Our work covers all areas of family law, with particular expertise in the following areas:
Call: 1995 / Silk: 2012
'A Rolls-Royce silk who will never let you down whether in his preparation or his delivery. In court he's something to behold.'
Chambers UK Bar 2025
John has been practising as a children law specialist since 1995, and since taking Silk has become one of the leading barristers in the field. He has extensive experience and is widely respected in his specialism, appearing at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court. John takes a straightforward, plain speaking approach to his role as an adviser and an advocate. He is particularly respected for his skill as a cross examiner, and for his ability to understand, deploy and deconstruct the most complex expert evidence, whether in public or private law cases. John appears in children’s cases across the nation and is the only barrister in the country to be ranked by Chambers & Partners as a Leader at the Bar on three separate Circuits.
To instruct John or for more information…
Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk
John is instructed for all parties in the most serious and complex public law cases, at first instance and on appeal. Most of his cases involve fatalities, life changing injuries, and highly complex or controversial areas of medical science. He has particular expertise in infant head injury, allegations of organised sexual abuse, factitious and/or induced illnessand cases of sudden infant death. John also has experience in related areas, such as judicial review, relevant Human Rights Act litigation, and personal injury/negligence claims. He has also appeared in a number of cases with cross-border issues, including international adoption, or where the inherent jurisdiction is engaged. John undertakes the full range of advisory work, and regularly gives papers in public children’s law to a variety of organisations and audiences. Due to the exceptionally sensitive nature of the cases in which John specialises the vast majority of his cases are not reported or in the public domain.
Fact-finding in care proceedings regarding the cause of multiple fractures to an infant.
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.
Represented First Respondent Mother. Care proceedings relating to two children, issued following death of sibling, who was found to have suffered metaphyseal fractures. Held, threshold not met.
The Local Authority made an application for s31 orders in relation to 4 children. The trigger for local authority intervention was that C had made allegations that she has been sexually abused by her two brothers A (represented by John Vater KC) and B. The Local Authority also sought to prove allegations of ill treatment of C by her parents.
No findings were made against John’s client.
Fact-finding hearing in care proceedings to establish cause of death of sibling.
An appeal by a local authority against the case management decision of District Judge.
John appears for parents across the range of domestic and international private law cases. He has particular experience in the most sensitive and intractable cases, involving (for example) allegations of alienation, or where relevant allegations of other serious abuse or misconduct are involved. He appears from people from all walks of life in these cases, including high profile individuals, and has experience of related media and privacy law. John has appeared in surrogacy cases, and also private adoptions.
Court of Appeal decision concerning the question of whether the court had jurisdiction to make a child arrangements order regulating contact in respect of a child who was to relocate to Corfu.
Court of Appeal decision concerning an application to relocate a child to Sweden.
Court of Appeal decision concerning complex private law proceedings which considered an intractable contact dispute which lead to local authority involvement and an order for transfer of residence.
A significant proportion of John’s public and private law cases involve some international element. In addition, he has appeared (up to the Court of Appeal) in a number of Hague Convention/abduction cases, applications for international re-location of children, and international adoptions.
Supreme Court decision concerning the interpretation and application of Article 15 of the Brussels ii revised regulation. John led the legal team instructed on behalf of the Family Rights Group.
Court of Appeal decision concerning an application for return of a child to Spain pursuant to the 1980 Hague Convention.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
John is a qualified children’s law arbitrator and is also experienced in Early Neutral Evaluation.
John is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public under the Direct Access Scheme in appropriate circumstances.
'Sagacious and highly experienced, he's a man with a highly forensic mind, who cuts through nonsense in cross-examination. He's an extremely able advocate.'
Chambers UK Bar 2025
‘John is a strong and skilful 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.'
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2025
‘John is a fighter. He is dedicated and fearless in the court.’
'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.'
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2025
"His ability to cross-examine difficult witnesses is like watching a surgeon completing brain surgery: so effective and precise."
Chambers UK Bar 2024
"He's thorough in his preparation and obviously excellent in his cross-examination. He homes in on the forensic points."
"He gets on top of the papers and the issues in a case with extreme alacrity."
"John Vater is excellent at cross-examination; he homes in on the forensic points."
"John Vater is quite exceptional. He has got a hugely intelligent mind."
"A passionate advocate."
Chambers UK Bar 2024
'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.'
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2024
We are pleased to announce that John Vater KC’s latest article, “SIHIS: Mixed Messages and the Price of Justice” [2024] Fam Law 1302, is now available on the Family Law…
In the latest Law Gazette, John Vater KC of Harcourt Chambers scrutinizes the Suspected Inflicted Head Injury Pilot Scheme (SIHIS). Despite a large turnout at a recent Department for Education…
In a compelling article for The Law Gazette, esteemed barrister John Vater KC from Harcourt Chambers provides a critical examination of the Suspected Inflicted Head Injury Service (SIHIS) pilot. His…