Bernadette Barker is a Chartered Architect, Chartered Building Engineer, Chartered Arbitrator, and accredited Adjudicator with over 35 years’ professional experience in the construction industry.

She acts as an expert witness, arbitrator, adjudicator, mediator, and Principal Designer under the CDM Regulations.

Her expertise covers:

Construction law & dispute resolution: Adjudication, arbitration, mediation, contract disputes, construction adjudication, JCT contracts, construction contracts, project coordination, professional negligence.
Building defects & regulatory compliance: Building and cladding defects, external wall surveys, EWS1 forms, cavity barriers, drainage issues, Building Safety Act matters.
Fire safety & risk management: Fire precautions, fire safety legislation, fire risk assessment, means of escape, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, health and safety compliance.
Design & project delivery: Design and build projects, CDM Regulations, site audits, construction site audits, retail, residential, hotel, office, and restaurant developments.

Appointments & Panels
Practising Member of The Academy of Experts.
RIBA Register of Expert Witnesses.
CIArb Presidential Panel of Construction Adjudicators.
CIArb Presidential Panel of Arbitrators.

Qualifications & Training
MSc in Construction Law and Arbitration, King’s College London.
CIArb Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration.
ICC Arbitration training.
CIArb Diploma in International Maritime Arbitration.
Cardiff University Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificates (Civil, 2021; Criminal, 2022).
Bond Solon training in expert discussions (2022) and Scottish Law & Procedure (2023).
Professional Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment (Life Safety).
Presently undertaking XACT Level 5 Diploma in Fire Engineering Design.

Professional Background
Qualified as an architect in 1995, She has worked with Laing Design, Marks & Spencer, and construction claims consultancy before founding Barker Consultants in 1993.
She has extensive experience in both UK and international projects, combining technical expertise with a strong legal and procedural background to support legal teams and clients in complex disputes.

Expert Witness Experience
Bernadette has acted in numerous expert witness appointments for claimants, defendants, and as a Single Joint Expert in cases involving:
Contract disputes.
Building defects.
Professional negligence
Cladding and external walls.
CDM Regulations.
Fire safety matters.
Building Safey Act 2022.
Defective Premises Act 1972.

Sectors
Hotels · Residential · Commercial offices · Retail · Restaurants.