[5] At Oriel, Fergusson joined the Bullingdon Club, an exclusive dining society with an apparent objective to cause mayhem and damage while under the influence of alcohol.

[4][a] Fergusson qualified as a lawyer,[2] and joined the international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) in 2000 and served as a partner in the finance division.

[6] In 2020 he was to lose in an election contest with fellow partner Malcolm Hitching for the position of HSF's global banking practice.

[2] As of July 2021[update] Fergusson was noted as a non-magistrate member of the Lord Chancellor’s advisory committee for South East England, as well as having roles as co-producer in a number of film projects.

[9][10][b] As an introduction to his first CSPL committee meeting on 16 September 2021 Fergusson acknowledged there had been some publicity about his appointment and that he "wished to correct some of the (published) facts: he had not been asked by anyone to apply for the role; and had last seen the Prime Minister at an external event in 2008.