GERARD MCDERMOTT KC
Gerard McDermott KC is a pre-eminent barrister practising in Manchester and London. He is a member of Kings Chambers and Outer Temple Chambers but also takes on work through his limited company, Gerard McDermott KC Ltd.
Gerard has over thirty years' experience in the catastrophic injury field specialising in cases of the utmost severity and complexity, but also maintains a broad practice across common and commercial law fields.
He is a specialist in cross-border cases, particularly those raising conflict of law and jurisdiction issues. Legal 500 describe him as the "go-to Silk in serious travel claims". Gerard accepts instructions in all cases with a private international and European law dimension.
Gerard has a real understanding of US law. He was admitted as an Attorney at Law (non-practising) and has had a long involvement with the American Bar Association. Gerard was the first recipient of an ABA Presidential Citation in 2015. He has an enviable list of contacts across the US including a number of leading law firms.
Gerard has significant expertise in Employment law, having a long experience of a range of claims. He was recently instructed in a significant disability discrimination case against the Royal Bank of Scotland and secured what is thought to be the highest award for disability discrimination, £4.7m.
Gerard also accepts instructions in a broad range of common and commercial law matters.
OUR TEAM
Gerard's day-to-day practice is operated from his office base in Stalybridge, Cheshire. He is supported by his Legal Assistant, Jack Barber and Head of Legal Services, Michelle Hornsby.
JACK BARBER
Legal Assistant
Jack graduated from the University of Bolton with a First Class degree in Law. After two years working in Defendant Personal Injury for two top 50 firms, Jack went on to pass the Bar Professional Training Course with an Outstanding and was called to the Bar in 2022. Jack will commence pupillage at Deans Court Chambers in September 2023. He provides legal and administrative support to Gerard McDermott KC, from his offices in Stalybridge.
Jack can assist you with any queries you have about Gerard's services, fees and availability.
You can contact Jack via email or telephone:
0161 304 4306
MICHELLE HORNSBY
Legal Services Manager
Michelle Hornsby is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives having attained fellowship status in 2007. Before joining GMKC in 2019, she spent over 10 years working in a traditional high street firm of Solicitors undertaking private client work in a wide range of disciplines and more recently was employed by an NHS Trust as part of their Mental Health Law Team. Michelle is responsible for the operational and strategic management of Gerard McDermott KC Limited and she also works with Gerard and Jack in relation to the management of cases and drafting of documents, in particular Schedules of Loss.
You can contact Michelle via email or telephone.
0161 304 4305
RECENT NOTABLE CASES
JOHNSON V BERENTZEN AND ZURICH INSURANCE PLC [2021] EWHC 1042 (QB).
Acting for the Claimant at a preliminary hearing dealing with cross jurisdictional limitation issues concerning the Rome II Regulation and the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. In a decision which goes against the grain of the majority of reported cases, the Claimant was able to prove it would be equitable for the court to grant a short extension to validate his late served claim.
ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND V AB [2021] EWCA CIV 345
Acting for the Claimant in both the EAT and the Court of Appeal, in a case concerning discrimination in the workplace and unfair dismissal, Gerard secured a £4.6 million award for AB despite the Appellants arguments that the case should be remitted to the Employment Tribunal because the EAT found that the ET had wrongly failed to adjourn pending assessment of AB’s capacity to litigate.
BCD (A CHILD, BY HIS MOTHER AND LITIGATION FRIEND EF) V NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Acting for the Claimant who had sustained a brain injury leading to cerebral palsy as a result of the Defendant’s clinical negligence Gerard secured an award of over £15 million in the form of a lump sum and annual periodical payments for life.
NXB (A PROTECTED PARTY PROCEEDING BY HIS LITIGATION FRIEND, CXB) V NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Acting for Claimant who had suffered a brain injury arising from the Defendant's negligence, Gerard secured a sum of over £10 million in compensation to be paid in the form of a lump sum and annual periodical payments for life.
GRENFELL TOWER
Gerard is one of two leading counsel presently instructed to act for over 800 Claimants in the civil claims arising out of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.