Robert John Whitehead

Robert John Whitehead, SC (born 11 September 1955) is a Senior Council and current vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association.

Early life

Born in Lytham St Anne's, England, Whitehead arrived in Hong Kong in 1963 aged 7, when his father took up a posting in the Colony's administration. Educated at the Peak School and Island School, Whitehead completed his education at SOAS before passing the Bar Exam and returning to practice in Hong Kong. In the interim, his mother, having been widowed in 1968 remarried Brook Antony Bernacchi, a lawyer and politician in Hong Kong whose chambers Whitehead joined in 1977.

Professional Achievements

At the time of his qualification to the Bar, Whitehead was the youngest practicising barrister in Hong Kong. Entering Bernacchi Chambers in 1977 as a criminal barrister, Whitehead switched to a commercial practice in the mid 1990s. He became a Chartered Arbitrator in 1998, was appointed a Senior Council in 2000 and has been a vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association since 2009. In 2007, "Chambers Asia" recognised him as "one of the most revered cross-examiners in court."

Personal life

Whitehead's interests include golf, fast cars, travelling, British colonial history and Karate, in which he is a third dan black belt. He has been married twice and has two children and two stepchildren. He splits his time between his flat in Stanley and his family home on Lantau.