George Eyre

Areas of expertise

• Civil fraud

  Civil fraud

  George is regularly instructed in civil fraud disputes and has experience of advising, pleading and witness handling in cases involving a range of species of fraud, economic torts, and dishonest breaches of directors’ duties. George’s experience in construction, energy and infrastructure disputes means that he is often sought after for cases involving allegations of fraud in those specialist contexts.

  His recent work has included:

  • Gerko v Seal & Ors [2023] EWHC 63 (KB), a multi-million pound claim concerning an alleged unlawful means conspiracy relating to the sale of a large property in London (with Max Mallin KC of Wilberforce Chambers).
  • Representing the Secretary of State for Business and Trade in director disqualification proceedings arising from a longstanding scheme of tax avoidance (sole counsel).
  • Proceedings concerning allegedly fraudulent misrepresentations made in connection with the sale of a large residential property in Wales (sole counsel).
  • A dispute in which George’s client alleged that the opposing party had forged the contract on which its claim was premised. The claim involved specialist technological evidence concerning concealed modifications that had been made to electronic copies of the contract in question (sole counsel).
  • A claim concerning alleged fraudulent misrepresentations made by a property management company in connection with its appointment to manage a portfolio of residential properties (sole counsel).
  • Proceedings concerning the alleged deliberate disclosure and misuse of confidential information, where the defendant alleged that his employer had been engaged in widespread anti-competitive and fraudulent conduct and relied on whistleblowing defences (sole counsel).
  • A dispute concerning directors’ misfeasance, breaches of fiduciary duty and professional negligence arising from a large construction project, value approximately £12 million (with Joshua Crow, One Essex Court).
  • Successfully representing a national energy company at trial and subsequent appeal in proceedings involving allegations of deceit and economic duress (sole counsel).
  • Adjudication enforcement proceedings in which it was alleged that the adjudicator’s decision should not be enforced as a result of alleged fraud during the adjudication process (with Laurence Page).
  • A contractual dispute concerning alleged acts of intimidation and duress that were said to comprise renunciations and/or repudiatory breaches of the contract, and the deliberate sabotage of a construction project. Value approximately £5 million (with Michael Wheater).
  • A misrepresentation dispute arising from a fraud perpetrated on an investment bank acting as financer for the hire-purchase of several items of commercial machinery, heard at a five-day trial (with David Lewis KC).
• Commercial dispute resolution

  Commercial dispute resolution

  George is a sought after commercial junior and is recommended as a Rising Star for Commercial Litigation by the Legal 500, which comments that “George is a confident barrister and deservedly so. He has impressive knowledge but, more importantly, a real skill in manoeuvring his opponents. He is definitely a rising star and one to watch”.

  George has a strong general commercial practice and regularly represents clients in disputes concerning the supply of goods and services, civil fraud, misrepresentation, commercial agency, professional negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, joint ventures, sports, and policies of insurance.

  His recent work has included:

  • A c. £1 million dispute arising from the termination of several contracts concerning a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant (sole counsel).
  • Representing the Home Office in a c.£5m dispute concerning fees relating to the housing of asylum seekers (sole counsel).
  • Gerko v Seal & Ors [2023] EWHC 63 (KB): a multi-million pound claim concerning an alleged unlawful means conspiracy relating to the sale of a large property in London (with Max Mallin KC of Wilberforce Chambers).
  • Acting for a healthcare company in a dispute worth approximately £300 million arising from breaches of a joint venture agreement (with David Lewis KC).
  • An LCIA arbitration arising from the failed acquisition of a portfolio of oil and gas assets in the Middle East (with Robin Dunne).
  • A dispute concerning the interpretation and termination of a contract governing the management of a development of luxury properties in Bayswater, value approximately £2 million (sole counsel).
  • Unfair prejudice proceedings arising from the breakdown in the relationship between co-founders of a well-known textiles company (with Andrew Sutcliffe KC of 3 Verulam Buildings).
  • An LCIA arbitration of a contractual dispute concerning a private island, value over £20 million (with Charles Raffin).
  • A c.£7.5 million dispute involving injunction proceedings arising from the liquidation of a large property development company (with Phillip Patterson).
  • Representing a multinational technology company in a dispute concerning the alleged repudiation of a licensing agreement by its Indian client (sole counsel).
  • A claim concerning alleged fraudulent misrepresentations made during the marketing and sale of a large residential property, value approximately £100,000 (sole counsel).
  • A dispute concerning directors’ misfeasance, breaches of fiduciary duty and professional negligence arising from a large construction project, value approximately £12 million (with Joshua Crow, One Essex Court).
  • Representing the Secretary of State for Business and Trade in director disqualification proceedings (sole counsel).
  • A partnership dispute arising from the sale of a London restaurant, value £200,000 (sole counsel).
  • Contractual disputes arising from the commercial sports industry, including representing a football club in a dispute arising from a sponsorship agreement, a dispute arising from a football apprenticeship programme and a dispute arising from the provision of training facilities to a football academy (sole counsel).
  • Appearing successfully (as sole counsel) in Mansion Place Limited v Fox Industrial Services Limited [2021] EWHC 2747 (TCC), the leading authority on the proper application of Practice Direction 57AC for trial witness statements in the Business and Property Courts.
  • A c. £2 million dispute concerning contractual indemnities, double insurance, co-insurance and conflict of laws (with Nigel Jones KC).
  • Advising in a multi-million pound contractual dispute in relation to insurance obligations arising from the prolongation of a major infrastructure project (sole counsel).
  • A shipping dispute concerning the validity of port service charges against an international shipping company, involving UK and EU shipping and competition legislation (with David Lewis KC).
• Construction & engineering

  Construction & engineering

  George has a busy domestic and international construction practice and is regularly instructed by individuals, commercial clients and their insurers to advise, assist with adjudication proceedings, prepare pleadings, and to represent them in court and arbitration proceedings.

  George has been recommended as a Rising Star in construction disputes by the Legal 500 since 2021, with referees commenting that he has “gravitas, knowledge, and confidence way beyond his years”, that “his key strength is attention to detail – he has an impressive ability to absorb large quantities of information and papers and produce incisive accurate drafting and advice”, and that  he is “recommend[ed] for trials without hesitation”.

  His work in this area involves a wide range of specialist construction issues, including those arising from standard form and bespoke construction contracts, the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (as amended), and the liability of construction professionals. He is particularly sought after for cases where his construction expertise overlaps with issues commonly found in general commercial litigation, such as those involving fraud, professional negligence and insurance issues.

  Since October 2018, alongside his regular practice, George has been instructed as junior counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the independent public inquiry established to investigate the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the fire at Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017.

  George’s other recent work has included:

  • A dispute concerning alleged design and workmanship defects in works performed at Twickenham Stadium, value approximately £4.5 million (with Michael Wheater).
  • A final account dispute arising from Mechanical and Electrical works at a large commercial project in the midlands, value c.£3.75 million (sole counsel).
  • Multi-party professional negligence proceedings arising from the development of a luxury property in Hampstead, value approximately £4 million (sole counsel).
  • Appearing successfully (as sole counsel) in Mansion Place Limited v Fox Industrial Services Limited [2021] EWHC 2747 (TCC), the leading authority on the proper application of Practice Direction 57AC for trial witness statements in the Business and Property.
  • A £3 million dispute arising from the development of a luxury hotel and tourist attraction in Cornwall, involving complex issues of delay analysis (with David Pliener).
  • A £1 million dispute arising from an oil spill at an NHS hospital (with David Pliener KC).
  • A multi-billion dollar international arbitration arising from a large infrastructure project in the Middle East (junior counsel).
• Insurance

  Insurance

  Alongside his general commercial practice, George has expertise in specialist insurance matters. He is recommended as a Rising Star for Insurance and Reinsurance work by the Legal 500, which commends him as a “name to watch”.

  George routinely handles complex domestic and international insurance disputes. He is regularly instructed by insurers and clients in disputes relating to coverage, professional indemnity and ATE insurance. George is the author of Practical Law’s guidance note on Insurance and Reinsurance Arbitration, and a contributor to Construction Professional Indemnity Insurance and Insurance Broking Practice and the Law.

  George’s recent work has included:

  • Acting as sole counsel and as part of a larger counsel team in several substantial coverage disputes concerning Business Interruption insurance, arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. George’s Business Interruption work has involved complex issues across the full range of this rapidly developing area of insurance law. Most recently, George has been instructed as sole counsel in a c.£1 million dispute arising from the closure of a large wedding venue on the south coast.
  • A coverage dispute concerning the operation of policy of commercial combined insurance upon the insolvency of the insured restaurant group, which had suffered losses of approximately £600,000 from fire damage and consequent business interruption (sole counsel).
  • A c.£40 million coverage dispute concerning the application of a “prior knowledge” exclusion to a composite policy of Professional Indemnity insurance in circumstances where one co-insured had acquired another (with David Pliener KC).
  • A multi-million pound insurance coverage dispute arising from fire safety concerns at a large residential tower block (with Catherine Piercy KC).
  • A coverage dispute arising from extensive water damage to a residential development (with David Pliener KC).
  • A c. $40 million international arbitration concerning the operation of a policy of Construction All Risks Insurance (with Paul Reed KC).
  • A c. £2 million international insurance dispute concerning the overlapping issues of contractual indemnities, double insurance, co-insurance and conflict of laws (with Nigel Jones KC).
  • A coverage dispute concerning widespread design and construction defects in a large residential development in West London, including complex issues concerning the distinction between “actual” and “imminent” damage and the duty to take “reasonable precautions” to avoid further loss (sole counsel).
  • A coverage dispute concerning the theft of valuable jewellery from a London home (sole counsel).
  • A coverage dispute concerning a policy of “reverse indemnity” insurance and arising from injuries suffered as the result of clinical negligence.
  • Advising ATE insurers in a c. £20 million professional negligence dispute arising from the defective design and/or installation of an alarm system at a commercial premises that was destroyed by fire (with Catherine Piercy KC).
  • A dispute involving coverage and brokering issues in the provision of insurance-backed guarantees for works to refurbish the roofs of two Central London properties.
  • As sole counsel, advising in a multi-million pound dispute concerning insurance obligations arising under the Construction All Risks policy in respect a major infrastructure project that was significantly delayed.
• Professional negligence

  Professional negligence

  George’s work regularly concerns the liability of professionals in the provision of services across a wide range of commercial contexts, including the legal, insurance and financial industries, whether in isolation or as part of broader disputes.

  Since October 2018, alongside his regular practice, George has been instructed as junior counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, focussing on the liability of professional consultants across several disciplines. That experience has complemented George’s extensive expertise in professional negligence claims arising from the construction industry, including those concerning design and construction of high-rise buildings and their external facades. He is frequently instructed by insurers, property owners, construction professionals and residents to provide advice and representation in professional negligence claims arising from overcladding and other construction projects.

  George’s other recent work has included:

  • Advising a provider of development finance in a c.£10 million claim against a firm of surveyors for conducting allegedly negligent valuations of luxury properties (sole counsel).
  • A dispute concerning directors’ misfeasance, breaches of fiduciary duty and professional negligence arising from a large construction project, value approximately £12 million (with Joshua Crow, One Essex Court).
  • Successfully representing a national energy company in an application for a wasted costs order against a firm of solicitors in in subsequent appeal proceedings (sole counsel).
  • A c £4 million claim concerning alleged professional negligence in the development of large residential and commercial premises in the midlands (sole counsel).
  • Advising and drafting proceedings in a claim against the architect and principal contractor responsible for the design and construction of the swimming pool and spa complex of a luxury property in Suffolk.
  • An ongoing c.£200,000 claim against a major firm of solicitors whose negligence in conveyancing exposed George’s client to third-party claims for breach of contract (sole counsel).
  • Ongoing multi-party professional negligence proceedings arising from the development of a luxury property in Hampstead, value approximately £4 million (sole counsel).
  • A claim brought against a firm of accountants, arising from its negligence in failing to secure Research and Development tax relief (sole counsel).
  • A dispute relating to the liability of a large trade association in the context of its recommendation of its member bodies for specialist construction work (sole counsel).
  • A claim against a design consultant in relation to the refurbishment of a large commercial premises in a City of London property (sole counsel).
  • Appeal proceedings in relation to a claim against conveyancing solicitors concerning their failure to obtain relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax in the purchase of a residential property (sole counsel).
  • Adjudication proceedings concerning the liability of design consultants in relation to the construction of several luxury properties in London (sole counsel).