News: John Vater KC MCIArb

John Vater KC, Alex Perry and Daniel Sheridan in R, S, T (Perplexing Presentations: Findings and Welfare), Re [2026] EWFC 194 (B)

John Vater KC, leading Daniel Sheridan, acted for the Applicant Local Authority in R, S, T (Perplexing Presentations: Findings and Welfare), Re [2026] EWFC 194 (B). Alex Perry, instructed by Jackson West, appeared…

Harcourt Chambers Hosts Oxford Public Law Conference Focusing on Child Brain Injury

Harcourt Chambers was delighted to welcome delegates to its popular annual Oxford Public Law Conference, this year held at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford on Friday 26 June 2026.

The conference…

John Vater KC and Victoria Flowers speak at Oxford Family Court Seminar

John Vater KC and Victoria Flowers spoke at yesterday’s Oxford Family Court Seminar, hosted by Oxfordshire Resolution and the Oxford Judiciary. The event was well attended by local practitioners, alongside…

John Vater KC in A Council v JC & Ors [2025] EWFC 440

John Vater KC, instructed by RWK Goodman, represented the 3rd Respondent (L) a very young child in A Council v JC & Ors [2025] EWFC 440; care proceedings, issued following the…

John Vater KC, Andrew Leong, Alex Forbes, Stephen Crispin and Oliver Powell in L, M, N, O and P, Re (allegation of sexual abuse by a sibling) [2025] EWFC 382 (B)

Alex Forbes was instructed by the applicant local authority, Andrew Leong was instructed by Duncan Lewis solicitors for the father, Stephen Crispin was instructed by Oxford Law Group for children…

John Vater KC in A Local Authority v A & Ors [2025] EWFC 311 (B)

John Vater KC, in structed by Daniells Family Law, acted for one of the two fathers in A Local Authority v A & Ors [2025] EWFC 311 (B); a fact-finding…

Webinar: Covert Recordings in Children Proceedings: The New Guidance

John Vater KC and Hannah McSorley will be delivering a webinar on the new guidance received on covert recordings in children proceedings.

Date: 11 June

Time: 5pm

The primary…

John Vater KC gives his thoughts on the recent Practice Guidance on the use of Intermediaries

‘Make do and Mend’: Practice Guidance on the use of Intermediaries

The views expressed in this paper are mine and mine alone. They are not to be taken as representing…

John Vater KC’s article published in Family Law Journal on SIHIS Pilot

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…

John Vater KC Examines SIHIS in The Law Gazette

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…

The Law Gazette Features Insightful Analysis by John Vater KC on the SIHIS Pilot

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…

Insightful Discussions at Harcourt Chambers Infant Head Injuries in Child Protection Conference

Last Friday, the Infant Head Injuries in Child Protection conference held at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford proved to be a significant and impactful event. The conference, aimed at addressing…