Gerard Cukier

Practice Areas

Gerard has been advising high-profile individuals in the political, sports and media world, along with high-net-worth individuals, for over 40 years. An experienced litigator and commercial lawyer, Gerard is extremely well placed to advise clients on a range of issues from defamation and privacy, blackmail and harassment, to music, film and sports agreements and music licensing deals. He also advises on civil fraud claims, commercial disputes often leading to international arbitrations and enforcement of international judgments and awards.

Gerard’s reputation in the market has led to clients from across the world (in particular, Monaco, France, the US and Israel) turning to him to protect their business and personal affairs.

Gerard is UK-based but he speaks fluent French and frequently travels to meet with clients.

Career

Gerard qualified as a solicitor in 1980. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2019, he worked at

Kingsley Napley and Manches & Co.

Languages Spoken

French

Experience

Acted for two members of a world-famous pop group in a dispute between its members following the group’s break-up.

Acted for a leading newspaper group in several claims for defamation.

Advised a world-renowned female singer and celebrity on all aspects of her career ranging from recording and performance agreements through to publishing and theatrical contracts and copyright infringements.

Permanent Counsel to an internationally famous singer.

Acted for a film producer in an intellectual property dispute with the BBC in relation to a TV film made about the art of an internationally renowned photographer.

Advised the lead singer of an acclaimed international pop group on her contractual rights under recording agreements including claiming substantial additional royalties from her former record company and producer/manager.

Acted for the estate of a leading film producer in breach of copyright claims.

Acted for a leading concert promoter in several contractual disputes with artists and recording companies and in other issues arising such as disputes with local authorities and stadia over noise pollution and licensing.

Acted for a film producer in a major film dispute leading to an AFMA arbitration in Los Angeles.

Drafted publishing agreements with leading publishers and all requisite contractual agreements on behalf of a world-renowned art collector.

Acted for a leading football manager in a libel action resulting in the highest recorded award of damages by a jury against a national newspaper.

Drafted employment and commercial contracts for international football managers and players and acted for football intermediaries in regulatory and commercial disputes.

Acted for leading football, managers, officials, intermediaries and footballers in regulatory disputes and hearings including enquiries into corruption in football and all consequent reputational management issues.

Drafted image rights agreements for an international footballer playing in the English league.

Advised a leading Premiership footballer and his agent as to his status with his club.

Acted for and attended before the French Football Federation on behalf of an international footballer who had not been paid by his former French football club.

Acted for a renowned horse trainer and his family in reputational management issues and contractual disputes.

Acted for a claimant in a leading case concerning state immunity and the question of whether state immunity can protect a Middle Eastern state and state individuals in relation to allegations of torture.

Acted for an international tyre distributor as joint claimant with a leading international tyre manufacturer in an UNCITRAL arbitration against a leading multinational mining company.

Acted for an international Middle Eastern conglomerate in claims for fraud, conspiracy and deceit in proceedings which took place in the courts of three different jurisdictions.

Acted for in inventor in the mining business against a multinational mining conglomerate leading to an UNCITRAL arbitration taking place in Chicago.

Acted for senior political figures, international businessmen, entertainers, high-profile personalities, sportsmen and sports agents in contractual disputes and claims for libel and breach of privacy/misuse of confidential information against national newspapers and all international forms of media.

Acted for senior political figures and UK and international businessmen on reputation management issues arising in the national and international media including proceedings for defamation, and engaging with national and international media including all principal written media ISP, social media and international broadcasting organisations.

Acted for a French champagne producer in an LCIA arbitration against a national distributor.

Acted for a Jersey trust in a significant trust dispute having Isle of Man jurisdiction.