Gervase de Wilde
Call: 2012
Call: 2012
Gervase de Wilde is an established junior barrister who acts for claimants and defendants in media disputes of all kinds. His practice is principally focused on litigation, in which he appears both as sole or lead advocate and as part of a team. He has extensive advocacy experience relative to his year of call, and has appeared in a very wide range of different Courts and tribunals.
In 2025-26 he acted for the defendants, the Artist known as Banksy and his company Pest Control, (led by Andrew Caldecott KC) in Full Colour Black v Pest Control Ltd, for the defendants, Steve Coogan and the producers of the film The Lost King, (led by Antony White KC) in Taylor v Pathe, for the claimants (led by David Sherborne and as sole counsel) in Feldman v Gambling Commission, for the claimant (led by Adam Speker KC) in Odey v Financial Times, for the claimant Eni Aluko in Aluko v Barton, and for the defendant theatre company in the High Court and the Court of Appeal in Currie v Soho Theatre.
Since 2023, Gervase has acted as sole counsel or lead advocate on behalf of the successful party in four High Court trials, bringing or defending claims in defamation, privacy, harassment, passing off, and data protection. In the same period, he has appeared four times in the Court of Appeal, and on an appeal from the Magistrates’ Court to the Divisional Court. He has extensive experience of reporting restrictions issues relating to proceedings in the criminal and family courts, as well as in media cases and other civil litigation, and of obtaining urgent injunctive relief in blackmail and harassment claims. A claim in which he successfully represented the victim of an elaborate cat-fishing scam became the subject of a hit podcast series and a 2024 Netflix documentary.
Before coming to the Bar, Gervase worked as a journalist. He is an Editorial Board Member of the NGO Liberty’s investigative journalism unit, Liberty Investigates. Gervase is committed to access to justice and accepts pro bono and conditional fee instructions in appropriate cases.
Acting for the defendant artist and company, led by Andrew Caldecott KC, in a libel claim over an Instagram Post. The claim was discontinued and indemnity costs awarded against the claimant, on the second defendant’s application.
Acting as lead advocate (with Luke Browne) for the claimant in her defamation claim. The claim was settled on the payment of substantial damages and the reading of a Statement in Open Court.
Acting as lead advocate (with Luke Browne) for the claimant in her defamation claim. The claim was settled on the payment of substantial damages and the reading of a Statement in Open Court.
Acting as sole counsel for the claimants on an application for reporting restrictions in respect of the trial judgment. Led by David Sherborne at the trial of the claim for misuse of private information.
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