George Laurence KC > New Square Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile
New Square Chambers Offices
12 NEW SQUARE, LINCOLN'S INN
LONDON
WC2A 3SW
England
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George Laurence KC
Position
Specialises in real property disputes; also has special interest and expertise in the public and administrative aspects of property law, in particular concerning access to the countryside, minor highways, commons and village greens. He frequently appears at public inquiries and before both Houses of Parliament, notably when dealing with the High Speed 2 (2006, House of Lords), Channel Tunnel, Crossrail and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link hybrid bills. His cases since 2000 (many in the House of Lords, Supreme Court or Court of Appeal) include: Ex parte Sunningwell [2000] 1 AC 335; Masters v Secretary of State for the Environment [2001] GB 151 (CA); Yaxley v Gotts [2001] Ch 162 (CA); R (Beresford) v Sunderland City Council [2004] 1 AC 889; Todd v Secretary of State for the Environment [2004] 1 WLR 2471; Oxfordshire County Council v Oxford City Council [2006] 2 AC 674; R (Norfolk County Council) v Sosefra [2006] 1 WLR 1103; R (Kind) v Sosefra [2006] QB 113; Ford-Camber Ltd v Deanminster Ltd [2007] EWCA Civ 458; R (Godmanchester Town Council) v Sosefra [2008] 1 AC 221; Sava v SS Global [2008] EWCA Civ 1308; Smith v Muller [2008] EWCA Civ 1425; Winchester College v Hampshire County Council [2009] 1 WLR 138 (CA); Betterment Properties (Weymouth) Ltd v Dorset County Council [2009] 1 WLR 334 (CA); Herrick v Kidner and Somerset County Council [2010] EWHC 269 (Admin); R (Lewis) v Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Anor (No 2) [2010] 2 AC 70; Leeds Group plc v Leeds City Council [2011] Ch 363 (CA); Leeds Group plc v Leeds City Council (No 2) (CA) [2012] 1 WLR 1561 (CA); Fortune v Wiltshire County Council [2013] 1 WLR 808 (CA); Betterment Properties (Weymouth) Limited v Dorset County Council (No 2) SC(E) [2014] AC 1072; Paddico (267) Limited v Kirklees Metropolitan Council SC(E) [2014] AC 1072; R (Barkas) v N Yorkshire County Council SC(E) [2015] AC 195; R (Newhaven Port and Properties Ltd) v East Sussex County Council SC(E) [2015] 1 AC 1547; R (Andrews) v Sosefra [2015] EWCA Civ 669; Powell and anor v Sosefra [2014] EWHC 4003 (admin); R (Trail Riders Fellowship) v Dorset County Council SC(E) [2015] UKSC 18.
Career
Called 1972; QC 1991; bencher of Middle Temple. Frequently writes and lectures on subjects relating to access to the countryside. 2004, resigned judicial appointments (Deputy High Court Judge and Recorder) to pursue career as full-time advocate.
Memberships
Parliamentary Bar; Planning and Environmental Bar Association; Administrative Law Bar Association; Chancery Bar Association; Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
Education
Oxford University (MA); Cape Town (BA); Rhodes Scholar; Harmsworth Scholar.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Agriculture
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2George Laurence KC –New Square Chambers ‘His recall and attention to detail is excellent. His ability to look beyond the obvious and think outside of the box is exceptional.’
New Square Chambers is active in a wide range of rural and agricultural work, with a solid track record in handling contentious mandates regarding public access to land. George Laurence KC garners praise as ‘one of the top barristers in his field‘, and Paul Wilmshurst has been kept busy advising on village green applications and public rights of way disputes. Simon Adamyk is sought after for his expertise in advising on public access over land, and Ross Crail provides ‘first-rate advice‘. The ‘well-prepared‘ Aidan Briggs is very experienced in assisting with a broad spectrum of agricultural disputes, including Inheritance Act claims involving farms.
London Bar > Property litigation
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2George Laurence KC –New Square Chambers ‘Working with George is always an invaluable learning experience. His attention to detail is second-to-none and his knowledge is excellent.’