John Vater KC KC > Harcourt Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile
Harcourt Chambers Offices
2 HARCOURT BUILDINGS, TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 9DB
England
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John Vater KC KC
Position
Also Oxford (0844 561 7135). John specialises in children’s law, both public and private. In the public law sphere he represents all parties at all levels and has particular expertise in cases involving complex medical evidence. In the private law sphere, John has a particular interest in cases involving implacable hostility, issues of identity, and removal from the jurisdiction. In addition, John has wide experience of the inherent ‘best interests’ jurisdiction, having appeared in such cases for parents, subjects and the Official Solicitor. John is an IFLA accredited Children Law arbitrator. John is also a member of St John’s Buildings Chambers in Manchester and Liverpool and a member of 9 Park Place in Cardiff.
In the last year John has appeared in numerous cases in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court:
- Re N (Children) [2016] UKSC 16
- Re B (Child) (Relocation: Sweden) [2015] EWCA Civ 286
- JB v KS [2015] EWHC 180 (Fam)
- Re S and T [2015] EWHC 1753 (Fam)
- Re M [2015] EWHC 1433 (Fam)
Other important cases include: Re P (care orders: injunctive relief) [2000] 2 FLR 385; Hale v Tanner [2000] 2 FLR 879 (Court of Appeal); Re ET (serious injuries: standard of proof) [2003] 2 FLR 1205; A County Council v DP, RS BS [2005] 2 FLR 1031; and Re H (residence order: placement out of jurisdiction) [2006] 1 FLR 1140. John Vater QC is also at 9 Park Place Chambers (Chambers of Paul Hopkins QC).
Career
Called 1994, Gray’s Inn. Publications of note: co-author of ‘Contact: The New Deal’ (Jordans 2006); ‘The Public Law Outline: The Court Companion’ (Jordans 2008); appointed QC 2012.
Memberships
FLBA; ALC; Legal Action Group, MCIArb (Children Law, Institute of Family Law Arbitrators).
Education
Birkenhead School; St Peter’s College, Oxford University (1993 Jurisprudence 2(1)).
Leisure
Fly-fishing, Italy, Liverpool FC.
Lawyer Rankings
Regional Bar > South Eastern Circuit > Family: children and domestic abuse
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1John Vater KC –Harcourt Chambers ‘John has a highly focused mind and a breadth of experience, enabling him to get to the nub of cases he is involved in. He employs a range of techniques in cross-examination, from forensic excellence to street-smart guile. He is a very hard-working and conscientious barrister of high standing.’
With physical presences in Oxford and London, Harcourt Chambers is a ‘go-to set’ for family law matters on circuit and has an extensive roster of ‘intellectually strong barristers who go above and beyond to achieve client goals’. Nick Goodwin KC has long-standing experience of handling both public and private law proceedings, and successfully represented the local authority in N (Children: Revocation of Placement Orders), Re, a Court of Appeal case related to a placement order for two children. John Vater KC is a ‘powerhouse of energy and commitment in court’ who has a track record of representing parents facing the most serious allegations of child abuse. Aidan Vine KC specialises in complex child abduction and fatal injury cases, while the ‘extremely bright and hard-working’ Sara Granshaw represented the council in Wokingham Borough Council v Mother & Ors, a matter related to alleged sexual abuse. Alex Forbes has recently handled cases involving allegations of fabricated or induced injury. Jason Green MCIArb is highly regarded for his ‘thorough and extremely sharp analysis of legal issues’ and advised a father seeking the return of his daughter following the death of the mother in B v G, a Hague Convention case brought against the child’s grandmother, who took the child from Spain to the UK after the child’s mother’s death from cancer. Damian Garrido KC, as was, is now a High Court judge.
Regional Bar > Midland Circuit > Family: children and domestic abuse
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1John Vater KC –Harcourt Chambers ‘John is a strong and skillful barrister and a master tactician. He is someone that you want on your side. He has excellent client care skills but, equally, is a strong and forceful advocate. His cross-examination skills are second to none, particularly with expert witness in complicated medical legal cases. A first-choice counsel.’
London Bar > Family: children and domestic abuse
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4John Vater KC – Harcourt Chambers ‘John is a fighter. He is dedicated and fearless in the court.’