Diane McBrinn

Introduction & Contact details

Diane specialises in all work relating to family law with particular emphasis on private children matters and care proceedings. She came to the Bar following a 14 year career in social care work and has extensive experience in domestic violence, learning disabilities and mental health.

Qualifications

• MA (Hons)
• Diploma in Law CPE

Professional Associations

• Family Law Bar Association

T:   020 7242 2523 (switchboard)
F:   020 7691 1234
E:   diane.mcbrinn@hardwicke.co.uk

Care & Adoption

Diane has experience across all court levels and regularly deals with cases where there are issues of non-accidental injury, neglect, substance misuse, domestic violence, and sexual abuse, and where the parents have learning disabilities or mental health problems. 

Recent Work

Diane’s recent work has included acting for a parent in a 9 day hearing where the local authority had changed its care plan to adoption after the court had approved a family placement; acting for a mother in a 10 day hearing where there was conflicting medical evidence in a failure to thrive/ non-accidental injury case; acting for a father where there were difficulties with his immigration status and the mother had enduring mental health problems; acting for the Guardian in a chronic neglect case where there had been previous proceedings and there were issues as to whether the 3 children could be placed together; and acting for a Respondent local authority where there was a dispute between the local authorities as to the care plan.

Family: Children

Diane has experience of all aspects of children work including applications for residence, contact, specific issue, prohibited steps, parental responsibility and leave to remove. She has particular experience where there are complicating factors needing expert assessment and/or the appointment of a r.9.5 Guardian.

Recent work

Diane’s recent work has included acting for a mother in consolidated contact proceedings where there were both historical and recent allegations of sexual abuse across two family units; acting for a child in an application for contact with his half sister, the application being opposed by their mother; acting for a father seeking contact who had not seen his daughter for 6 years;  acting for a father where both parents had learning disabilities; and acting for grandparents seeking a Special Guardianship order.

Family: Breakdown & Finance

Diane has experience in all aspects of ancillary relief involving a wide range of assets and including applications for enforcement and variation and relating to the dissipation of assets. Diane also deals with applications for non-molestation and occupation orders and the transfer of tenancies.

Recent work

Diane’s recent work has included acting for a wife where there was an issue of valuation of assets in another jurisdiction; acting for a wife where the husband’s brother intervened in proceedings and there were issues as to inheritance received in another jurisdiction; and acting for a wife where there was an issue as to whether there had been a concluded agreement first, some years previously and second, during the currency of the proceedings.