Ian R. C. Kawaley became Bermuda's Chief Justice on April 1, 2012 after serving as a Judge of the Commercial Court, a division of the Supreme Court of Bermuda.

Born in Bermuda, he was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 1978, and the Bermuda Bar in 1980. After attending Oundle School in England, he obtained an LL.B (Hons.) Degree from Liverpool University (1977), an LL.M Degree from the London School of Economics & Political Science (1979), and a Ph. D in Law from London University (External) (1999).

Prior to his appointment to the Bench in 2003, he served as Litigation Counsel to the Bermudian law firms Milligan‐Whyte & Smith, and Juris Law Chambers. In that capacity, he appeared before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, specializing in insolvency cases with an international dimension. His earlier career was spent as a government lawyer (in Bermuda and Seychelles), and as a legal aid practitioner with Browne & Wade Chambers (Bermuda) and in the Chambers of Sibghat Kadri Q.C. (11 Kings Bench Walk, Temple, London).

Justice Kawaley is the co‐editor (with Gabriel Moss Q.C., Howard Seife and Nigel Montgomery) of ‘Cross‐Frontier Insolvency of Insurance Companies’ (Sweet & Maxwell: London, 2001). He is a regular presenter at international insolvency conferences, and is the author of numerous articles on commercial, constitutional and public international law. His other publications include ‘The Fair Cross‐section Principle: Trial by Special Jury and the Right to a Fair Criminal Trial under the Bermuda Constitution’ (1989) 38 International and Comparative Law Quarterly 522; 'The Implications of the Exclusive Economic Zone and EEZ Management for Bermuda, a Small Mid‐ocean Island Commonwealth Territory' (1995) 26 Ocean Development & International Law 227‐254; ‘The Rule of Law, Judicial Independence and Bermuda’s Early Constitutional History’ (2006) Bermuda Journal of Archaeology & Maritime Science 50‐66; and ‘Judicial Cooperation in Cross‐Border Insolvency Cases: Recent Developments’ (2007) 20 Insolvency Intelligence 213 (October 2007).

In 2004, he served as the Vice‐Chairman of the Justice Review Commission Report, commissioned by then Attorney‐General the Honourable Senator Larry Mussenden. He is currently Chairman of the Law Reform Committee. Married with one son, Justice Kawaley is an impartial supporter of the best football team in the English Premier League.Ian R. C. Kawaley is a Judge of the Commercial Court, a division of the Supreme Court of Bermuda.

Born in Bermuda, he was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 1978, and the Bermuda Bar in 1980. After attending Oundle School in England, he obtained an LL.B (Hons.) Degree from Liverpool University (1977), an LL.M Degree from the London School of Economics & Political Science (1979), and a Ph. D in Law from London University (External) (1999).

Prior to his appointment to the Bench in 2003, he served as Litigation Counsel to the Bermudian law firms Milligan‐Whyte & Smith, and Juris Law Chambers. In that capacity, he appeared before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, specializing in insolvency cases with an international dimension. His earlier career was spent as a government lawyer (in Bermuda and Seychelles), and as a legal aid practitioner with Browne & Wade Chambers (Bermuda) and in the Chambers of Sibghat Kadri Q.C. (11 Kings Bench Walk, Temple, London).

Justice Kawaley is the co‐editor (with Gabriel Moss Q.C., Howard Seife and Nigel Montgomery) of ‘Cross‐Frontier Insolvency of Insurance Companies’ (Sweet & Maxwell: London, 2001). He is a regular presenter at international insolvency conferences, and is the author of numerous articles on commercial, constitutional and public international law. His other publications include ‘The Fair Cross‐section Principle: Trial by Special Jury and the Right to a Fair Criminal Trial under the Bermuda Constitution’ (1989) 38 International and Comparative Law Quarterly 522; 'The Implications of the Exclusive Economic Zone and EEZ Management for Bermuda, a Small Mid‐ocean Island Commonwealth Territory' (1995) 26 Ocean Development & International Law 227‐254; ‘The Rule of Law, Judicial Independence and Bermuda’s Early Constitutional History’ (2006) Bermuda Journal of Archaeology & Maritime Science 50‐66; and ‘Judicial Cooperation in Cross‐Border Insolvency Cases: Recent Developments’ (2007) 20 Insolvency Intelligence 213 (October 2007).

In 2004, he served as the Vice‐Chairman of the Justice Review Commission Report, commissioned by then Attorney‐General the Honourable Senator Larry Mussenden. He is currently Chairman of the Law Reform Committee. Married with one son, Justice Kawaley is an impartial supporter of the best football team in the English Premier League.