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The Honourable A S Bell becomes an Honorary Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn

The Treasurer, in black suit and red tie, introducing The Hon Andrew Bell, in grey suit and blue tie, to Hall on the wood paneled dias in Lincoln's Inn Great Hall
The Treasurer introducing The Hon Andrew Bell to Hall

The Honourable Andrew Bell, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, has been published as an Honorary Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn. The Treasurer introduced him to Hall at lunchtime today, Wednesday 5 July, after which he was shown a selection of the Inn’s rare books and manuscripts by the Inn’s Librarian, Dunstan Speight.

The Hon A S Bell smiling. He wears glasses, a grey suit, blue tie and white shirt.

About The Honourable A S Bell

The Hon. Andrew Bell was sworn in as Chief Justice of New South Wales on 7 March 2022. Prior to being appointed as Chief Justice, his Honour was President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, having been appointed to that position on 28 February 2019. His Honour is also the Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales, President of the Judicial Commission and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.

His Honour graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws, receiving First Class Honours and the University Medal in both degrees, and was also awarded the Sydney University Convocation Medal. He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University where he graduated in 1993 with First Class Honours in the BCL, also being awarded the Vinerian Scholarship for first place in that degree. His Honour completed his doctorate the following year with his thesis forming the basis for his subsequent book Forum Shopping and Venue in Transnational Litigation published by Oxford University Press. He is also co-author of Nygh’s Conflict of Laws in Australia.

Since 2008, his Honour has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Sydney Law School and has taught part-time and also published extensively, especially in relation to private international law/conflict of laws, transnational litigation and international arbitration.

His Honour was admitted to the Bar in 1995 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2006. During his time at the Bar, his Honour had a broad national practice at trial and appellate levels, and was also engaged in numerous international arbitrations. At the time of his appointment to the Bench, his Honour was Senior Vice-President of the New South Wales Bar Association.

Beyond the law, the Chief Justice is an avid cricket fan and was formerly the long-time Chairman of Sculpture by the Sea.