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George Laurence Q.C.
Call: 1972  Silk: 1991

George Laurence read law as a Rhodes Scholar from the Cape Province, South Africa. He was called to the Bar in 1972 and took silk in 1991. His practice consists primarily of real property disputes. His special interest and expertise is in the public and administrative aspects of property law. Such work includes countryside law (rights of way, village greens and commons), minor highways, judicial and statutory review and Public Inquiries.

He also has much experience in Parliamentary work, and he has appeared before committees of both Houses on many occasions, including those dealing with the Channel Tunnel, Crossrail and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bills. He has frequently written for the Rights of Way Law Review, and lectures for Central Law Training. He has lectured at both the 2009 and 2010 Agricultural Law conferences organised by LexisNexis.  His subject in 2010 was the coastal access provisions of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.  He gave one of the Blundell lectures in 2004 and has several times addressed the Property Bar Association (recently in conjunction with the Law Commission).

Professional memberships include the Parliamentary Bar, ALBA, PEBA, ChBA and the Prop BA. George is a long standing contributor to Justice, is a member of the Open Spaces Society and was for many years an overseas representative of the South African Institute of Race Relations. He is a fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and of the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers. He became a Bencher of the Middle Temple in 1999. He is a former Deputy High Court Judge and Recorder. He has appeared in well over 50 reported cases.  He strongly believes in the cab rank rule and is proud to be part of a system in which it is taken for granted that he can be appearing for the Ramblers’ Association in one case and against them in the next.



Areas of practice
Property
Public Law

Directories and Acknowledgments

Leader at the Bar - Agriculture & Rural Affairs - Chambers UK 2011

Leader at the Bar - Chancery: Traditional - Chambers UK 2011

"one of the most influential barristers in the country when it comes to highways law, and town and village greens work"
Chambers UK 2010 - Agriculture & Rural Affairs

"the very fact he's involved in a case lends a degree of interest and importance to it"
Chambers UK 2010 - Agriculture & Rural Affairs

"creative and innovative, he works at the cutting edge of the law"
Chambers UK 2010 - Agriculture & Rural Affairs

"someone who is prepared to put his head above the parapet in order to further his client's cause"
Chambers UK 2010 - Agriculture & Rural Affairs

"the excellent George Laurence QC takes centre stage"
Chambers UK 2010 - Chancery: Traditional

"in the very front rank of silks"
Chambers UK 2010 - Chancery: Traditional

Leading Silk - Agriculture & Rural Affairs - Chambers UK 2010

Leading Silk - Chancery: Traditional - Chambers UK 2010

"the expert on right of way issues"
Legal 500, 2009 Edition - Administrative and Public Law

"is the man for rights of way"
Legal 500, 2009 Edition - Property Litigation

Leading Silk - Administrative and Public Law - Legal 500, 2009 Edition

Leading Silk - Property Litigation - Legal 500, 2009 Edition

"one of the brightest silks at the Property Bar"
Chambers UK 2009 - Agriculture & Rural Affairs

"very committed to winning"
Chambers UK 2009 - Agriculture & Rural Affairs

"he is the best for black letter law"
Chambers UK 2009 - Chancery: Traditional

"An exceptionally good presenter in court and a thorough researcher, his cases are always meticulously prepared."
Chambers UK 2009 - Chancery: Traditional

Leading Silk - Agriculture & Rural Affairs - Chambers UK 2009

Leading Silk - Chancery: Traditional - Chambers UK 2009

"very nice to deal with"
Legal 500, 2008 Edition - Property Litigation

"an excellent lawyer"
Legal 500, 2008 Edition - Property Litigation

"excellent soft skills"
Legal 500, 2008 Edition - Property Litigation

Leading Silk - Administrative and Public Law - Legal 500, 2008 Edition

Leading Silk - Property Litigation - Legal 500, 2008 Edition

""Extremely thoughtful and wonderfully diligent," he is a very popular member of the Bar who has an impressive track record of House of Lords appearances."
Chambers UK 2008 - Chancery: Traditional

Leading Silk - Chancery: Traditional - Chambers UK 2008

"'very nice to deal with' and 'an excellent lawyer' with 'excellent soft skills'". 
Legal 500, 2007 Edition

"An expert on the interface between housing/property and public law."
Legal 500, 2007 Edition 

Leading Silk - Administrative and Public Law - Legal 500, 2007 Edition

Leading Silk - Property Litigation - Legal 500, 2007 Edition

"meticulous and clever"
Chambers UK 2007 - Chancery: Traditional

"any case that needs thorough examination - he doesn't miss a detail."
Chambers UK 2007- Chancery: Traditional

Leading Silk - Chancery: Traditional - Chambers UK 2007

"refreshingly forceful" court manner.
Chambers UK 2006 - Chancery: Traditional

"relaxed and thorough"
Chambers UK 2006 - Chancery: Traditional

Leading Silk - Chancery: Traditional - Chambers UK 2006


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