Geoffrey Bindman – an obituary note

JVL Introduction

We at JVL are very sad to hear to hear of Geoffrey Bindman’s death.  There will no doubt be many obituaries that remind us of his truly path-breaking work and his remarkable achivevements.

For now we note his passing by reposting Bindmans’ offical obituary and adding a personal note from Jenny Manson, JVL’s Co-Chair and a friend and colleague.

Jenny Manson writes

I knew Geoffrey in the early 70s when we lived near his family in Parliament Hill Fields and subsequently in the 1990s I contacted Geoffrey about refugee rights. Then later, when Jeremy Corbyn became leader of the Labour Party and accusations of antisemitism were coming thick and fast, Geoffrey asked me to involve him in contesting these allegations, both against Jeremy and against Labour party members. He said he was not aware of ever having experienced such a campaign without any real evidence in all his professional and political life.

Geoffrey was a great source of support, advising JVL informally in our submission to the EHRC and in our complaints to the EHRC and the Labour Party about the Party’s unjust processes and discrimination against us as Jews. He and I worked on our demands that the Charity Commission investigate the Campaign Against Antisemitism (the CAA). Geoffrey was pleased to learn that a new investigation commenced after his and others’ representations last year.

During this time my husband Mike and I also enjoyed seeing  Geoffrey socially, with his late wife Lynn, and with friends including Jeremy and Laura Alvarez. He had a sometimes shy warmth, an extraordinarily sharp brain of course and a very sympathetic interest in other people.

I visited Geoffrey last month at his home. He reminded me of the antisemitism he had experienced himself as a trainee solicitor: he had been told that as a Jew he could never be a partner. He said again that all his life he had looked for the facts, for the truth of an issue. And he remained outraged at the suggestion that Jeremy oversaw and enabled a surge in antisemitism.

We send our condolences and best wishes to his family.

Bindmans LLP has posted this

We are very sorry to announce the death of our founder, Sir Geoffrey Bindman on 4 November 2025 at the age of 92.

Sir Geoffrey co-founded Bindmans in 1974, a firm aiming to “protect the rights and reputations of local Londoners” as well as acting for progressive organisations and businesses. He had an extraordinarily impactful legal career, not only as a litigator but as an architect of UK equality and human rights law.  After his retirement from the partnership he continued to take a keen interest in the firm as a consultant, writing articles and providing support and advice to us all.

Amongst many recognitions he was knighted in January 2007 for services to human rights and in March 2011 appointed honorary Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel). He also received a Lifetime Contribution Award in 2023 in recognition of the sustained and significant impact he made in the legal world.

He was a magnificent lawyer and a profoundly honourable man. He was a significant force for good and will be deeply missed. We extend our most sincere condolences to his family.