He joins Baker & Partners as senior counsel, and will also be heading up the firm’s new London office in the heart of Farringdon. As well as building a London presence, Gerard will provide counsel to the firm’s international client base and help to further develop and expand the firm’s international disputes resolution profile on a global basis.
Gerard is a highly skilled lawyer and court-room advocate, vastly experienced in commercial disputes as well as regulatory and public law. He has practised in the UK, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), and Cayman as an independent barrister, in the BVI as a partner in a leading offshore law firm, and also has substantial experience of Jersey litigation.
He is currently a member of the Bar of both England and Wales and of the BVI. Gerard has experience in onshore and offshore commercial litigation, arbitration, and mediation, including fraud and asset recovery claims, trust disputes, and corporate insolvency and restructuring, and he is also experienced in judicial review, regulatory disputes, sport and media law, and in employment disputes.
Gerard’s commercial disputes experience has covered a wide range of business sectors, and he has recent specialist expertise in the growing fields of litigation funding and ATE insurance. His client base spans corporates, high net worth individuals, regulators, and governments alike, and he has advised jurisdictions including the UK, Hong Kong, the Cayman Islands, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man at ministerial level.
In addition to his role at Baker & Partners, Gerard also maintains an active practice at the English bar as a member of 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square.
Stephen Baker, senior partner of Baker & Partners, commented: ‘The addition of Gerard and his vast expertise to the Baker & Partners team is a real coup for the firm. His top-notch experience at the English bar, as well as across many of the world’s leading offshore jurisdictions, further strengthens our already market-leading international offshore disputes practice. In addition, he will play a key role in establishing and growing the London presence for Baker & Partners, which will become of increasing importance as we continue to expand and evolve over the years ahead.’
Gerard Clarke, senior counsel and head of Baker & Partners’ London office, added: ‘There are few offshore disputes firms with the level of excellence and reputation that can match Baker & Partners. By joining the team, I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success and helping to establish a strong foothold in the London market to service the firm’s clients on an international basis.’
