Matrimonial Law and Matrimonial and Commercial Mediation with an emphasis on property and financial disputes, personal injury and disability insurance claims.

Diane Bell is a partner of the firm, and the Chair of its Family Law and Alternate Dispute Resolution Practice Groups. She obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia in 1984.

Diane's primary area of practise is now acting as a mediator. She is one of the most seasoned mediators in BC having mediated numerous complex family law, commercial, personal injury and insurance disputes since 1992. Diane received her mediation training from the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia and also obtained specialized training in Oregon.

In addition to her mediation practise, for over 25 years, Diane developed a strong family law litigation practice focused primarily on complex family law issues involving claims to business interests, offshore assets, pension interests and trusts. However, since 2010, she now guides her clients to non-litigious solutions to family law issues either via the Collaborative Divorce Process or negotiation. She also provides services to clients and businesses seeking advice on and the drafting of Pre-Nuptial and Cohabitation Agreements.

Diane has been published in numerous Continuing Legal Education materials including the Family Law Agreements Manual, the British Columbia Family Practice Manual, the British Columbia Family Law Sourcebook, Professional Legal Training materials, among others. She is also one of the Editors of the Financial Issues in Family Law sourcebook and co-chairs the Advanced Financial Issues in Family Law course which is held every two years. She has been a featured speaker at various Continuing Legal Education seminars over the past 25 years and has recently spoken at the Pacific Business and Law Institute where she presented on "What Business Owners need to know about the Family Relations Act: Anticipating and Addressing Marital Breakdowns". She also recently sat as a member on the Pension Division Project Committee of the British Columbia Law Reform Commission.

Member, Law Society of British Columbia (1985)

Member, Canadian Bar Association

Executive Member, CBA Family Law Section

Member, CBA Alternate Dispute Resolution Section

Past Co-Chair and Treasurer, CBA Women Rainmakers Section