George Dougenis

During pupillage, George drafted opinions covering a wide range of Trusts and Estates issues, including:

• a complex estate planning matter concerning a trust for a disabled person and the inheritance tax consequences of a failed capital distribution.
• the construction of two settlements of shares, deeds altering income rights and a conditional testamentary gift.
• an estate administration involving an NRB debt, self-dealing issues and the construction of a will.
• two 1975 Act claims involving service out of the jurisdiction and a polygamous marriage respectively.
• a claim for professional negligence by a solicitor acting as a professional trustee (George also drafted the Letter Before Claim).
• a rectification claim under section 125, Companies Act 2006 where shares were wrongly registered in the names of “the settlement” as opposed to the names of the intended trustees.

George also gained significant drafting experience, having contributed to a complex Reply and Defence to Counterclaim in a multi-party claim concerning the beneficial ownership of a portfolio of properties. He has also assisted with multiple mediations and interim hearings.

George has experience of advising on cross-border trust and estates issues, underpinned by his postgraduate studies in the subject.

During pupillage, George gained experience of a range of commercial disputes.

During his second six, George successfully appeared in a fast-track trial of a claim and counter-claim concerning the hire of construction equipment, leading to full recovery for his client.

He has also produced advice on a range of matters, including:

• a civil fraud claim concerning the misappropriation of shares.
• a breach of contract and quantum meruit claim concerning cleaning services provided to a hotel operator.
• a cross-border defamation claim by a multi-national corporation.
• an unfair prejudice petition, including advice on the extent of a minority discount.

George has drafted particulars of claim in debt claims concerning, respectively, a Share Purchase Agreement and the provision of specialist tax advice, as well as an application to set aside a witness summons concerning the CEO of a large building society.

George has obtained a bankruptcy order and appeared on an application to adjourn bankruptcy proceedings in anticipation of an IVA.

During pupillage, George produced opinions on a variety of matters, including:

• the enforceability of a c. £5.5m mortgage, in the face of allegations of undue influence, breaches of MCOB and equitable/statutory relief.
• a claim for breach of fiduciary duty in respect of a major property development scheme involving a consortium of investors.
• the effects of a disclaimer of a lease by a trustee-in-bankruptcy and the prospects of obtaining a vesting order.
• The application of FSMA 2000 and CCA 1974 on an unconventional private lending arrangement.

George also produced skeleton arguments covering:

• an appeal concerning the enforceability of a personal guarantee (Court of Appeal).
• an application to strike out a duress defence in proceedings for the enforcement of a guarantee.
• an application to amend a statement of case in a commercial finance dispute.
• an application to suspend the automatic discharge of a bankrupt.

George has recently co-authored an article (with Mark Hubbard) examining limitation in insolvency claims following the Supreme Court’s decision in THG Plc v Zedra Trust Company (Jersey) Ltd [2026] 2 WLR 479.

George has gained substantial experience of property disputes, including possession proceedings, boundary disputes and nuisance claims. This has included consideration of expert evidence.

During his second six, George successfully appeared in possession proceedings for both claimant and defendant and appeared for a lender in an application to suspend a warrant of possession under the Mortgage Repossessions (Protection of Tenants etc) Act 2010. In addition, he appeared unled in a trial concerning an aborted property purchase and successfully resisted a strike-out application in relation to a nuisance claim.

George also has significant drafting experience in this area, having drafted a complex Defence to a claim concerning the defective construction of a plumbing system in a large multi-storey residential development and a Part 36 Offer for the specific performance of an agreement to grant a long lease.

While at the Court of Appeal, George assisted Nugee LJ with significant property appeals including Clapham v Narga [2025] 2 WLR 413 (boundary disputes and adverse possession) and Triathlon Homes LLP v Stratford Village Development Partnership [2026] 1 All ER 574 (remediation contribution orders). George was also a Research Assistant in the Law Commission’s projects on residential and commercial leases.

• PGDip Bar Practice, Inns of Court College of Advocacy
• BCL, St Cross College, University of Oxford
• LLB, University College London (First Class)

George has also completed a postgraduate module on cross-border trust disputes and trust-like structures in civil law systems (University of London, Distinction).

• Exhibition Award (Inner Temple)
• Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Award (Inner Temple)
• Charlotte Ashby Prize (UCL Faculty of Laws)
• Winning team, XXIV Old Buildings UCL-KCL Moot
• Finalist, Slaughter and May Senior Mooting Competition (UCL Law Society)

• The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

• Greek – bilingual
• French – advanced (DALF C2)