George Laurence KC

Practice Areas

George is a leading practitioner in the country on the law as it relates to town or village greens. Of the eleven cases on the subject which reached the House of Lords or Supreme Court (in which he appeared in all but two), the Supreme Court heard four in 2014 alone: Paddico, Betterment, Barkas and Newhaven.

He has been specialising in property access issues during his time as a silk (and before that as a junior). These cases give rise to very acute conflicts of interest. Typically, one party is claiming, or claiming to be entitled to do something on or over, another’s land very much against the latter’s will.

Career

Called to the Bar 1972; Silk 1991.

Professional Appointments:

A Bencher of the Middle Temple (1999)

Former Deputy High Court Judge and Recorder

A Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies

A fellow of the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers

Awards:

Rhodes Scholarship, Harmsworth Scholarship Middle Temple.

Professional Memberships

Chancery Bar Association

The Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association

Planning and Environment at Bar Association

Property Bar Association

Parliamentary Bar Association

Open Spaces Society

Personal

Awards

Rhodes Scholarship, Harmsworth Scholarship Middle Temple

Professional Appointments

A Bencher of the Middle Temple (1999)

Former Deputy High Court Judge and Recorder

A Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies

A fellow of the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers