks at leading industry events, both in London and abroad. Prior to joining Browne Jacobson, Bernhard practised in leading disputes boutiques, international law firms and international organisations in Berlin, Brussels and New York.