Max Millington is a tenant at Cornerstone Barristers accepting instructions across all areas of chambers work, with a particular interest in planning and environment, housing, health and social care, public law and judicial review. He completed his pupillage (October 2024 – October 2025) under the supervision of Robert Williams, Jack Parker, Alexander Campbell, Ryan Kohli and Andrew Lane.
In the year before he started pupillage, Max was the Judicial Assistant to Lord Justice Bean at the Court of Appeal (now Vice-President of the Court). 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 his pupillage, Max assisted his supervisors Robert Williams, Jack Parker and Ryan Kohli, as well as 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.
– Drafting a skeleton argument for an appeal to the Court of Appeal concerning the lawfulness of the Secretary of State’s decision to grant permission for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.
– 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.
– 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.
- 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 Social Care practice.
During his pupillage, Max has:
- Received instructions in age assessment disputes arising from the provisions of the Children Act 1989.
- Acted in proceedings concerning the displacement of a nearest relative under Part II of the Mental Health Act 1983.
- 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 section 21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (‘MCA 2005’), and in proceedings under section 16 of the MCA 2005 involving issues of residence and care.
- Housing and Property
Max regularly appears in the County Court in housing matters including possession proceedings, disrepair claims, and applications for housing-related injunctions.
During his pupillage, under the supervision of Alexander Campbell, Ryan Kohli and Andrew Lane, Max:
- Drafted advice on an Equality Act 2010 disability discrimination claim brought against a housing association.
- Drafted a skeleton argument in an appeal brought under section 204 of the Housing Act 1996 in respect of a decision concerning the suitability of temporary accommodation.
- Produced pleadings for possession proceedings including in relation to counterclaims concerning allegations of disrepair and breaches of duties arising under the Equality Act 2010.
- Appeared in the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in a dispute concerning the appointment of a manager under section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987.
- Assisted a senior member of Chambers with an appeal before the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) concerning the interpretation of the provisions of Schedule 4 of the Land Registration Act 2002 arising from a dispute over registered title to land.
- Drafted a statement of case and skeleton argument in an appeal against an Improvement Notice issued under the provisions of the Housing Act 2004.
Since joining Chambers as a tenant, Max has appeared in the High Court resisting an application for permission to bring a judicial review claim in respect of a decision made under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996.