Sir Max Hill KC joins the Patron’s circle of The Vavengers
We are proud to announce Sir Max Hill KC has been named Patron to The Vavengers.
Joining the Patron’s circle alongside Baroness Rosie Boycott, Max brings years of public service experience as well as a significant legal pro-bono workforce to the organisation. Max will be incredibly important in helping us increase visibility globally while also guiding us with his tremendous legal expertise. Max has been an ally in the anti-FGM space, most notably known for his leadership in securing the UK’s first-ever successful FGM prosecution, despite having ‘Prohibition of FGM Act 1985’ in place for decades with even an update introduced to the law including trafficking people out of the jurisdiction ‘Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003’, and no successful conviction until Max’s time at the CPS as DPP between 2018-23.
The Vavengers CEO Sema Gornall said: “Max joins The Vavengers at a perfect time as we are rolling out strategic global partnerships with legal and sustainable convening focus. We welcome this appointment with great excitement as Max brings a good mix of public and corporate law expertise with also an ambitious and real input to help us with our important mission.”
Joining the organisation with the highest recognition, Max said: “With literally millions of women and girls at risk of Female Genital Mutilation every year, and with a significant number of those women and girls living amongst us in London and across the UK, it is time to declare my support. During my time at the Crown Prosecution Service as the Director of Public Prosecutions 2018-2023, it is one of my proudest memories to have been the leader with ultimate responsibility for the UK’s first-ever successful FGM prosecutions. This is why I will bring my energy to supporting the female leadership at The Vavengers who work extremely hard tirelessly to end FGM and all other forms of Gender-Based Violence. I recognise the importance of male allyship as ending Gender-Based Violence requires everyone’s input and energy. As a Patron, I am proudly backing The Vavengers with a continuous pro-bono workforce by King & Spalding where I am a Partner, organising convening events to bring heads together to increase visibility, public, corporate and government support as well as guide the leadership with execution of the organisation’s bold vision. I am proud to be a Vavenger, so should you, join us in this movement to end Gender-Based Violence.”
Biography of Sir Max Hill KC:
Sir Max Hill KC is one of the UK’s preeminent barristers, having been lead counsel on many of the country’s most high-profile cases and also spending five years as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the most senior non-political public prosecutor in England and Wales. Max has more than three decades of experience defending and prosecuting some of the most complex financial crime, high-value fraud and criminal cases to arise out of the UK, covering issues such as cartel investigations, corruption, corporate criminal liability and terrorism funding. He has held a number of prominent positions, including serving as the UK Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Leader of the South Eastern Circuit, Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association and Chairman of the Kalisher Trust. During his time as DPP, first two convictions in England and Wales on FGM were secured. From 2018 to late 2023, Max served as the UK DPP, the most senior non-political public prosecutor in England and Wales after the attorney general and solicitor general. Prior to working as the DPP, Max was the Head of Chambers at Red Lion Chambers, where he led various significant and high-profile trials – including the 2005 7/7 London bombings and the murder of Damilola Taylor. He also provided advice to the 2012 London Olympics. Max was called to the Bar in 1987, appointed Recorder in 2004 and then Queen's Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 2008. In January 2024, he received a knighthood and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the New Year’s Honours List for his services to law and order. Max is currently a Partner of King & Spalding as Senior Counsel and Policy Advisor focusing on Special Matters and Government Investigations. Max became The Vavengers’ second Patron and works closely with The Vavengers on global legal policy & campaigning work.