Our work covers all areas of family law, with particular expertise in the following areas:
Call: 1995 / Silk: 2016
'Aidan Vine KC is so impressive. He handled a very difficult case beautifully. I can see why he is popular. He is an excellent advocate.'
Chambers UK Bar 2027
Aidan is a leading silk with a practice that encompasses all aspects of family law including public and private law children’s cases (often with an international element), Court of Protection, conflicts of jurisdiction on divorce, matrimonial finance and cohabitation disputes, and civil litigation arising out of family law (human rights, local authority duties, and negligence). Named as Family Law KC of the Year at the 2023 LexisNexis Family Law Awards, Aidan is known for his calm and collected manner in court, highly persuasive style of advocacy, meticulous preparation, and excellent client care. He combines his expert technical legal knowledge with a practical and empathetic approach to clients. He has a busy first instance and appellant practice and has been recognised in the legal directories for his experience in both matrimonial finance and children law matters.
To instruct Aidan or for more information…
Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk
Public Law Children & Care Proceedings
Aidan has been described by Chambers and Partners as the “go-to person” for public law issues, including Human Rights Act claims. He acts for local authorities, parents, interveners and children in the most serious fatal injury, non-accidental injury and sexual abuse cases, as well as in cases with jurisdictional and international complexities, or related civil law issues. He regularly advises on the civil law consequences of local authority child protection decisions and service provision.
Adoption application following placement order. Judgment considering application by mother for disclosure of full report on the suitability of the applicants to adopt.
Care proceedings. Appeal by mother against finding that injury to child was inflicted by her.
Fact-finding in public law proceedings, concerning fatal injury to child.
This judgment concerns Warwickshire Police’s response to a series of Police Disclosure Orders in a public law Children Act 1989 case, and in particular the redactions that the Police sought to impose on the disclosure sought.
Appeal by mother against placement orders made in respect of her two youngest children.
Fact-finding in care proceedings. Found that fractures suffered by child were not perpetrated by either parent using force beyond that which it would be reasonable for a parent to use.
Application by local authority for permission to withdraw care proceedings, following receipt of medical evidence indicating that the parents were not to blame for the child’s injuries.
Aidan was instructed by the local authority in this final hearing of care proceedings relating to a three year-old child whose parents are US citizens. All orders sought by the local authority were made. The child was placed with their maternal aunt and uncle in Florida, under a Special Guardianship Order. An earlier hearing AA v BB & Ors [2022] EWHC 2322 (Fam) included a Hague application and a challenge to jurisdiction.
Represented Child A. Care proceedings. Appeal by father of 2 of the children against decision to reopen allegation of sexual assault made against him by one of the children. Appeal dismissed.
Care proceedings relating to two children, issued following death of sibling, who was found to have suffered metaphyseal fractures. Held, threshold not met.
An appeal against a decision that foreign convictions were admissible in evidence and carried presumptive weight that the offence had been committed in fact-finding in children’s cases.
An appeal against findings of fact in a care case.
An appeal against the making of a placement order.
The correct approach in uncertain perpetrator cases.
An appeal by a local authority against the case management decision of District Judge.
Aidan appeared for one of the respondents in an alleged paedophile ring case with over 40 respondents, the judgments in this case are not yet published.
Care proceedings, child with life limiting condition.
The extent of the obligation to ‘put a case’ in cross-examination, and the correct approach to the ‘pool of perpetrators’.
Human rights damages, procedure for issuing human rights claims where there are also care proceedings, and the operation of the legal aid charge.
Necessity of expert evidence, specifically necessity of biomechanical evidence in NAI/head injury cases.
Aidan is very experienced in relocation cases, and in high conflict private law cases generally. He has particular experience acting for children having to navigate these difficulties.
Appeal from a decision to vacate a fact finding hearing in a dispute between parents about the terms of a child arrangements order.
Appeal by surrogate & biological mother against parental order, on the ground that she had not given free & unconditional consent.
Relocation appeal, concerning South Africa.
Relocation case, acting for teenage children who intervened.
Aidan has been described as “a real star” in complex children cases involving jurisdictional disputes and has appeared in a number of international children cases, including at appellant level. He appeared in a number of the earlier contested Article 15 transfer cases, and has been actively engaged in cases in this area ever since, in both public law and private law cases. He regularly appears in child abduction cases with complex legal issues, both at first instance and on appeal.
Fact-finding in child contact proceedings, to determine mother’s allegations of domestic abuse against father.
An application under the Hague Convention 1980.
Article 15 (Brussels II Revised) transfer into the jurisdiction of care proceedings that were started in Ireland.
Article 13b (‘Hague’) grave risk of harm to child if abducting parent returned to home country to face imprisonment for child abduction.
Inherent jurisdiction, asylum rights and welfare assessments in (‘non-Hague’) proceedings for return orders.
Article 11(7) return orders, and ‘trumping orders’ securing the return of children abducted to the EU.
Article 15 (Brussels II Revised) transfer of jurisdiction from England and Wales.
Article 15 (Brussels II Revised) transfer of jurisdiction from England and Wales, local authority obligations to trace family members and confidentiality from family members).
Family Finance & Financial Remedy
Aidan has an established matrimonial finance practice, and often advises on jurisdictional and cross-border issues, as well as cases where other technical legal issues have arisen. He has appeared in a number of intervener case with trusts, and trusts of land issues. He also regularly appears in cohabitation disputes.
Aidan appeared in a cohabitation dispute involving civil law matrimonial property regimes and the recognition of an Italian judgment under Brussels I Recast.
Divorce, financial remedy and Brussels II Revised lis pendens.
Court of Protection & Medical Treatment
Aidan has an established Court of Protection practice, at first instance and on appeal. He acts in complex cases, at first instance and on appeal.
Aidan appeared in court of protection proceedings where the issues were transfer of care proceedings from the family court, onward transfer of the proceedings to the EU under Art 15 (Brussels II Revised) and whether the inherent jurisdiction could be used to authorise deprivation of liberty before the jurisdiction of the court of protection had been established. The judgment in this case has yet to be published.
'Aidan Vine KC is a very experienced King's Counsel and highly regarded in his field. We would not hesitate to instruct him in future cases where a KC is required.'
'Aidan Vine KC was very calm and explained everything really well. He assisted in evaluating the evidence the entire way through. He is excellent in his dealings.'
'Aidan Vine KC is an exceptional advocate. He is so lovely with clients. He gives clear and precise advice.'
'Aidan Vine KC is a classic advocate, with wonderful manners and a very light touch when needed, but powerful when he opposes you. He is highly rated.'
Chambers UK Bar 2027
'He has an excellent approach to the client and explains matters very well in conference. In addition to advocacy, he is involved in every step of the case and the analysis of the evidence once instructed.'
Legal 500 UK Bar 2027
'Excellent client approach. In addition to advocacy, he is involved in analysing the evidence every step of the way once instructed.'
Legal 500 UK Bar 2027
Works really hard, is really well prepared, and has excellent advocacy skills.
Legal 500 UK Bar 2027
'Aidan’s legal knowledge is second to none, as is his understanding of medical issues in non-accidental injury cases, making his cross-examination of experts flawless.'
Chambers UK Bar 2026
'Aidan is the perfect barrister to meticulously prepare a case and explore every nuance.'
'Aidan has a lovely manner, both his work in court and his written documents are first-rate.'
'Aidan is invariably totally on top of the brief and is a complete brainbox.'
'Aidan is extremely knowledgeable and effective.'
Chambers UK Bar 2026
Aidan Vine KC and Victoria Flowers spoke at Family Law Week’s Private Children Law Conference 2026, held on Friday 9 October at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London.
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Harcourt Chambers is delighted to announce its impressive achievements in the latest edition of the Legal 500. The 2027 rankings highlight Harcourt’s reputation as one of the leading family law…
Aidan Vine KC, instructed by Charles Strachan, led Alex Forbes for the First Respondent mother in Confidential Prospective Adopters v BM & Ors [2026] EWHC 907 (Fam); an adoption application…