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.
Property
Described in the Property Litigation section of the Legal 500 as “calm, collected and good on her feet when dealing with technical issues”, Georgia is frequently instructed for her technical expertise in real property and landlord and tenant matters. Georgia has significant experience in dealing with the full range of commercial and residential landlord and tenant issues. In addition, Georgia’s practice includes advising on and litigation in relation to real property matters such as easements, restrictive covenants, land registration and cohabitation disputes. The Legal 500 2014 noted that she is “a particularly good barrister with strong experience in landlord and tenant” who is “extremely bright and tenacious”. Georgia deploys her real property expertise to good effect in her trusts and probate work.
As well as pure property matters, Georgia’s work frequently combines property and trusts or probate issues, and cohabitation disputes in particular require such dual expertise. Whilst recognising the importance of being able to deal with the technicalities of the law, Georgia also recognises the need to be able to explain matters clearly to clients. Legal 500 2015 reports that within the Property practice area “she has a very keen legal intellect and an enviable ability to demystify very complex legal issues”.
Recommendations
“Very good on trust disputes, especially those concerning complex land and property aspects.” “She is intelligent, bright and clear in her advice.”
Chambers UK 2019 - Chancery
“She’s very assiduous in her preparation and research, and she applies her hard work and knowledge in a sensible way.” “Her advice is always thorough and accurate, but it’s her skills with clients that really set her apart. She will always be honest and open with clients and manage their expectations appropriately in a very well-judged, professional manner.”
Chambes UK - Court of Protection
“She is always fantastic.”
Legal 500 2018 - Court of Protection
“The go-to junior for variation of trust applications.”
Legal 500 2018 - Private Client: Trusts & Probate
“She is a formidable advocate and leaves no stone unturned.”
Legal 500 2018 - Agriculture
“One of the most phenomenally clever and sensible barristers you can come across; things just sort themselves out when she is on the case.” “She is very detail-oriented and presents her work perfectly. Georgia is excellent at unpicking issues and analysing matters clearly and in depth.”
HNW 2018 Guide - Chancery: Traditional - London Bar - Band One
The HNW 2018 Guide writes: ‘Georgia Bedworth handles the full spectrum of traditional chancery matters and has specific experience dealing with landed estates and probate issues. “She is very good on trust disputes, especially if it has land and property aspects entwined in that,” reports one lawyer, while another market commentator says: “She is very knowledgable on contested probate and issues in respect of the administration of difficult estates.” A source reveals: “She is very good at drafting and very good at analysing trust and tax issues.” Bedworth’s practice also includes real estate and Court of Protection matters”. ‘
Chambers UK 2018 - Chancery: Traditional (Band 1)
“She’s clearly highly knowledgeable in this area.” “She is very thorough, very sensible and she presents cases beautifully.”
Chambers UK 2018 - Court of Protection: Property and Affairs
“I have to say she is one of the most sensible barristers I have ever come across. Things just sort themselves out when she is on the case. She is phenomenally clever.” “She is very detail-orientated and she presents her work perfectly. She always gives a very good performance in court.”
Chambers HNW 2017 - Chancery: Traditional (Band 1)
“Provides clear, balanced opinions and is not one to sit on the fence.” “She’s very empathetic and inspires confidence from the beginning.”
Chambers Global 2017 - Private Wealth: Trusts (Band 1)
“She is extremely fastidious and insightful when it comes to drafting trusts.” “She is extremely approachable, very good with clients, very empathetic and someone who inspires confidence from the beginning.”
Chambers UK 2017 - Chancery: Traditional
“She’s quite an understated advocate but she gets her points across very well. Her style works well in the Court of Protection.” “She’s a very civilised opponent and a very clever person.”
Chambers UK 2017 - Court of Protection
“Provides clear, balanced opinions and is not one to sit on the fence.” “She’s very empathetic and inspires confidence from the beginning.”
Chambers UK 2017 - Trusts
A “brain the size of a planet” and “She is great. She is very very easy to work with. She pretty much knows everything and she is really really approachable.”
HNW Chambers UK 2016 - Private Client
“She is very technical, very approachable and gets her head stuck into very technical issues.”
Chambers UK 2016 - Chancery: Traditional
“She will get her head stuck into technical issues and has a property background, which is an added bonus when dealing with landed estates.”
Chambers UK 2016 - Trusts (Band 1)
“She is very diligent, very well prepared and does an effective job.” and “She has that ability that works very well in the Court of Protection to take a non-aggressive stance but nonetheless fight her client’s corner.”
Chambers UK 2016 - Court of Protection
“Calm, collected and good on her feet when dealing with technical issues.”
Legal 500 2016 - Private Client: Trusts & Probate
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 registered with 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.
