Events / Webinars
Wilberforce Guernsey Conference 2023
Thursday 19th October 2023 | 3.30pm- 6.20pm, followed by a drinks reception
The Old Government House Hotel & Spa, St Peter Port
Free to attend | 2.0 CPD
View moreGilead is ranked as a leading silk in various categories of The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. He is also featured in Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite and the CityWealth LeadersList “Top 10 Trust Litigation Barristers” list. He has been described in Who’s Who Legal as “one of the top silks in our research this year”, and is one of silks in the “Most Highly Regarded” category.
Gilead’s practice has a strong international element. He has appeared in the courts of Hong Kong, the BVI, Bermuda, Cayman and Nevis, and has been involved in litigation in Jersey, Guernsey and Gibraltar. He provided expert advice in relation to the Panama Papers in Imran Khan’s action against Nawaz Sharif in the Pakistan Supreme Court which led to Sharif being removed as prime minister.
Gilead specialises in complex, high-value disputes, often involving allegations of fraud, breaches of trust and fiduciary duties, and professional negligence. He also has “a notable specialism in matters involving art and antiquities” (Chambers & Partners).
Before coming to the Bar, Gilead enjoyed a brief career in publishing, editing books on photography, popular science and astronomy. He also spent a couple of years teaching in pre-revolutionary Iran. After completing his pupillage, he worked in the Litigation Department of Freshfields before taking up a tenancy at 7 New Square. He joined Wilberforce Chambers in December 2015.
Trusts, probate and estates: contentious
Trusts and estates litigation, both in the UK and offshore, has formed the mainstay of Gilead’s practice since he took Silk in 2006. He specialises in contentious trial work. Gilead has also been involved in numerous Cultural Property cases, including disputes falling within the jurisdiction of the Spoliation Panel. He is ranked in Tier 1 in The Legal 500, where he is described as “a tenacious litigator with a quite brilliant turn of phrase.”
Gilead has appeared in a number of high-value, high-profile cases in recent years, involving claims against trustees, executors, company directors and partners for breaches of fiduciary duty and civil fraud. His practice has a strong international element, and has appeared in the courts of Hong Kong, the BVI, Bermuda, Cayman and Nevis. He has also advised in litigation in Jersey, Guernsey and Gibraltar, and provided an Expert Determination in a claim against a firm of solicitors for negligent drafting of Instruments of Appointment and Retirement of Trustees of three Isle of Man trusts.
In Zhao Long v Endushantum Investments Co Ltd, Gilead acted in an action in the BVI for the trustees in a dispute over the beneficial ownership of a major shareholding in a Chinese pharmaceuticals company.
Kea v Watson concerned an attempt by a UK judgment creditor to freeze assets held in a discretionary Jersey trust of which Eric Watson was one of the objects. Gilead advised a group of other potential beneficiaries, who successfully intervened in the action and blocked the judgment creditor’s claim.
In Jones v Firkin-Flood, Gilead acted for the beneficiaries of a will trust in removing trustees and blocking their resolution to distribute the fund in unequal shares between the family members. The trust had been set up by the beneficiaries’ father, “Dougie”, who was reputed to have been a member of Manchester’s notorious “Quality Street Gang”. Money (the source of which was obscure) had been used to set up accounts in Liechtenstein, and large sums had been invested in a hotel and country club. It was alleged that funds had been diverted to set up a casino business, from which two of the three children were excluded. The case raised issues of dishonesty as well as breaches of fiduciary duties under both company law and trust law.
In Khan v Gany Holdings, the settlor had been a successful businessman who had made his fortune in Pakistan, Malaysia and Hong Kong. He had been highly secretive, and had established a number of opaque corporate and trust structures around the world to hold and manage the family wealth. After his death, his younger son had taken control of the family businesses, to the exclusion of his sister and her family. There were allegations that one of the trustees (a BVI company controlled by the son) had acted dishonestly and had misappropriated assets that rightfully belonged to the estate. Gilead represented the sister and her family at the trial before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the BVI.
C v D concerned a Bermuda Trust set up using funds from a Swiss foundation. One branch of the family alleged that the entire trust (which had been in existence for several decades) had been created fraudulently, in violation of Swiss law, and was void ab initio.
Gilead also acted for the successful Defendants in Slutsker v Haron, a claim by high profile Russian former politician, Vladimir Slutsker. Mr Slutsker had challenged the transfer of a valuable London property into UK company, whose shares were held by a Cayman settlement. Mr Slutsker and asserted that under Russian joint property rules he was the beneficial owner of a 50% share. A separate action by Mr Slutsker in Cayman was struck out on Gilead’s application.
Gilead appeared for the Earl of Cardigan in his claims against the trustees of his estate, obtaining an order for the removal of one of the two trustees, together with compensation and the repayment of unauthorised remuneration. Other notable cases include acting for Robin Birley in his claim against the estate of the late Mark Birley, the proprietor of Annabel’s and other well-known London clubs.
Cases Include:
Charity law cases include:
He is a first-rate advocate and consummate trust lawyer.
He gives a Rolls Royce service.
One of the very finest KCs.
He is very good at assessing situations and a great cross-examiner.
Gilead is one of the leading lights in this area and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law. He's also highly responsive, which matters a lot when things are moving quickly.
Events / Webinars
Thursday 19th October 2023 | 3.30pm- 6.20pm, followed by a drinks reception
The Old Government House Hotel & Spa, St Peter Port
Free to attend | 2.0 CPD
View moreEvents / Webinars
Wednesday 18th October 2023 | 3.30pm - 6.20pm, followed by a drinks reception
Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa, St. Helier
Free to attend | 2.0 CPD
View moreEvents / Webinars
Thursday 14th September 2023 | 3.45pm - 6.55pm followed by a dinner buffet
Kimpton Seafire Resort
Free to attend | 2.25 CPD
View moreEvents / Webinars
Tuesday 12th September 2023 | 3.30pm - 6.25pm followed by a dinner buffet
Scrub Island Resort
Free to attend | 1.5 CPD
View moreArt and cultural property
Gilead has been involved in Art & Cultural Property cases since 2006, when he led Professor Norman Palmer QC in a claim by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre for the return of a collection of human remains held by the Natural History Museum. He is now regularly instructed by museums and auction houses in claims for restitution or disputes over title, and art-related cases have become an important part of his practice. He has represented parties before the Spoliation Panel, and has given expert evidence in art-related cases in the US. Most recently, he was instructed to act as sole arbitrator (under LCIA Rules) in a claim by a wealthy collector to rescind the purchase of two Old Master paintings that had been bought from a major London gallery.
Gilead is recognised as one of three Leading Silks specialising in Art & Cultural Property in The Legal 500 (“Gilead is supremely intelligent, clear, concise, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. He works very fact because he is really familiar with the area of art and cultural property. Nothing is too much trouble for him and his drafting is a pleasure to read”) and is featured in Band 2 in Chambers HNW (“He is steeped in knowledge of trusts and bailments as they relate to art matters”). He was the winner of the Antiquities Law Barrister of the Year Award in the Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2016.
Recent experience includes acting as sole arbitrator in a dispute between a gallery and a private collection concerning the provenance of two Old Master paintings sold at auction; acting as mediator in a dispute between the branches of an extended family over the allocation of assets held under a Jersey trust; providing an Expert Determination in a claim against a firm of solicitors for negligent drafting of Instruments of Appointment and Retirement of Trustees of three Isle of Man trusts.
Gilead is the author of a chapter on the limitation of actions in Palmer on Bailment, and recently contributed a chapter to Trusts, Artistic Estates and Collections (2019) entitled “Inherited Guilt and Inherited Grievance: Prescription, Limitation and Ownership of the Past” (Trusts & Trustees review can be read here).
Key cases include:
Gilead is a member of the LCIA, and has recently been listed as an arbitrator and mediator in Art Law cases by the Court of Arbitration for Art (CAfA).
He is something of a legend in the art market and lived up to it as he is very experienced and authoritative. You can see a real commercial understanding of the market.
He is very experienced in this field and is intelligent and insightful.
He works very fast because he is really familiar with the area of art and cultural property. Nothing is too much trouble for him and his drafting is a pleasure to read.
He is very knowledgeable when it comes to art as he has a genuine interest in the subject.
He gives a Rolls Royce service.
Articles
Gilead Cooper KC has written an article on NFT disputes, which features in ThoughtLeaders4’s Crypto Insight 2022. From ThoughtLeaders4: “In this special Insight, we examine the various areas of disputes where crypto is involved, including fraud and asset recovery; HNW... Read more
By Gilead Cooper KC
Friday 29 July 2022
News
We are delighted to announce that Wilberforce has been shortlisted in seven categories at The Legal 500 Awards 2022. Set of the year Chancery set of the year Property set of the year Commercial litigation silk of the year: Alan... Read more
Wednesday 6 July 2022
View moreArticles
Digital Assets: Chapter 8 of the Law of Personal Property. (3rd edition), ed. Bridge, Gullifer, Low and McMeel. Published Sweet & Maxwell, ISBN (print) 978-0-414-09815-2, 1,354 pages. This article was first published by Trusts & Trustees, Volume 28, Issue 5, June... Read more
By Gilead Cooper KC
Tuesday 17 May 2022
Articles
By Gilead Cooper KC
Thursday 20 January 2022
Commercial disputes
Gilead appeared for the defendants in Khouj v ACP, leading James Walmsley. The case concerned a claim on behalf of the estate of a former Saudi Foreign Minister, in which the executor was seeking extensive disclosure of information relating to substantial investments by the deceased during his lifetime, raising issues of agency and fiduciary duty.
He gives a Rolls Royce service.
One of the very finest KCs.
He is very good at assessing situations and a great cross-examiner.
An excellent advocate who is very clever and very hard-working. Gilead has a different way of looking at things; he thinks outside the box.
Gilead has the ability to take hugely complex issues and distil them into crystal-clear concepts that clients and courts find compelling.
Events / Webinars
Thursday 19th October 2023 | 3.30pm- 6.20pm, followed by a drinks reception
The Old Government House Hotel & Spa, St Peter Port
Free to attend | 2.0 CPD
View moreEvents / Webinars
Wednesday 18th October 2023 | 3.30pm - 6.20pm, followed by a drinks reception
Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa, St. Helier
Free to attend | 2.0 CPD
View moreEvents / Webinars
Thursday 14th September 2023 | 3.45pm - 6.55pm followed by a dinner buffet
Kimpton Seafire Resort
Free to attend | 2.25 CPD
View moreEvents / Webinars
Tuesday 12th September 2023 | 3.30pm - 6.25pm followed by a dinner buffet
Scrub Island Resort
Free to attend | 1.5 CPD
View moreDomestic arbitration
Gilead is a member of the LCIA and an accredited arbitrator and mediator with the Court of Arbitration for Art (CAfA). He is also a CEDR accredited mediator.
As well as having extensive experience as an advocate, Gilead has acted as sole arbitrator and mediator in a variety of international and domestic disputes. He has specialist expertise in the field of Art & Cultural Property, but his practice includes general trust and commercial issues.
Recent experience includes acting as sole arbitrator in a dispute between a gallery and a private collection concerning the provenance of two Old Master paintings sold at auction; acting as mediator in a dispute between the branches of an extended family over the allocation of assets held under a Jersey trust; providing an Expert Determination in a claim against a firm of solicitors for negligent drafting of Instruments of Appointment and Retirement of Trustees of three Isle of Man trusts.
He gives a Rolls Royce service.
One of the very finest KCs.
He is very good at assessing situations and a great cross-examiner.
An excellent advocate who is very clever and very hard-working. Gilead has a different way of looking at things; he thinks outside the box.
Gilead has the ability to take hugely complex issues and distil them into crystal-clear concepts that clients and courts find compelling.
International arbitration
Gilead is a member of the LCIA and an accredited arbitrator and mediator with the Court of Arbitration for Art (CAfA). He is also a CEDR accredited mediator.
As well as having extensive experience as an advocate, Gilead has acted as sole arbitrator and mediator in a variety of international and domestic disputes. He has specialist expertise in the field of Art & Cultural Property, but his practice includes general trust and commercial issues.
Gilead is one of the leading lights of the international trust Bar. He's very clever, an excellent advocate, and very hard-working. You definitely want to have him on your team.
He gives a Rolls Royce service.
One of the very finest KCs.
He is very good at assessing situations and a great cross-examiner.
An excellent advocate who is very clever and very hard-working. Gilead has a different way of looking at things; he thinks outside the box.
Professional liability
Gilead has appeared in a number of professional liability cases, often representing solicitors or barristers in defending negligence claims.
Gilead’s key cases include:
He gives a Rolls Royce service.
One of the very finest KCs.
He is very good at assessing situations and a great cross-examiner.
An excellent advocate who is very clever and very hard-working. Gilead has a different way of looking at things; he thinks outside the box.
Gilead has the ability to take hugely complex issues and distil them into crystal-clear concepts that clients and courts find compelling.
Events / Webinars
Thursday 13 February 2020
One Moorgate Place, Chartered Accountants' Hall, London EC2R 6EA
£75 + VAT | 3.0 CPD
View moreProperty
According to Chambers & Partners, Gilead “Offers masterful guidance on trust and property litigation, and has an excellent track record in high-profile disputes.” He has wide experience in dealing with real property issues, including title disputes, easements, restrictive covenants, land options and pre-emption rights, mortgages, joint property and professional negligence relating to conveyancing. He is frequently instructed on matters concerning large landed estates, and recently acted for the Earl of Cardigan in relation to the trustees’ alleged mismanagement of the Savernake Estate.
He has appeared in numerous property cases, including Jones v Cameron Management Ltd, a claim for rectification of Land Register; Padgham v Rochelle, concerning an agricultural tenancy; and Winsper v Perrett, in which the issue was whether property was held on beneficial joint tenancy or tenancy in common.
He gives a Rolls Royce service.
One of the very finest KCs.
He is very good at assessing situations and a great cross-examiner.
An excellent advocate who is very clever and very hard-working. Gilead has a different way of looking at things; he thinks outside the box.
Gilead has the ability to take hugely complex issues and distil them into crystal-clear concepts that clients and courts find compelling.
News
We are delighted to announce that Wilberforce has been shortlisted in seven categories at The Legal 500 Awards 2022. Set of the year Chancery set of the year Property set of the year Commercial litigation silk of the year: Alan... Read more
Wednesday 6 July 2022
View moreRegistered name: Mr Gilead Patrick Cooper KC
VAT number: 524114193