John Hatton

John moved to Dere Street Chambers in 2025. He has a broad family law practice and is regularly instructed in matters involving children or family finances.

John has built a successful practice having appeared in the Family Court, High Court, and the Court of Appeal. He takes pride in his preparedness and personable character which help clients to feel they are in safe hands.

In care proceedings, John has experience of successfully representing local authorities, parents, guardians, and extended family members seeking to challenge negative kinship assessments.

John also regularly represents parents in proceedings involving disputed child arrangements. His experience includes successfully representing parents through complex cases involving fact finding hearings and/or challenging expert evidence.

John always strives to achieve the best outcome for his clients and is mindful of the impact that cost and delay can have on families going through contentious proceedings.

Notable Cases

Re O (Care Proceedings) [2024] EWCA Civ 696

Successfully represented a mother at the Court of Appeal to challenge a Circuit Judge’s decision at a case management hearing to exclude her as a future carer for her child.

Re L [2024]

Second Junior while representing a father in complex care proceedings in the High Court. The case involved extremely serious allegations of sexual abuse, involved multiple intervenors, and a 20-day fact finding hearing. Several silks were instructed by the parties and intervenors.

Re P [2022]

Successfully represented a grandmother to challenge two negative kinship assessments during proceedings which lasted more than 2 years. Ultimately the local authority’s care plan for the children to be adopted was refused by the judge and 3 of the children are now in the client’s care. It was agreed the fourth child should remain in foster care due to his additional needs.