backLONDON, February 5, 2024 – King & Spalding has hired Sir Max Hill KC, one of the UK’s most prominent lawyers who most recently served as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the nation’s lead prosecutor. He joins the London office to advise clients on legal issues relating to complex international investigations and litigation.
Hill qualified as a barrister in 1987 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 2008. He has defended and prosecuted some of the highest-profile cases in recent British legal history, including the Damilola Taylor murder trial and the prosecution of the 7/7 London bombings of 2005. Hill also has considerable experience defending and prosecuting high-stakes corporate and business crime, including acting for Norton Healthcare in Operation Holbein, the Serious Fraud Office’s (SFO’s) cartel investigation and prosecution of the pharmaceutical industry; representing the lead Citibank defendant in the SFO/Department of Justice Forex investigation; and serving as lead counsel for the SFO in the ENRC Congolese mining case, running from 2015 to 2018.
Hill was head of Red Lion Chambers from 2012 until 2018, when he took up the position of DPP, head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the third most senior law officer in England and Wales after the attorney general and solicitor general.
“Max is one of the country’s most respected legal minds and accomplished advocates. His high-level experience in both private practice and within the CPS will give our disputes and regulatory clients a new level of insight when navigating complex international investigations and litigation,” said Tom Sprange KC, managing partner of the firm’s London office. “The ever-increasing convergence of the civil, criminal and regulatory strands of the law demands sophisticated and holistic solutions, and Max can address all three angles.”
“Having served as the UK’s chief prosecutor, Max has unparalleled insight into British and multi-jurisdictional investigations that are the core of the Special Matters and Government Investigations practice at King & Spalding,” said Mark Jensen, leader of the practice. “We look forward to Max’s leadership and deep knowledge of government enforcement around the world to pair with our existing global investigations expertise.”
Hill has held a number of senior positions within the profession, including leader of the South Eastern Circuit from 2014 to 2016, chairman of the Criminal Bar Association from 2011 to 2012 and chairman of the Kalisher Trust from 2014 to 2018. He also spent 18 months as the UK Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation from 2017 to 2018. Hill studied Law at St Peter’s College, Oxford.
“King & Spalding is revered for its litigation, financial crime defence and corporate investigations practices, so I am thrilled to be joining the team,” Hill said. “The firm’s cross-border strength across its disputes and regulatory practices – which include many pre-eminent lawyers with in-depth experience across governments, the judiciary and corporate law – also attracted me. It is a very exciting prospect to link-up with this team to help continue the firm’s growth.”
About King & Spalding
King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with 1,300 lawyers in 23 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and consistently earns recognition for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality, and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. More information is available at www.kslaw.com.
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