Maxim Cardew

Call: 2012

Maxim is ranked as a leading junior in commercial chancery (Chambers & Partners).

He particularly specialises in charities, in which he is ranked as a leading junior by both major directories (Chambers & Partners and Legal 500), and in insolvency in which he is again ranked as a leading junior (Legal 500). He is also ranked as a leading junior in property litigation (Legal 500).

He has expertise in the related areas of company and partnership, and trusts and offshore disputes.



  • Expertise

    • Charities

      Maxim is one of the leading charities juniors at the Bar and is ranked as such by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. He has advised and acted for a wide range of large and small charities, for individual trustees, and for/against the Charity Commission.

    • Insolvency & Asset Recovery

      Maxim is ranked as a leading junior in insolvency (Legal 500) and has experience advising and appearing in a wide range of personal and corporate insolvency cases, acting for creditors, debtors, insolvency practitioners, and company directors.

    • Commercial Litigation & Arbitration

      Maxim is ranked as a leading junior in commercial chancery (Chambers & Partners) and has wide-ranging experience in commercial litigation and arbitration, including trials and interim applications.

    • Civil Fraud

      Maxim is ranked as a leading junior in commercial chancery (Chambers & Partners) and as such has a wide range of relevant experience in civil fraud disputes including trials and interim applications.

    • Company & Partnership

      Maxim has extensive experience, including trial experience, in company and partnership disputes, drawing on his experience as a leading junior in commercial chancery (Chambers & Partners) and insolvency (Legal 500).

    • Offshore & Trusts

      Maxim has experience in a wide range of trusts (both domestic and international) and offshore disputes. He draws on his experience as one of the leading juniors in charities at the Bar (Chambers & Partners and Legal 500).

  • Directory Quotes

    Legal 500 Insolvency (2023)

    "A true asset to have on your team when there is a difficult issue or time sensitivity."

    Chambers UK Charities (2023)

    "Maxim Cardew is a very strategic thinker, and his ability to steer a course through the issues and find tactical solutions is exceptional. He has a brilliant mind and is making a real name for himself."

    Legal 500 Charities (2023)

    "Maxim is both hugely practical and has great attention to detail."

    Chambers UK Commercial Chancery (2023)

    "Maxim is absolutely super. He is very bright, very considered and highly resilient: just what you want in a junior barrister."

    Chambers UK Commercial Chancery (2023)

    "He is very astute and his input is very valuable."

    Legal 500 Property Litigation (2023)

    ‘Maxim is extremely considered when giving his views and provides detailed and thorough analysis. ’

    Chambers UK Charities (2022)

    “Very prompt, attentive and courteous. He has assisted greatly in simplifying my job in extracting the correct details and instructions from my clients." "He is particularly friendly, open and keen to understand bigger picture.”

    Legal 500 UK Insolvency (2022)

    “Maxim has demonstrated the ability to pick up complex instructions and analyse very significant volumes of evidence in a short space of time.”

    Legal 500 UK Charities (2022)

    “Maxim is incredibly diligent and precise. His knowledge of charity law matters is formidable.”

  • Notable Cases

    Maxim Cardew's notable cases include: