Arbitration Chambers announces with great sadness the passing of Bruce Collins KC, a distinguished international arbitrator and inaugural member of Arbitration Chambers.

Bruce grew up in Taree in regional New South Wales but spent much of his life in Sydney. He also spent some years living in London at Lincoln’s Inn, a period which brought him tremendous joy and where he enthusiastically embraced all that London had to offer.

Bruce was a distinguished barrister, King’s Counsel and international arbitrator. He commenced his legal career as an Associate to Sir Garfield Barwick, then Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, before being called to the New South Wales Bar in 1974. He went on to spend 50 years at the Bar, taking silk in 1989.

In more recent years, Bruce practised as a full-time international arbitrator. He was the Australian member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration from 2012 to 2018 and travelled regularly from Sydney to Paris to attend Court sessions. He did so with characteristic enthusiasm, relishing both the intellectual rigour of the Court’s work and the opportunity to engage with colleagues from around the world. He was also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and served on numerous occasions as an arbitrator with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Bruce’s love of sport extended well beyond his work as an arbitrator. He had an extraordinary 60-year association with Sydney University Cricket Club. Having attended the University of Sydney on a scholarship, Bruce was especially proud of being awarded his First Grade cricket cap, No. 469. He scored 4,489 runs for the Club and, after retiring from Grade Cricket, went on to score another 3,000 runs for the I Zingari Club.

Cricket was woven through Bruce’s entire life. He was the inaugural Chairman of the Bradman Trust and played an important role in raising the funds required to establish the Bradman Museum in Bowral. He also served on the Boards of Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW and as Chairman of the Sydney Cricket Association Committee of Management. His contribution to Australian cricket, like his contribution to the law, extended over decades.

For all his remarkable professional and sporting achievements, Bruce was first and foremost an extraordinary family man and friend. He leaves behind his loving wife, Di, their combined six children and numerous grandchildren.

Bruce will be remembered by all of us at Arbitration Chambers not simply for the distinction of his career, but for his warmth, generosity, intellectual curiosity and friendship. He lived an extraordinarily full life and will be very greatly missed.