Gerard McDermott KC KC > Kings Chambers > Manchester, England > Barrister Profile
Kings Chambers Offices

36 YOUNG STREET
MANCHESTER
M3 3FT
England
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Gerard McDermott KC KC

Position
Is one of the most sought after personal injury silks in the country. He is consistently top-ranked by the two main legal directories. He also practices in cross border claims of all kinds and has an unrivalled list of connections across the United States reflecting his long time involvement at the heart of the American Bar Association. A former leader of the European Circuit he also has real expertise in EU Law, conflicts of law and comparative law. Many of his cases have an international dimension.
Although much of his work in Silk has involved catastrophic personal injury and the most serious claims of clinical negligence he accepts instructions across the common law and commercial fields particularly where issues of conflicts of law or cross border issues arise. He is widely praised not only for his legal acumen and advocacy but his client handling skills and good judgment.
He also continues to accept instructions in Employment in which he has had long experience across the range of claims and is currently instructed in a very significant case involving disability discrimination by a Bank.
Memberships
PIBA
American Bar Association
(Presidential Citation 2015)
Co-Chair International Litigation Committee Section of Litigation
Bar European Group
European Circuit (Former Leader)
Education
LLB (Hons) Manchester University 1977
Attorney at Law ( non-practising) New York 1990
Deputy High Court Judge 2008
Recorder (1999 – 2014)
Bencher Middle Temple (2005)
Vice President Spinal Injuries Association
Lawyer Rankings
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Clinical negligence
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Personal injury
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Gerard McDermott KC – Kings Chambers ‘Gerard’s command of the court room is impeccable, as is his ability to read the judge. His cross-examination technique is soft yet deadly, he is excellent with clients, including those who are vulnerable and have the most complex needs, and his ability to get to grips with technical and complex expert evidence, and cross examine experts witnesses, is also a strength.’
The personal injury team at Kings Chambers predominately handles serious injury cases, including high-value brain and spinal injuries. The set is home to Nicholas Braslavsky KC and Stephen Maguire who are sought after for their significant expertise in both child and adult brain injury cases. Of recent note, Maguire was instructed in a personal injury claim following an RTA in which the claimant was struck by a van and subsequently suffered a severe head injury. Michael Rawlinson KC and Charlotte Law have substantial experience in acting for military personnel who have been injured, while Helen Mulholland KC frequently acts for claimants who have been seriously injured in road traffic accidents.Gerard McDermott KC is also a key silk at the set. For cases involving chronic pain, Fiona Ashworth is a go-to barrister, and she acts for both claimants and defendants.