Maximilian Hardy

Specialising in criminal and regulatory law, Max is a persuasive and experienced advocate who is dauntless in pursuit of a successful outcome for clients. He is ready to advise at any time, in person or in writing, on cases great or small, whether privately funded or legally aided. Max has been a tenant at 9BR Chambers since 2007. He maintains a mixed practice, defending and prosecuting a range of criminal offences. Having appeared in hundreds of trials, he has learnt from long experience the hard work and preparation that is required to win in court. In 2018 he was seconded to CPS London in the Homicide Unit assuming responsibility for murder and fatal road traffic prosecutions, Max has a busy homicide practice including trials at the Central Criminal Court. In 2015 he undertook a secondment with the Nursing & Midwifery Council presenting cases, providing advice and progressing investigations. In 2014 he spent six months on secondment to the Financial Conduct Authority working on Operation Dovercourt, the multinational investigation into foreign exchange manipulation. Max has acquired an in-depth knowledge of this area of financial services. In 2010 he was seconded to the fraud prosecution division of the CPS as a senior crown prosecutor. He assumed a serious and heavy caseload – providing pre-charge advice to investigators, making charging decisions, and drafting letters of request for international assistance. Max also has plenty of experience of defending young people or vulnerable clients – including people battling addictions – and is sensitive to their needs. He has defended immigration and identify offences and has an interest in art crime, having worked at Sotheby’s before coming to the Bar.

MA (Oxon), University of Oxford (Lady Margaret Hall)

CPE/GDL, City University

BVC, Inns of Court School of Law