George provides comprehensive support to both private and public sector clients in judicial review, public procurement, human rights, and regulatory disputes.
Recognised as a “top choice” in commercial judicial review, George frequently represents businesses and organisations in challenging high stakes policy and regulatory decisions made by public authorities. He has also supported numerous public authorities in making defensible decisions and in defending them.
George has helped a number of businesses to successfully navigate disputes concerning advertising content with UK advertising regulators.
George maintains a strong connection to his New Zealand roots through a dedicated practice supporting New Zealand companies operating in the UK. He advises on regulatory, commercial, data protection, procurement, and other key legal matters, serving both established brands and emerging start-ups.
George’s experience spans a wide range of regulated sectors, including advertising and media, transport, education, health policy, sport, social media regulation, defence, financial services, food/beverage, consumer goods, construction products, and energy.
George is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
Skills and strengths:
Many of George’s clients face existential threats to their business. He helps them to understand and diagnose the problem, to set clear objectives, and to execute a strategy for putting things right. More often than not, matters can be resolved quickly and efficiently through targeted engagement.
George also lends his expertise to several charities and community organisations, helping them navigate complex legal landscapes with confidence.
George is a Beachhead Advisor for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), and has been a member of the Professional Standards Steering Group of the Standards and Regulation Board of RICS (the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).
External recognition
George has been recognised in the prestigious independent legal guide, Chambers, for the past five years.
He has achieved the ranking of a Band 4 lawyer in the field of Administrative & Public Law (UK-Wide).
George is also recognised in the independent legal guide, Legal 500, receiving a ranking of Leading Partner, again in the field of Administrative & Public Law.
In addition, George has also been awarded the RICS Contribution Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution as a member of the Transitional Standards Committee.
Case highlights
- Representing a business in challenging a decision by a private regulator to unlawfully interfere with media content belonging to the business in breach of the business’s human rights.
- Representing the Free Speech Union in challenging the decision by the Secretary of State for Education to revoke the commencement of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2022 by way of judicial review. These proceedings have received widespread press coverage, including in The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and other publications.
- Representing a local authority in successfully defending a procurement challenge threatened by a bidder in connection with the procurement of a £30m waste services contract.
- Representing a business in successfully challenging an unlawful procurement decision by a higher education provider.
- Representing a Government Department in successfully defending threatened procurement proceedings concerning the award of a £140m public contract.
- Representing a business in judicial review proceedings concerning whether a rail regulator could require heritage rolling stock to be retro-fitted with central door locking: R (West Coast Railway Co Ltd) v Office of Rail and Road [2023] EWHC 3338 (Admin). He worked with Tom Cross and Rapheal Hogarth of 11 King’s Bench Walk.
- Representing the claimant in pursuing a significant commercial judicial review challenge concerning the legality, lawfulness and rationality/proportionality of the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/1368) made by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care: R (oao of Kellogg Marketing and Sales Co (UK) Ltd and anor) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2022] EWHC 1710 (Admin).
- Advising the Government Legal Department to successfully defend against a judicial review claim brought by the Good Law Project against the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (DHSC): R (oao Good Law Project) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care [2022] EWHC 2468 (TCC).
- Representing a major UK brand in successfully defending the credibility of environmental claims made in its advertising campaigns in the context of a regulatory investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The claim was successful and resulted in the investigation being closed without official findings being made.
- Representing a global business in appealing a preliminary UK Code of Broadcast Advertising (BCAP Code) ruling of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in connection with rules on advertising foods deemed to be ‘high in fat, salt and sugar’. This was the first time a BCAP Decision was ever reversed following an appeal to the Independent Reviewer.
- Representing the winning party in procurement proceedings considering whether the automatic suspension triggered by Regulation 95 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 remains in place where the contract decision has been rescinded: Aquila Heywood Limited v Local Pensions Partnership Administration Limited [2021] EWHC 114 (TCC).
- Advising a global brand on the proposals of the Committee of Advertising Practice Ltd (CAP), the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA), to regulate “brand advertising” within the scope of the prohibitions on advertising of “less healthy food and drink products” (LHF) under Part 4C of the Communications Act 2003 (as amended by the Health and Care Act 2022). The regulatory proposals were abandoned.
- Advising a business on the scope and application of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, and successfully challenging a procurement decision regarding the same.
- Advising on the application of the ‘mergers involving newspaper enterprises and foreign powers’ provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 (as amended by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024).
- Advising an affected party on options for challenging aspects of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act on human rights grounds.
- Representing a local authority in defending against a claim for breach of contract and restitution.
- Representing an international political organisation in successfully defending against civil proceedings threatened by a former member.
- Representing an English local authority in successfully defending against procurement proceedings issued by a disgruntled bidder.
- Advising and representing a NZ business in establishing manufacturing operations in the UK and in contracting with the UK Government.
- Representing the Free Speech Union as an intervenor in judicial review proceedings: R(on the application of The University of Sussex) v The Office For Students (AC-2025-LON-001462)
- Representing a New Zealand energy infrastructure supplier in challenging an unlawful procurement.
- Advising business clients on the application of UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR)