Our Team.
John Chapman
Managing Partner
John is our Managing Partner. John's father is Australian/Italian and his mother is NZ Maori of Te Rarawa, Te Hikutu and Te Uri O Tai descent.
John graduated in 2003 after completing a conjoint BA/LLB at The University of Auckland. For 6 years he practised insolvency law and construction litigation in boutique law firms in New Zealand.
Since 2009 John has worked exclusively in the child protection sphere in Melbourne, first briefly as a prosecutor for the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and now as a defence lawyer.
John became a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Children’s Law in 2014, and he started his own firm in 2015.
John enjoys the challenge of representing parents and children in the Children’s Court and he has a strong interest in Independent Children’s Lawyer cases.
John is a Trustee of the Canine Research Foundation Inc., a Member of the Dogs Victoria Disciplinary Committee and is a founding member and past-President of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club of Victoria Inc.
John is a member of the exclusive Victoria Legal Aid Child Protection Panel, Summary Crime (Youth Subset) Panel, Family Violence Panel, and is a panel certifier for legal aid work in the Children’s Court of Victoria.
In John's spare time he plays golf (12 handicap - cannot get it lower) and enjoys travel/holidays based around golf, food and the beach.
Phone: 0429 685 601
Email: john@chapmanlawyers.com
Howard Draper
Senior Associate
Howard is a Senior Associate at Chapman Lawyers. Howard graduated with a conjoint LLB/B.Com from the University of Melbourne in 1975.
Howard has been a solicitor, prosecutor and barrister specialising in Children's Law for over 35 years. Howard was a schoolteacher for 6 years before starting at Victoria Legal Aid in 1982.
As well as countless appearances in the Children's Court, Howard has appeared in the County Court, Family Court, Supreme Court and also VCAT.
Howard joined Chapman Lawyers in late 2019 when he incorporated his practice into Chapman Lawyers. Although he now works less days (only 5) he works and fights just as hard as ever.
Howard's spare time is filled with playing guitar, completing ocean swims, bike rides, and triathlons. Howard is an active lifesaver, senior instructor and assessor at Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club Inc.
Phone: 0412 590 060
Email: howard@chapmanlawyers.com