Areas of Expertise

• Animals & Equine

  Georgina is a specialist in equine litigation, dog bite/strike claims and other disputes involving animals.  She has in-depth knowledge of the complex provisions of the Animals Act 1971 and associated case law.

  She has advised and represented claimants and defendants in claims arising from horse riding accidents on private premises and in equestrian schools, cattle attacks resulting in fatal and catastrophic injuries, road traffic incidents involving horses and livestock, dog bites and strikes, and employer’s liability claims in animal-related incidents.

  She has expertise in cases involving trespass and nuisance, including damage to, and caused by, livestock.

  She also has experience of veterinary negligence and farriers’ work and disputes arising from the sale of horses and ponies.

  After many years specialising in animal-related litigation, Georgina is adept at handling liability experts in court and in conference and is happy to assist with expert recommendations.

• Serious Injury

  The majority of Georgina’s caseload is on the multi-track in 6- or 7-figure claims.  Representing claimants and defendants, her experience in catastrophic injury work includes:

  • Moderate to severe head injuries, including permanent vegetative state
  • Spinal injuries, resulting in paraplegia or other significant disability
  • Fatal accidents
  • Serious psychiatric injuries resulting in severe long-term disability

  She routinely undertakes advocacy in the High Court and provides a full drafting service, including advice on liability and quantum, and complex schedules of loss and counter-schedules.  She is a skilled negotiator in joint settlement meetings.

  She has experience of a wide variety of claims, including employers’ liability, road traffic accidents, occupiers’ liability, highways and other public liability accidents, product liability, and claims involving alleged breaches of human rights.

• Clinical Negligence

  Georgina receives instructions on behalf of both claimants and defendants in claims involving alleged negligent care and treatment.  She represents families, as well as medical and caring professionals, at inquests in which medical care is scrutinised.

  With a strong analytical approach, she is adept at dealing with complex issues of breach and causation, and is confident dealing with conflicting expert evidence, both in conference and at trial.

  Georgina has provided advice and representation in claims arising from:

  • Alleged negligent dental treatment
  • Unnecessary and / or negligently executed plastic surgery
  • Inadequate care in a nursing home
  • Delayed diagnosis and negligent treatment of kidney stones
  • Negligent orthopaedic/paediatric treatment
  • Delayed diagnosis and treatment of infection, leading to fatal sepsis
  • Failures in emergency care of diabetes-related illness, resulting in fatality
  • Negligent treatment of psychiatric illness, resulting in death

  Failures in emergency care of diabetes-related illness.

• Inquests

  Georgina has appeared at numerous regularly appears at inquests on behalf of a range of interested parties, including the family of the deceased, insurers, and, in her previous capacity as the Attorney General’s Regional Panel Counsel, the Ministry of Justice.

  Her experience includes inquests involving deaths in custody, Article 2 ECHR, clinical negligence, deaths of vulnerable adults in care, mesothelioma and other industrial diseases, accidents at work, road traffic accidents and highways matters, including dangerous road surface defects, and suicide following psychiatric treatment in hospital and/or in the community.

  She has frequently appeared in jury inquests involving deaths in custody following drug overdose or self-harm.

• Wills, Probate & Inheritance

  Georgina’s probate and trusts experience encompasses advisory, drafting and advocacy work in contentious probate proceedings and Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 claims.

  She is often instructed in will disputes, including rectification, proceedings for the administration of a will, removal of personal representatives and claims against executors.  She has experience of professional negligence arising from the drafting and / or administration of a will.

About

• Notable Cases

  Owen v Singh (Nottingham District Registry 2022). Successful representation at 5-day trial on liability for the Claimant bricklayer who was rendered paraplegic in a catastrophic fall from scaffolding on the Defendant’s construction project.

  Re Blades (Lincoln Coroner’s Court 2022). Representation for the family at the inquest touching on the death of a lady who received negligent treatment on admission to hospital with diabetes-related illness.

  T v M (High Court of Justice QBD 2020). Sole counsel for the Defendant in a claim pleaded at £11.8 million, arising out of the death of a young man who developed mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos at the Defendant’s premises.

  N v T & E (High Court of Justice QBD 2020). Representing the Claimant in his claim arising out of a road traffic accident, in which he suffered multiple life-threatening brain and chest injuries.  Claim settled for £1m.

  A & N v M (Leeds County Court 2020). Representing the Defendant employer in a vicarious liability claim for sexual assaults perpetrated by one of the Claimants’ colleagues.  Claims for alleged career-ending psychiatric injuries pleaded at over £1m.

  C v M (Bournemouth & Poole County Court 2020). Representing the Defendant in an employer’s liability claim pleaded at £0.5m.  Settled at £35,000 with allegations of dishonest exaggeration.

  W v R (High Court QBD 2019). Representing the Claimant, who was trampled by a herd of cattle and suffered severe, life-threatening rib and spinal injuries.  Successful 6-figure settlement at JSM.

  Hancox v Lindsay-Brown (Newcastle County Court 2019). Represented the successful Claimant in a 3-day multi-track trial against the seller of a horse which was not fit for purpose.

  Re RB (Nottingham Coroner’s Court 2019). Representing the bereaved family of an elderly man who died suddenly of sepsis, following a minor graze to the leg which became infected.  Ongoing civil claim.

  KK v SE (2019). Representing the successful Claimants in their £700,000+ dependency claim arising from a road traffic accident leading to the death of a 27-year-old husband/father.

  P & Others v MOJ (Central London County Court 2019). Counsel for the Defendant in a multi-claimant action arising from assaults by prisoners on 7 members of staff, with a total pleaded value over £1m.

  T v M (Lincoln District Registry 2017). Junior counsel in a four-day trial in the High Court, in a catastrophic brain injury claim arising out of a fall downstairs in allegedly defective premises.

  F v W (2016). Fatal bull attack on public footpath.  Settlement achieved on behalf of the Claimant who suffered serious injuries, as well as losing her husband in the attack.

  Re: MAH (Deceased) (Nottingham Coroner’s Court 2015) & AH v NCC (2016). Representation at a two-week inquest on behalf of the family of a young man with severe autism, who drowned on a trip to a local reservoir whilst in the care of the local authority.

  Kozlowska v Thurloe (t/a Judi Thurloe Sports Horses) [2012] EWCA Civ 236. Successful appeal and re-trial on behalf of a defendant livery yard owner in a claim by a former employee arising from a horse-riding accident.

• Appointments

  • Deputy District Judge
  • Mental Health Tribunal Judge
  • Attorney General’s Regional Panel from 2012 to 2023
  • Recorder, Midlands Circuit

• Professional Membership

  • Personal Injuries Bar Association

• Qualifications

  • LLB (Graduate) First Class Honours, Nottingham Law School
    • Nottingham Law School Prize for first place on the Graduate Diploma in Law
    • Taylor Prize for the highest result on the Bar Vocational Course
  • MA (Oxon) Modern Languages, Pembroke College, Oxford