Max Atkinson Trainee Solicitor
Dispute Resolution
Max Atkinson is a Trainee Solicitor at Swinburne Maddison, with a split role between Employment Law and Dispute Resolution, ahead of qualification in July 2026.
Joining the firm in 2026, Max brings strong academic foundations from his Masters in Law with First Class Honours from Northumbria University, as well as early practical experience gained during his time at another North East law firm.
At Swinburne Maddison, Max is now broadening his training into civil and commercial disputes. He supports senior team members with legal research, drafting documents, client communication, preparing case bundles, assisting with debt recovery processes, pre‑action strategy, and settlement negotiations. As he begins his Corporate seat, he is starting to gain insight into transactional and company-focused work, supporting senior lawyers on M&A transactions and corporate governance.
Max is known for his transparent approach and commitment to ensuring clients understand the legal processes they are navigating. He is motivated by helping people through challenging situations and aims to make legal matters clearer and less stressful for those he supports.
Max has previous experience working within Family Law, managing a busy and varied caseloads. This provided him with valuable exposure to both contentious and sensitive client issues at an early stage, helping him build strong communication skills and the ability to remain calm and focused under pressure.
A key early career highlight includes supporting senior lawyers in successfully defending an appeal at the Court of Appeal in July 2024.
Max is enthusiastic about continuing to expand his experience across contentious and non‑contentious work as his training contract develops.
News & Insights
Insight
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Admissibility of Anonymous Witness Statements in Civil ASB Cases
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Careers at Swinburne Maddison
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Here, your career is more than a job—it’s a journey. From day one, you’ll feel supported to grow, develop your skills, and thrive alongside a team that values collaboration and care. Whether you’re a legal eagle or a support extraordinaire, we focus on helping you succeed in an environment where you truly belong. Let’s achieve great things together.