Call our experts 24/7 0800 755 5535
Go direct to save on solicitors’ fees
We’ll find the right barrister for you
1000+ barristers: all direct access specialists
Save up to 42% with fixed costs
Max Cole

Max Cole

  • Called to BAR: 2011
  • Company
  • Contract Law
  • Employment Law
  • Shareholder Disputes
  • Technology, Media, Telecoms

Summary

Max has a civil practice focussed on business and commercial law, media & sport and employment. Before coming to the bar he practised as a solicitor. He started his legal career with Freshfields and was later a litigator at Mishcon de Reya. This background means he has an excellent understanding of what solicitors and clients want from Counsel. He is also particularly well-placed to work with clients on a direct access basis

Specialist areas of law include

  • Company
  • Contract Law
  • Employment Law
  • Shareholder Disputes
  • Technology, Media, Telecoms

Profile description

Business and commercial

Business law (contentious and non-contentious) is the focus of Max’s practice. He acts in a wide range of disputes resulting from business transactions. Recent experience includes claims involving breach of contract, misrepresentation, professional negligence, partnership, shareholder disputes and guarantees.

Disputes involving company law and insolvency – both corporate and personal – form and increasingly large proportion of Max’s practice. Recent experience in this area includes unfair prejudice petitions, claims for wrongful and fraudulent trading, applications to set aside statutory demands, validation orders and relating to void transactions. He also advises on and drafts a range of commercial contracts including, confidentiality agreements, settlement agreements, agency agreements and sale of goods agreements

Media 

In media law Max’s practice focuses on defamation, privacy, breach of confidence and data protection. He acts for both Claimants and Defendants, who include publishers and broadcasters.

Much of his work in this area is advisory in nature. In addition to the cases below he has advised in numerous matters involving privacy where proceedings have not started and which must necessarily remain confidential.

He has given pre-publication advice to a number of magazines and newspapers, NGOs, government organisations and individuals.

Max drafts a range of commercial agreements relating to film and television. He acts for the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, owners of Highclere Castle, in relation to the use of the Castle as the setting of Downton Abbey and the exploitation of the Castle in the media

During 2016 he acted for Olympic gymnast Louis Smith in disciplinary proceedings brought by British Gymnastics

Cases

Seventy Thirty Limited v Burki. Acting for the Claimant match-making business in claims for defamation (ongoing)

King v Tong (HCJ Master McCloud) acting for the Defendant in successful application to strike out claims of defamation on the basis of lack of “serious harm”

Best Bet Bookmakers Limited v Gordon Taylor. Acting for the Defendant chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association in counterclaims for misuse of private information and breach of the Data Protection Act.

Khadir v Channel S Television Limited [2014] EWHC 2305 (QB). Acting for the Defendant television station in an assessment of damages for a defamatory broadcast

Mama Group Limited and Or v Sinclair and Or [2013] EWHC 2374 (QB). Acting for the Claimants throughout in a claim for defamation. Settled following the Defendant’s unsuccessful application to strike out the claim as an abuse of process. Led by William McCormick QC.

Memberships

  • Lincoln’s Inn
  • London Commercial and Common Law Bar Association
  • Employment Lawyers Association
  • Employment Law Bar Association

Max has a degree in Modern Languages from Bristol University. He speaks reasonably fluent French and some Spanish and German

Testimonials

Natalie Ryan

“The speed and quality of the service was astounding. I was recommended two extremely qualified, competent experts to discuss my matter with and had a telephone consultation within 24 hours.” “The speed and quality of the service was astounding. I was recommended two extremely qualified, competent experts to discuss my matter with and had a telephone consultation within 24 hours.” Read more Read less

Saleem

“The clerks were promptly aware of my requirements and were able to recommend a number of specialist barristers at competitive prices.” “The clerks were promptly aware of my requirements and were able to recommend a number of specialist barristers at competitive prices.” Read more Read less

Ruth Clark

“I called Clerks Room Direct in February and two days later one of their barrister’s Stephen David, was representing me in court. From my first phone call to Rory I felt that I was in safe hands.” “I called Clerks Room Direct in February and two days later one of their barrister’s Stephen David, was representing me in court. From my first phone call to Rory I felt that I was in safe hands.” Read more Read less

Show moreless+
Contact Max today
  • Go direct to save on solicitors’ fees
    Go direct to save on solicitors’ fees
  • We’ll find the right barrister for you
    We’ll find the right barrister for you
  • 1000+ barristers: all direct access specialists
    1000+ barristers: all direct access specialists
  • Save up to 42% with fixed costs
    Save up to 42% with fixed costs
    • Max Cole
    Call us 0800 755 5535 Enquire now

    Know what you're doing?

    All Public Access Barristers offered through this portal are registered and regulated by the Bar Standards Board of England & Wales. All Barristers are also authorised and trained to deal direct with the public.

    Max Cole
    Contact Max today
    Call us 0800 755 5535

    Know what you're doing?

    Why Clerksroom Direct?
    SELECT	(`barrister`.`id`) AS `id`,
	(`barrister`.`chambers_id`) AS `chambers_id`,
	(`barrister`.`online_id`) AS `online_id`,
	(`barrister`.`c365_id`) AS `c365_id`,
	(`barrister`.`first_name`) AS `first_name`,
	(`barrister`.`last_name`) AS `last_name`,
	(`barrister`.`summary`) AS `summary`,
	(`barrister`.`content`) AS `content`,
	(`barrister`.`email`) AS `email`,
	(`barrister`.`telephone`) AS `telephone`,
	(`barrister`.`admitted`) AS `admitted`,
	(`barrister`.`called_to_bar`) AS `called_to_bar`,
	(`barrister`.`took_silk`) AS `took_silk`,
	(`barrister`.`cc_name`) AS `cc_name`,
	(`barrister`.`cc_email`) AS `cc_email`,
	(`barrister`.`image`) AS `image`,
	(`barrister`.`vat_registered`) AS `vat_registered`,
	(`barrister`.`vat_number`) AS `vat_number`,
	(`barrister`.`handles_complaints`) AS `handles_complaints`,
	(`barrister`.`conducts_litigation`) AS `conducts_litigation`,
	(`barrister`.`xero_id`) AS `xero_id`,
	(`barrister`.`confirm`) AS `confirm`,
	(`barrister`.`indexable`) AS `indexable`,
	(`barrister`.`publish`) AS `publish`,
	(`barrister`.`discard`) AS `discard`,
	(`barrister`.`created`) AS `created`,
	(`barrister`.`updated`) AS `updated`
FROM `barrister`
WHERE `barrister`.`id` = '806'
AND `barrister`.`discard` IS FALSE
AND `barrister`.`publish` IS TRUE
    Command completed in 0.00041890144348145 seconds - 1 row(s) affected.
    SELECT	(`chambers`.`id`) AS `id`,
	(`chambers`.`name`) AS `name`,
	(`chambers`.`email`) AS `email`,
	(`chambers`.`line_1`) AS `line_1`,
	(`chambers`.`line_2`) AS `line_2`,
	(`chambers`.`line_3`) AS `line_3`,
	(`chambers`.`city`) AS `city`,
	(`chambers`.`postcode`) AS `postcode`,
	(`chambers`.`telephone`) AS `telephone`,
	(`chambers`.`fax`) AS `fax`,
	(`chambers`.`dx`) AS `dx`,
	(`chambers`.`discard`) AS `discard`,
	(`chambers`.`created`) AS `created`,
	(`chambers`.`updated`) AS `updated`
FROM `chambers`
WHERE `chambers`.`discard` IS FALSE
AND `chambers`.`id` IN (135)
ORDER BY `chambers`.`name` ASC, `chambers`.`id` ASC
    Command completed in 0.00016212463378906 seconds - 1 row(s) affected.
    SELECT	(`barrister_region`.`barrister_id`) AS `barrister_id`,
	(`barrister_region`.`region_id`) AS `region_id`
FROM `barrister_region`
WHERE `barrister_region`.`barrister_id` IN (806)
    Command completed in 0.00017380714416504 seconds - 0 row(s) affected.
    SELECT	(`area_of_law`.`id`) AS `id`,
	(`area_of_law`.`parent`) AS `parent`,
	(`barrister_area_of_law`.`ordinal`) AS `ordinal`,
	(`area_of_law`.`online_id`) AS `online_id`,
	(`area_of_law`.`c365_id`) AS `c365_id`,
	(`area_of_law`.`name`) AS `name`,
	(`area_of_law`.`color`) AS `color`,
	(`area_of_law`.`admin_colour`) AS `admin_colour`,
	(`area_of_law`.`publish`) AS `publish`,
	(`area_of_law`.`discard`) AS `discard`,
	(`area_of_law`.`updated`) AS `updated`
FROM `area_of_law`
INNER JOIN `barrister_area_of_law` ON `barrister_area_of_law`.`area_of_law_id` = `area_of_law`.`id` AND `barrister_area_of_law`.`barrister_id` = 806
WHERE `area_of_law`.`discard` IS FALSE
AND `area_of_law`.`publish` IS TRUE
AND `area_of_law`.`id` IN (
	SELECT	`area_of_law_id`
	FROM `barrister_area_of_law`
	WHERE `barrister_area_of_law`.`barrister_id` = 806)
ORDER BY `barrister_area_of_law`.`ordinal`, `area_of_law`.`ordinal` ASC, `area_of_law`.`id` ASC
    Command completed in 0.00038695335388184 seconds - 5 row(s) affected.
    SELECT	(`testimonial`.`id`) AS `id`,
	(`testimonial`.`barrister_id`) AS `barrister_id`,
	(`testimonial`.`name`) AS `name`,
	(`testimonial`.`title`) AS `title`,
	(`testimonial`.`rating`) AS `rating`,
	(`testimonial`.`content`) AS `content`,
	(`testimonial`.`publish`) AS `publish`,
	(`testimonial`.`discard`) AS `discard`,
	(`testimonial`.`updated`) AS `updated`
FROM `testimonial`
WHERE `testimonial`.`discard` IS FALSE
AND `testimonial`.`publish` IS TRUE
AND (`barrister_id` = 806 OR `barrister_id` IS NULL)
ORDER BY `testimonial`.`barrister_id` DESC, RAND()
LIMIT 10
    Command completed in 0.00056719779968262 seconds - 3 row(s) affected.
    SELECT	(`page`.`id`) AS `id`,
	(`page`.`site_id`) AS `site_id`,
	(`page`.`parent`) AS `parent`,
	(`page`.`ordinal`) AS `ordinal`,
	(`page`.`name`) AS `name`,
	(`page`.`title`) AS `title`,
	(`page`.`content`) AS `content`,
	(`page`.`hero`) AS `hero`,
	(`page`.`banner_id`) AS `banner_id`,
	(`page`.`meta_title`) AS `meta_title`,
	(`page`.`meta_description`) AS `meta_description`,
	(`page`.`static`) AS `static`,
	(`page`.`publish`) AS `publish`,
	(`page`.`discard`) AS `discard`,
	(`page`.`updated`) AS `updated`
FROM `page`
WHERE `page`.`discard` IS FALSE
AND `page`.`publish` IS TRUE
AND `page`.`site_id` = 1
ORDER BY `page`.`parent` ASC, `page`.`ordinal` ASC, `page`.`name` ASC, `page`.`id` ASC
    Command completed in 0.00023007392883301 seconds - 42 row(s) affected.