Sir Max Hill KCB KC was called to the Bar in 1987, appointed Recorder in 2004 and then Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 2008. He has held a number of prominent positions, including Director of Public Prosecutions, UK Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Leader of the South Eastern Circuit, Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association and Chairman of the Kalisher Trust. Prior to working as the DPP, Max was the Head of Chambers at Red Lion Chambers, where he led various significant and high-profile trials – including the July 2005 London bombings and the murder of Damilola Taylor. In January 2024, he received a knighthood and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the New Year’s Honours List for his services to law and order.
Chair of the Bar reflects on 2025
Q&A with criminal barrister Nick Murphy, who moved to New Park Court Chambers on the North Eastern Circuit in search of a better work-life balance
Revolt Cycling in Holborn, London’s first sustainable fitness studio, invites barristers to join the revolution – turning pedal power into clean energy
Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, reflects on how the company’s Giving Back ethos continues to make a difference to communities across the UK
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
AlphaBiolabs has made a £500 donation to Sean’s Place, a men’s mental health charity based in Sefton, as part of its ongoing Giving Back initiative
Little has changed since Burns v Burns . Cohabiting couples deserve better than to be left on the blasted heath with the existing witch’s brew for another four decades, argues Christopher Stirling
Six months of court observation at the Old Bailey: APPEAL’s Dr Nisha Waller and Tehreem Sultan report their findings on prosecution practices under joint enterprise
Despite its prevalence, autism spectrum disorder remains poorly understood in the criminal justice system. Does Alex Henry’s joint enterprise conviction expose the need to audit prisons? asks Dr Felicity Gerry KC
With automation now deeply embedded in the Department for Work Pensions, Alexander McColl and Alexa Thompson review what we know, what we don’t and avenues for legal challenge
Why were some Caribbean nations given such dramatically different constitutional frameworks when they gained independence from the UK? Dr Leonardo Raznovich examines the controversial savings clause