John Vater 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
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 violence
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1John Vater KC –Harcourt Chambers ‘John has a very acute intellect. His forensic commands of a bundle are exemplary. He has the breadth of knowledge of different personality types to disseminate the evidence and communicate with whomever he is cross-examining.’
Regional Bar > Midland Circuit > Family: children and domestic violence
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1John Vater KC –Harcourt Chambers ‘John fearlessly presents his client’s position. He does so with skill and humour. His knowledge of the medicine underpinning experts’ opinions in head injury cases is phenomenal. His cross-examination never fails to produce a nugget to the client’s benefit.’
London Bar > Family: children and domestic abuse
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4John Vater KC – Harcourt Chambers ‘John is an extremely experienced advocate. He is highly skilled when it comes to cross-examination and achieves outstanding results for the clients.’