January 2, 2024
Chambers would like to congratulate former Head of Chambers Sir Max Hill KC who has been knighted in the New Year Honours List 2024 and appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB).
Sir Max Hill KC’s career at the Bar has spanned 31 years of practice, with 21 years of those spent at Red Lion Chambers. He was Head of Chambers from 2012-2018. At the Bar, Sir Max Hill KC defended and prosecuted a number of complex cases including homicide, violence, corporate crime and high-value fraud. He led some of the most significant high-profile terrorism and murder trials including work on one of the Damilola Taylor murder trials and the 2005 London bombings.
Between 2014-16 he led the South Eastern Circuit and was chairman of the Criminal Bar Association between 2011-12. He has worked extensively in an advisory capacity both nationally and internationally. In March 2017, he took up post as Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation as well as being head of Red Lion Chambers between 2012-18 and chairman of the Kalisher Trust.
As the former Director of Public Prosecutions from 2018-2023, he led strategic engagement and collaboration across the Crown Prosecution Service to deliver a joint national action plan with the police and Operation Soteria, a programme to develop best practice for the investigation and prosecution of rape. The programme has achieved a 69% increase in referral and an 86% increase in charge volumes for adult rape. He worked with the Bar and Government to agree to an increase in fees to end industrial action and maintain equality of arms. He also gave personal consent to several double jeopardy cases that led to the conviction of perpetrators for a murder in 1975 and two murders by the same person 21 years apart. He has a strong focus on victims and personally met with families of the Manchester Arena bomb victims before the trial which led to a conviction.
Upon receiving the honour, Sir Max Hill KC commented: “My time at the Crown Prosecution Service was marked by unprecedented challenges including the pandemic and striving to improve the criminal justice response to rape and domestic violence. I am very grateful for this honour, which is a testament to the thousands of CPS staff and prosecution advocates who work tirelessly to help victims and to deliver justice. I also want to recognise my time in Chambers which played a central part in my career. I spent 21 happy years with Red Lion which provided me with the experience and legal expertise to contribute at the highest levels in the Criminal Justice System.”
Heads of Chambers Gillian Jones KC and Tom Forster KC said: “On behalf of all the members and staff at Red Lion Chambers we congratulate Sir Max Hill KC on the announcement of his knighthood. It is a most well-deserved recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the Criminal Justice system in England and Wales. We are immensely proud of him.”
For more information please see: [New Year Honours List 2024: High Awards (HTML)]