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Sir Max Hill KC, the former director of public prosecutions for England and Wales, has been criticised by the Whitehall appointments watchdog for failing adequately to consult it before his move to a US law firm.
The barrister “chose to blatantly disregard” the vetting process that former public officials are supposed to follow when seeking employment after leaving the civil service, according to Lord Eric Pickles, the chair of the advisory committee on business appointments (Acoba).
Hill, who stepped down as head of the Crown Prosecution Service last October at the end of a five-year term, joined King & Spalding’s London office last month as senior counsel in its “special matters” team.
All former ministers and senior government officials who move into the private sector are obliged to register with Acoba, which can advise against “unsuitable” appointments by individuals for up to two years.
In correspondence published on Monday, Pickles wrote to Hill last month stating that the lawyer’s “failure to seek and await advice” from the committee about his appointment was a breach of the rules.
Pickles said Hill had received only “provisional” advice from the committee between August and January. Hill had advised the committee halfway through February that he had commenced employment at the start of the month, according to Pickles.
Pickles wrote that the rules “exist to protect the integrity of government. This is impossible to do so credibly after someone has taken on a role.” He has referred his findings to deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden.
Hill replied to Pickles that he “acted carefully at every stage of the process” and had abided by a three-month waiting period while keeping the committee informed of his intentions.
He wrote that he was “aggrieved at any suggestion that I have either taken the committee by surprise, or have acted in breach of the principles of maintaining a separation between my former service and my current employment”.
In a statement on Monday, Hill added he was “disappointed” by his treatment by Acoba. He said the watchdog had known about his new role at King & Spalding in mid-December, adding that the committee was yet to deal with a second application for an unpaid, part-time role in the charity sector that he had submitted at the same time.
Hill is among a growing number of former public prosecutors who have taken up roles with large law firms at the end of their time in office. They include his predecessor Dame Alison Saunders, who joined UK “magic circle” firm Linklaters.
The Crown Prosecution Service prosecutes criminal cases investigated by the police and some other organisations.
King & Spalding’s special matters team advises companies and individuals facing a potential government investigation. King & Spalding declined to comment.
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