Background

Georgina Wolfe is recognised as a leading junior, specialising in the areas of police law, public law, human rights and civil liberties, inquests and public inquiries, prison law and malfeasance claims (assault, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and misfeasance).

Georgina was nominated for the Chambers UK Public Inquiries and Inquests Junior of the Year 2023 and The Legal 500 Awards Public Law Junior of the Year 2023.She is ranked in Chambers UK for Police Law (Band 1) and Inquests and Public Inquiries (Band 1) and The Legal 500 for Police Law (Tier 1) and Inquests and Inquiries (Tier 1).

Georgina is on the Attorney General’s A Panel of Counsel (having been on the Panels since 2012). She appears regularly as sole counsel and junior counsel before a range of courts and tribunals. She has appeared in some of the leading cases in her fields of expertise, including R (Cabinet Office) v Chair of the Covid Inquiry, Belhaj v Jack Straw and ors and in the Supreme Court in R (Roberts) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and R (Catt and T) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and ACPO.  

Georgina has particular expertise in inquests and inquiries and is currently instructed in the Covid Inquiry, the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry and the Infected Blood Inquiry. She has also appeared in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the inquests into the deaths arising from the Fishmongers’ Hall terror attacks (for West Midlands Police) and those of Carl Sargeant (for the Labour Party), Max Clifford (for the Ministry of Justice) and Geoff Gray at Deepcut Barracks (for the MoD).

Georgina is happy to provide training to solicitors on all aspects of her practice and has recently presented a Masterclass in Inquests to numerous police forces and public authorities.

Georgina co-authored a chapter of National Security Law (OUP, 2021) with Charlotte Ventham and The Path to Pupillage (Sweet & Maxwell, 2008; Third Edition 2013) with Alexander Robson. She has co-authored a new chapter for the forthcoming edition of National Security Law with Rory Phillips KC about the National Security and Investment Act 2021.

Georgina was runner up in the First 100 Years’ Inspirational Women in Law Award 2017 and is a Trustee of the Harold G. Fox Scholarship.

Expertise

Georgina was shortlisted for Public Law Junior of the Year 2023 in The Legal 500 Awards.

Georgina undertakes all areas of public law work, including prison law, judicial review, human rights and inquests. She regularly appears in permission and substantive hearings before the Administrative Court (including Divisional Courts) as well as appeals up to the Supreme Court.

Featured Public & Administrative cases


R (L1T FM Holdings and LetterOne Core Investments) v Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office

junior counsel in this ongoing JR. Georgina successfully applied for the declaration under section 6 of the Justice and Security Act 2013 permitting a closed material application to be made to the court. This is the first such declaration in proceedings brought pursuant to the National Security and Investment Act 2021.


R (Cabinet Office) v Chair of the Covid Inquiry [2023] EWHC 1702 (Admin)

as junior counsel for the Interested Party, the Rt Hon Boris Johnson, in the judicial review of the Chair’s decision to request unredacted WhatsApp messages.


Belhaj v Jack Straw, Sir Mark Allen, Security and Intelligence Service, Security Service, Attorney General, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office

on the Defendants’ counsel team in this closed material procedure case concerning alleged complicity in extraordinary rendition and torture. The claim was settled following an apology issued by the Prime Minister.


R (Khosa) v Secretary of State for Justice and Governor of HMP Long Lartin

Article 8 challenge to a prison’s decision to limit a prisoner’s contact to children


R (Roberts) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2015] UKSC 79, [2016] 1 WLR 210

challenge to s60 stop and search powers, led by Jeremy Johnson QC


R (Catt and T) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and ACPO [2015] UKSC 9; [2015] A.C. 1065

linked appeals relating to police retention of information about a protester and a harassment warning letter, led by Jeremy Johnson QC


R (TD) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2014] EWCA Civ 585

police retention of CRIS reports, led by Jeremy Johnson QC


R (E7) v Chairman of the Azelle Rodney Inquiry [2014] EWHC 452 (Admin)

challenge to the findings of a public inquiry, led by Samantha Leek QC


Brookfield Aviation International Ltd v Guildford Crown Court [2015] EWHC 3465 (Admin)

challenge to a police search warrant


R (Ramsden) v IPCC [2013] EWHC 3969 (Admin)

defending a challenge to the IPCC’s decision not to take witness statements from witnesses to an alleged assault


R (Chief Constable of West Yorkshire) v IPCC [2014] EWCA Civ 1367

a challenge to the ambit of IPCC reports, led by Matthew Holdcroft


R (AXT) v Chief Constable of Kent Constabulary

a challenge to the police’s decision not to refer a case to the CPS prior to discontinuing the investigation

Georgina is shortlisted for Public Inquiries and Inquests Junior of the Year 2023 in the Chambers UK Awards.

Georgina has particular expertise in inquest law and is recommended by Chambers UK for Inquests and Public Inquiries (Band 1) and as an Inquests and Inquiries Leading Junior (Tier 1) in The Legal 500.

She regularly appears on behalf of the police, the prison service, the CPS, NHS Trusts, care homes and social services as well as other Interested Persons and families. She often appears in subsequent civil actions.

She is acting as junior counsel for West Midlands Police in the Inquests following the Fishmongers’ Hall Terror Attacks, for the Labour Party in the inquest touching on the death of Carl Sargeant, for the Ministry of Justice in the inquest touching on the death of Max Clifford and as junior counsel for the Ministry of Defence in the inquest into the death of Geoff Gray (Deepcut).

She has a particular experience in inquests with a national security element (including those that convert into a public inquiry), deaths in custody and death following restraint.

Georgina also has experience acting in inquests involving healthcare and alleged clinical negligence. She has acted for NHS Trusts and County Councils (social services) in inquests involving the treatment of diabetes, bed sores, heart conditions, myocarditis, epilepsy, cirrhosis of the liver and neurosarcoidosis, among others.

Featured Inquests cases


Inquests into the deaths arising from the Fishmongers’ Hall and London Bridge Terror Attacks

acting as junior counsel for West Midlands Police (led by Jason Beer QC)


Inquest into the death of Carl Sargeant

acting for the Labour Party; Mr Sargeant died following allegations of sexual misconduct


Inquest into the death of Max Clifford

acting for the MoJ; Mr Clifford died in custody allegedly as the result of delay in diagnosis of a heart condition


Inquest into the death of Geoff Gray

junior counsel for the MoD in the inquest arising from the death of a private at the Deepcut barracks


Inquest into the death of Carole Lovett

acted for the NHS Trust; Ms Lovett died after medical staff failed to calculate and act upon National Early Warning Signs scores


Inquest into the death of Stephen Akinyemi

acted for Cheshire Constabulary in the inquest arising from the shooting of Mr Akinyemi (and as junior in the subsequent civil action [2018] EWHC 34 (QB))


Inquest into the death of Kingsley Burrell

junior for West Midlands police following Mr Burrell’s death having been under police restraint


Inquest into the death of Jan McLean

acted for Surrey Police; Mr McLean died in police custody having ingested cocaine


Inquest into the death of George Mason

acted for social services in the inquest arising from the death of a dementia patient who absconded from a care home


Inquest into the deaths of Roger and Mathilde Lamb

acted for the family; the couple died in unusual circumstances while abroad.

Georgina is shortlisted for Public Inquiries and Inquests Junior of the Year 2023 in the Chambers UK Awards.

Georgina has extensive experience of public inquiries and is recommended by Chambers UK for Inquests and Public Inquiries (Band 1) and as an Inquests and Inquiries Leading Junior (Tier 1) in The Legal 500.

She has appeared in public inquiries for numerous Core Participants including His Majesty’s Government and the police, as well as other Core Participants. She has also appeared in judicial reviews challenging the decisions of Inquiry Chairs, notably R (Cabinet Office) v Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry [2023] EWHC 1702 (Admin) (on behalf of the Rt Hon. Boris Johnson, led by Lord Pannick KC) and E7 v Chair of the Azelle Rodney Inquiry [2014] EWHC 452 (Admin) (on behalf of E7, led by Sam Leek KC).

Featured Public Inquiries cases


Covid-19 Inquiry (for the Rt Hon. Boris Johnson)


Dawn Sturgess Inquiry (for His Majesty’s Government)


Infected Blood Inquiry (for the Department for Health and Social Care)


Undercovering Policing (for two police forces)

Latest News & Events

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Georgina Wolfe appeared for Boris Johnson in the Covid Inquiry.

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5 Essex Court shortlisted for the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023

5 Essex Court is delighted to have been shortlisted in the Chambers…

"She is an outstanding advocate, logical, methodical, and easily gains the respect of the court; a star"


"She is an outstanding advocate, logical, methodical, and easily gains the respect of the court; a star"


Instructing Georgina
Please contact James Cole if you have any questions or wish to instruct us.

Call +44 (0)20 7410 2000 or click here to email

Education & Qualifications

  • 2006 – Called to the Bar by Middle Temple
  • Harold G. Fox Scholar, Middle Temple
  • Queen Mother Scholar, Middle Temple
  • Blackstone Entrance Exhibition, Middle Temple
  • 2006 – Inns of Court School of Law, Bar Vocational Course
  • 2005 – City University, Graduate Diploma in Law
  • 2004 – Edinburgh University, MA (Hons) English Literature (with third year exchange to Queen’s University, Canada)

  

Chambers UK 2023

“She is absolutely fantastic: very bright and a lovely person. She has a great manner with clients and opponents.”

Legal 500 2023

‘First class for both inquiries and inquests. She gets to the heart of things quickly and robustly, and clients love her approachable but no-nonsense approach. Very sought after for difficult inquest and inquiry work, where she is particularly trusted in national security matters.’

Chambers UK 2022

“An effective advocate with a phenomenal brain.” (Police Law)

“Bright, personable and talented.” (Police Law)

“She is a staggeringly hard-working barrister who has an absolutely meticulous attention to detail and incredible knowledge of inquest law.” (Inquests & Public Inquiries)

“A friendly advocate at the same time as being tough and strategic.” (Inquests & Public Inquiries)

Legal 500 2022

“Georgina has crystalline clarity of thought, which coupled with a comprehensive knowledge of coronial law and a deep insight into the workings of inquests, makes her the ideal choice of counsel. Her technical skills, as well as the ability to express arguments in writing, are coupled with an appreciation of the wider landscape and the ability to think strategically. She is a go-to choice as a junior on inquests and inquiries.” (Inquest and Inquiries)

“A polished, very talented advocate who commands the confidence of the court.” (Police Law – Defendant)

Chambers UK 2021

A “fantastic barrister” who is “superb with clients” and “extremely personable.” (Police Law)

“Georgina is absolutely stellar. She has a huge brain and she’s fiercely intelligent. She’s firm with clients in a good way and doesn’t get pushed around by anyone.” (Inquests and Inquiries)

“She has brilliant soft skills in an inquest.” (Inquests and Inquiries)

“She has been incredibly helpful at tackling very difficult cases at short notice.” (Inquests and Inquiries)

Legal 500 2021

“A polished, very talented advocate who commands the confidence of the court.”

“A first-rate lawyer. She has a deep and complete understanding of coronial law, and can perceive how the coroner will react and provide measured and precise advice adapted to the particular circumstances of the inquest.”

Legal 500 2020

“She is an outstanding advocate, logical, methodical, and easily gains the respect of the court; a star” (Police Law)

Chambers UK 2020

“She’s an able, bright, delightful person and a pleasure to work with. I can’t speak highly enough of her.” (Inquests and Public Inquiries)

“Superb junior with an impressive capacity to absorb paperwork, allied with impressive courtroom advocacy. One to watch: a real hard worker and very bright” (Police Law)

“She’s very well prepared, easy to work with and determined. She’s good at thinking about all the players in the hearing, including the coroner, jury and media, and is very tactful.”

Legal 500 2020

“She has an assured written style and is a very shrewd judge of character and of case tactics.” (Inquests and Inquiries)

Chambers UK 2019

“Insightful, knowledgeable and tactfully astute. She is aware of what’s going on and what the issues are for the police.” (Police Law)

“A very impressive, capable advocate who is very good on paper.” (Police Law)

“She’s very bright, hugely personable and fantastically efficient. She’s on top of every point in a case and leaves no stone unturned.” (Inquests and Public Inquiries)

Legal 500 2019

‘Bright and very capable.’ (Police Law – Defendant)

Chambers UK 2018

“She is excellent. She has an incredible grasp of the documents, is excellent with the families and has a great grasp of the facts.” (Inquest and Inquiries)

“She is a really good advocate who doesn’t make unnecessary points. She is extremely persuasive but in a very gentle manner.” (Inquest and Inquiries)

“She is bright, approachable and excellent on paper and on her feet.”

Chambers UK 2017

“Her drafting is fantastic.”

“She is a real hard worker and very bright.”

Legal 500 2017

“She has acknowledged sector expertise, and an accessible and approachable manner.” (Police Law – Defendant)

Chambers UK 2016

“Can cut to the chase.”

Chambers UK 2015

“Very bright and good to work with.”

“Incredibly industrious.”

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