Max Millington is a tenant of Cornerstone Barrister having completed his pupillage under the supervision of Robert Williams, Jack Parker and Alexander Campbell, assisting on Planning and Environment, Community Care, Court of Protection, Housing and Property matters.
In the year before he started pupillage, Max was the Judicial Assistant to Lord Justice Bean at the Court of Appeal. This role required him to undertake legal research and produce bench memoranda to assist in the preparation of cases for hearing. During Max’s time at the Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Bean heard appeals concerned with a wide range of public law matters including: the interaction between local authorities’ housing and social care duties (R (Campbell) v Ealing London Borough Council [2024] EWCA Civ 540; R (DF) v Essex County Council [2024] EWCA Civ 1545); the scope of rights afforded by the ECHR (Begum v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWCA Civ 152; ASY v Home Office [2024] EWCA Civ 373; Adil v General Medical Council [2023] EWCA Civ 1261); and the requirements of the duty of candour (R (IAB) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWCA Civ 66).
Before joining the Bar, Max qualified and worked as a social worker in child protection services, gaining experience of care proceedings in the Family Court. He has also acted as an advocate for children and young people in care through his role as a Children’s Rights Officer for the London Borough of Hackney.
Max holds a First-Class undergraduate degree in History from Oxford University and a master’s degree in Political Thought and Intellectual History from Cambridge University. His legal studies have been supported by prestigious scholarships including Gray’s Inn’s David Karmel Scholarship Award.
Expertise
- Planning and Environment
During the first six months of his pupillage Max assisted his supervisor Robert Williams and Jack Parker, and other members of Chambers on a wide range of Planning and Environment matters including:
– Drafting legal opinions on:
- The implications of the Supreme Court’s decision in R (Finch) v Surrey CC [2024] UKSC 20; [2024] PTSR 988 for a proposed judicial review of a decision to grant planning permission on grounds relating to the adequacy of an Environmental Impact Assessment.
- The merits of a proposed judicial review of a decision to grant planning permission on grounds relating to the failure to take into account material considerations including the development’s environmental and ecological impacts.
- The merits of a proposed section 78 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 appeal from a refusal to grant planning permission for a place of worship.
- The availability of enforcement powers to a local authority concerned with the unsuitability of accommodation occupied in breach of planning conditions.
- Whether operational development and a material change of use undertaken by the owner of premises had acquired immunity from enforcement action by virtue of the relevant provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
- A Developer’s potential liability arising under an historic section 106 agreement and commercial risk mitigation.
– Preparing for multiple planning inquiries through the drafting of opening statements; producing notes for the cross-examination of witnesses, including on matters of technical expertise; and drafting sections of closing statements.
– Undertaking legal research to inform the drafting of written submissions in support of a challenge before the Court of Appeal to a Written Ministerial Statement on local energy efficiency standards.
- Health and Social Care
Max would like to build on his professional experience as a social worker and advocate for children in care by developing a Community Care practice.
During his pupillage, Max has:
- Drafted grounds for an application for judicial review challenging a local authority’s failure to meet obligations arising under the Care Act 2014 in respect of a vulnerable adult.
- Produced a skeleton argument on behalf of one local authority in a dispute with another local authority as to the place of ordinary residence of an adult to whom Care Act 2014 duties were owed.
- Court of Protection
Max is interested in building up a practice in Court of Protection work.
During his pupillage under the supervision of Alexander Campbell, Max gained experience of a wide range of cases before the Court of Protection, covering both personal welfare and property and affairs matters. He assisted with drafting documents in proceedings challenging a deprivation of liberty under s.21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (‘MCA 2005’), and in proceedings under s.16 of the MCA 2005 involving issues of residence and care.
- Housing
Max welcomes instructions in all areas of Housing Law.
- Property
Max welcomes instructions in Property Law.