Commercial
Gerard has extensive experience of commercial litigation covering a wide range of business sectors, and recent specialist expertise in the growing fields of litigation funding and ATE insurance. Funder clients include Orchard, McQuarie, Burford and Sparkle, and ATE clients include Elite Insurance, AmTrust, DAS and Acasta.
Recent work includes very large scale BVI company/commercial and trusts litigation for clients from multiple jurisdictions including Russia, PRC, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. Cases include Alfa Bank v Emmerson in the BVI Commercial Court (acting for Alfa Bank), Wilton v AFS Trustee, a complex multi-jurisdictional trusts dispute, and Nissan v Carlos Ghosn, a high profile BVI dispute concerning the superyacht MV Shachou allegedly owned by former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn.
Work includes:
- cross border insolvency litigation for ATE insurers and litigation funders Glasgow v ELS and others (re Harlequin (SVG) Ltd) [2017] EWHC 3004 (Ch)
- large scale BVI company/commercial litigation for Russian, PRC, Hong Kong, Malaysian, and Canadian clients
- advice on large scale UK banking fraud claim Singularis v Daiwa
- major pensions litigation in Guernsey
- claims against major UK banks for LIBOR fixing and forced insolvency
- review of interest rate swap mis-selling for HSBC investment baking arm
- Advising the Corporation of Hamilton, Bermuda on financial guarantee Mexico Infrastructure Finance v Corporation of Hamilton
- leading relief from sanctions case Denton v TH White [2014] EWCA Civ 906
- advisory work for various UK and offshore investment companies on regulated financial services activities
- advice and litigation on public procurement for UK Ministry of Defence, UK local authorities, and UK/EU private contractors
- advice re Brexit impacts on UK businesses
- advice on GDPR implementation for UK and offshore businesses
- substantial damages claim in Jersey
Cases include:
- Various recent and ongoing BVI high value cases (details may be provided, subject to client confidentiality)
- Glasgow v ELS and others (re Harlequin (SVG) Ltd [2017] EWHC 3004 (Ch) Claim by ATE insurers for lien on litigation proceeds in cross border insolvency.
- Mexico Infrastructure Finance v Corporation of Hamilton Bermuda [2017] CA (BDA) 11 Civ - Power of public corporation to give financial guarantee
- Wey Education PLC v Atkins [2016] EWHC 1663 (Ch) - Breach of directors’ duties.
- Denton v T H White Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 906 - Relief from sanctions in civil litigation
Regulatory, Constitutional, and Public Law
Gerard's clients have included the UK Home Office, HMRC, DTI, DfT, and other UK central government departments, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, Environment Agency, Lloyds of London, several UK police forces, the UK Independent Police Complaints Commission, HMCI, the UK Audit Commission, the Standards Board for England and Wales, the General Medical Council, several Royal Colleges, as well as the Governments of Jersey, Guernsey, the Cayman Islands, the Isle of Man, and Hong Kong.
Gerard has argued a Constitutional case before the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, and worked on a judicial review of the Cayman Islands aviation regulator.
Cases include:
- R (Durand Academy) v Ofsted [2017] EWHC 2097 (Admin) - Challenge to education regulator.
- Roberts v Attorney General [2016] EWHC 3219 (QB) - Duty of care of Police inspectorate
- R (Barda) v Mayor of London [2015] EWHC 3584 (Admin) - Freedom of assembly and expression: protests in Parliament Square
- Axis International v Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands [2014] CILR - Judicial review of aviation regulator.
- R (Plantagenet Alliance) v Minister of Justice [2013] EWHC 3164 (Admin) - Protected costs orders in judicial review.
- R (Gallastegui) v Westminster City Council [2012] EWHC 1123 - Protest in Parliament Square - freedom of assembly and expression.
- Stafford Hospital Public Inquiry 2011-2014 www.midstaffspublicinquiry.com - Public Inquiry into preventable deaths at NHS hospital.
- R (Associated Newspapers) v Leveson Inquiry [2012] EWHC 57 (Admin) -Challenge to Leveson Inquiry re witness anonymity
Sport, Media & Entertainment
Gerard has advised and represented media organisations and individuals in the film, television and record industries, with clients including Bryan Ferry and the late Sir Roger Moore. I acted for the UK Daily Mail in judicial review proceedings relating to the Leveson Inquiry. Sports law experience includes representing the UK Premier League, Football League, and their member clubs in disputes with the Professional Footballer’s Association, advising the Premier League and UEFA on the player transfer system, advising leading Formula One teams on driver contracts, advising and representing Tottenham Hotspur FC, Manchester United FC, and West Ham United FC, and disciplinary and doping cases before the governing bodies and tribunals of various sports.
Other experience includes:
- advising the UK Attorney General re internet publications about the killers of James Bulger;
- representing TV companies in challenges to regulatory decisions;
- advising the BBC on digital TV licensing and regulation;
- advising on internet advertising and promotional competitions;
- acting in e-commerce litigation concerning domain name registrations and e-mail contracts;
- data protection and freedom of information work.
