Gerard Cukier

Gerard joined Kingsley Napley in November 2008 as a Partner and Practice Area Leader in the Dispute Resolution team. He has over 30 years experience as a commercial litigator in the UK and abroad.  Previously he was a senior partner in two niche London Practices, specialising in the areas of Sport, Entertainment, Intellectual Property and Libel law. 

Gerard is a very skilled litigator who has acted for both claimants and defendants in several significant and high profile cases over the years.  His clients include national and international personalities in the sports and entertainment fields, a newspaper group, numerous commercial entities and a major international sports media right organisation. 

Areas of expertise

Gerard’s areas of expertise include:

• Sports law and sports regulatory proceedings
• Privacy and Libel
• Intellectual Property (copyright, trade marks, protection of confidential information, design rights and patents)
• International disputes and arbitration
• Film business disputes
• Human rights law
• Mediation

Recent experience

• Acting for an International Middle Eastern conglomerate in claims for fraud, conspiracy and deceit in proceedings which are taking place in three different jurisdictions
• Acting for an individual in a multi – million pound claim for breach of contract and misuse of information
• Acting for an African conglomerate in a major contractual dispute taking place in the Commercial Court in London
• Acting for a senior official in an international company in relation to allegations of fraud and deceit
• Acting for a Claimant in a leading case concerning State Immunity and the question of whether State Immunity can protect a State and State individuals in relation to allegations of torture.  The case having been determined in the House of Lords in 2006 it is presently under consideration by the European Court of Human Rights
• Acting for several internationally known entertainers, sportsmen and sports agents in contractual disputes and claims against national newspapers and media for defamation and invasion of privacy

Other significant cases that Gerard has conducted:

• Acting on behalf of the Claimant in a leading Court of Appeal case on the question of abuse of process
• Acting for 2 members of an internationally famous pop group in a dispute between its members following the group’s  break up
• Acting for a leading football manager in a libel action resulting in the highest recorded award of damages by a jury against a national newspaper
• Acting for a leading newspaper group in several claims for defamation
• Acting for a leading concert promoter in numerous commercial disputesAct for an international sports media organisation in relation to several contractual disputes over sports media rights and exploitation
• Acting for football managers and players in several FA Premier League, FA and Football League arbitrations

Gerard has also been nominated to sit as an arbitrator in Football Association Rule K arbitrations.

Professional societies and associations

Gerard is a member of the following societies and associations:

• The Law Society
• International Bar Association (IBA)
• London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA)
• British Association of Sport and Law (BASL)
• International Sports Lawyers Association (IASL)
• Fellow of the Gemmological Association

Publications and press

Gerard has frequently been called upon to comment in the media on headline cases including cases in which he has been involved.  He has appeared on TV and radio to comment on current issues in sports, defamation and privacy fields.