Mark Potter (judge) - Legal Career

Legal Career

He was called to the bar in 1961 and practised in commercial law at Fountain Court chambers. He took silk in 1980.

From 1988 to 1996 he was a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division and from 1991 to 1994 he was a Presiding Judge on the Northern Circuit. Sir Mark was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in 1996 and became President of the Family Division in April 2005. Throughout his judicial career, Sir Mark has sat on various committees overseeing the direction of the Bar. He has been Chairman of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct (1998–1999) and Chairman of the Legal Services Consultative Panel.

He was elected Treasurer of Gray's Inn for the year 2004/05, during which time he persuaded the then Interior Minister and subsequent Prime Minister of France, Dominique de Villepin, to become an honorary Bencher of the Inn. De Villepin accepted the honour in person with a speech in Gray's Inn.

Sir Mark Potter retired as a judge of the Court of Appeal, President of the High Court Family Division and President of the Court of Protection in April 2010. He returned to the field of Commercial Law as an arbitrator at Fountain Court chambers, with appointments in areas such as insurance, international share purchase agreements including Bermuda form and energy disputes.