Georgia Bedworth has a thriving traditional chancery practice with particular focus on trusts and estates matters, both contentious and non-contentious. Georgia’s strong real property background gives her an edge when dealing with landed estates, as well as when advising on any trust or probate matter with a property element. As well as having considerable experience and expertise in contentious chancery matters, such as probate disputes, 1975 Act claims and removal applications, Georgia also undertakes a considerable amount of non-contentious work, including capital taxes planning. Georgia is frequently instructed in cases concerning multi-million pound trusts and estates. She has acted in a number of applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958 to vary high value settlements including those with a foreign element.
In addition, Georgia’s practice includes advising and litigating on pure property matters. Georgia also has considerable expertise in Court of Protection (Property and Affairs) matters.
Ranked in Band 1 by Chambers UK 2022 in Trusts, Chancery: Traditional and Cour tof Protection: Property and Affairs.
Private Client
Georgia frequently advises on the administration of trust and estates, issues of construction and related capital taxes issues as well as capital taxes planning. Admired for her ability to “present complicated issues in a straightforward manner which is easy for clients to understand”, Chambers High Net Worth Guide also describes her as “extremely knowledgeable” and “both technically good and practical in her approach”. Georgia has particular expertise in applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958 and has been instructed in numerous variations of high value settlements, including those with a foreign element.
Reported Cases:
- Ingrey v King [2016] WTLR 131: Claim by an executor for directions as to what, if any, reservation he should make prior to distributing the estate where the Deceased had entered into a film partnership scheme in an attempt to mitigate income tax liabilities, leading to significant contingent liabilities which were potentially preventing the finalising of the administration of the estate.
- C v C [2016] WTLR 223: Application to extend the perpetuity period and accumulation period of a number of trusts, some of which were governed by Kenyan law. The court dealt with the scope of the Court’s jurisdiction under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958 in relation to foreign trusts.
- Re Portman Estate [2015] WTLR 871: Application by trustees (without joining any defendants) under s. 57 Trustee Act 1925 to confer numerous additional administrative powers on the trustees in relation to trusts worth, on aggregate, approximately £1 billion.
- Allfrey v Allfrey [2015] WTLR 1117: Application under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958 to extend the perpetuity period and accumulation period of a substantial trust
Recommendations
Qualifications
- Diplock Scholar, Middle Temple
- BCL (Distinction), St Hugh’s College, Oxford
- BA Hons (First Class), St Hugh’s College, Oxford
Associations & Memberships
- Chancery Bar Association
Publications
Speaking Engagements
Georgia speaks frequently at both in house seminars, MBL seminars and LexisNexis Webinars.
Awards
- Lawyer Monthly – Estate and Trusts Barrister of the Year 2016
Georgia Bedworth is a self-employed, independent barrister whose practice is governed by the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales. She is regulated by The Bar Standards Board [Bar Ref 42904] and is fully insured with the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund [BMIF Ref 2360/055] to provide legal services, please refer to the BMIF website for full details of the world-wide cover provided. She is registered for VAT under the reference 799330581.
