DATO’ JERALD GOMEZ has been in the legal profession since being engaged in the firm of Dato’ V Muthusamy in Penang in 1983 and then completing his articles under the late Mr. Jeffrey Fernandez and Mr Shahul Amirudin. While working with Mr Fernandez and studying at the University of Malaya, he assisted in criminal defence work and headed the accident (personal injury and property damage) department which had in excess of 2000 files.

Dato’ Jerald was called to the Bar in 1989 and worked with W Y Chan & Roy where he had conduct of accident cases, corporate litigation, criminal defence work, enforcement of copyright including injunctions and Anton Piller orders, conveyancing, industrial disputes and arbitration.

Dato’ Jerald set up his own practice in 1991 initially attracting work in 3 main areas – copyright litigation, criminal defence work and accident cases, both for claimants and for the insurance companies, before being instructed in arbitration and land cases.

In 1993 he was awarded the British High Commissioner’s Award after a rigorous selection process for a six-month intensive training course at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London. He was attached to the Federation Against Copyright Theft in UK for 2 weeks and was given training and instruction on FACT’s methods of copyright enforcement. He was also attached to the chambers of Lord William of Mostyn for 6 weeks and to the firm of Finers Solicitors for 5 weeks where he was exposed to the corporate, conveyancing, criminal, matrimonial and litigation matters. This also enhanced his skills-set in international finance dealings, civil litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution within the Commonwealth. A paper written at the conclusion of the course on “The Right to Silence in UK & Malaysia” was selected for publication in the Commonwealth Lawyers Journal.

In 1997, Dato’ Jerald pursued his Masters in International and Commercial Law at the University of Buckingham and was awarded a First Class (Distinction) as well as the Prize for Best Student.

Dato’ Jerald has successfully argued a number of landmark cases in the practice areas of industrial law, insurance claims, personal injury litigation, land fraud, land acquisition and native title, which have been reported in the media and legal journals.

Dato’ Jerald has been actively involved in the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee and the Malaysian Bar Council since being admitted to the Bar. He was elected Chairman of the KL Bar Committee in 2004/2005, and served as a member of the Bar Council in 2002/2003, 2004/2005 and 2006/2007.

Dato’ Jerald is also admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the Supreme Court of New South Wales, having sat for the relevant exams for admission, and is a qualified Arbitrator and Member of the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK. He is also a Panel Member of the Malaysian Mediation Centre and the Australian Mediation Centre.

In 2008, Dato’ Jerald was awarded the Chevening Award by the British government to pursue a Masters of Studies in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford, which he completed in 2010.

In 2008, Dato’ Jerald was also selected for an intensive 3 week study tour of the federal, state, local and county judicial systems, in Washington DC, New York, North Carolina, Nebraska and San Francisco, as a guest of the United States government under its International Visitors Leadership Program. 

Other than his legal practice, Dato’ Jerald has been energetically involved in commmunity service through the Council, SUHAKAM, Grace Community Centre and other organizations. In 2014, Dato’ Jerald set up Bethel Community Centre (“BCC”) which has many facets, each addressing a unique benevolent cause in its work which includes conducting skills training, providing financial assistance and legal seminars to eradicate poverty among the Orang Asal villagers. BCC also partners with TECH Outreach that helps women in need, Global Street Mission which help the less fortunate in Kuala Lumpur and many other organizations.

Dato’ Jerald has also written several papers on current issues such as The Recognition of Native Title in Peninsular Malaysia, Land Fraud under the National Land Code, Police Powers and Remand Proceedings, Contempt of Court, Rights of the Accused Person, The Right to Silence in the UK and Malaysia, and continues to speak and contribute at many training seminars, forums and conferences both locally and abroad such as the Lawyers and Judges Conference in Beijing, China, Laws Governing Society in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Mistake of Law and Fact – The Distinction at the University of Maine, US, the National Native Title Conference in Geraldton, Western Australia, Native Title Rights at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, the Right to Silence in the UK and Malaysia at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London and many other conferences. He is also a regular guest lecturer on a pro bono basis at the Ethics and Professional Standards Course organized by the Bar Council.

Dato’ Jerald was appointed by the British Government as their Expert Witness on Malaysian Law for a case in the High Court of Justice of England and Wales. Dato’ Jerald continues to handle high profile cases locally and internationally in cases requiring expertise in Securities Law, Company Law, Criminal Law, Land Law, Defamation, Contract and Tort.