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.
Trusts & Estates
Georgia’s strong traditional practice includes probate disputes, litigation concerning the administration of estates, including applications for the removal of personal representatives and trustees and claims under the 1975 Act. Georgia is also instructed in litigation concerning high-value trusts and was recently involve in an application to remove a protector of an offshore trust worth £500 million. As a result of her expertise in capital taxes, Georgia has been involved in disputes between tax payers and HMRC and represented (with Simon Taube QC) the successful tax payer in Buzzoni v HMRC, a case concerning the inheritance tax gift with reservation rules. Georgia frequently advises in relation to contentious construction matters and in relation to claims brought by and against trustees, including applications for Beddoe relief. Indeed, Chambers UK 2015 reported that Georgia is “looked to by private clients for trusts and probate work, notably in connection with real property. She has a further focus in related capital tax matters and contentious construction issues.”
Georgia recognises the need for a practical approach and the need to present matters to clients in a straightforward and understandable way. The traditional chancery section of the 2015 edition of the Legal 500 described Georgia as “an unalloyed pleasure to work with, understanding the needs of lay clients and solicitors”. Recognised in Chambers 2016 for her technical expertise, approachability and ability “to present complicated issues in a straightforward manner which is easy for clients to understand”, previous editions of Chambers Bar Guide report that she “excels in all areas of traditional chancery work” and that “she is fantastic at drilling down into the detail of a case. Her advice is always highly detailed and pragmatic, and once in court she proves highly dogged.”
Reported Cases:
- Buzzoni v HMRC [2013] EWCA Civ 1684; [2014] 1 WLR 3040: Represented the tax payer in a claim concerning whether a reversionary lease scheme entered into by the deceased was effective to avoid the reservation of benefit rules. The Court of Appeal ruled, in the taxpayer’s favour, that there had been no reservation of benefit (led by Simon Taube QC).
- Ingrey v King [2014]: 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.
- Acted for the trustees of a trust worth £500 million in a claim by the beneficiaries to set aside an appointment made by the trustees which created the office of a protector as a fraud on a power and for the removal of the protector (led by Simon Taube QC).
- Acted for the executors of an £80 million estate defending a 1975 Act claim brought by a lady who claimed to be the Deceased’s cohabitee.
- Successfully represented the beneficiaries in a claim for the recognition of a trust declared by a matrimonial court in Oregon over a property in England.
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.
