Clare Curran

About My Work

Clare Curran is a highly experienced and widely respected matrimonial/ separation/ divorce and children’s law solicitor, who has specialised in this area of work for over 20 years. Clare was previously employed by a large Belfast and County Down based practice where she established one of the country’s busiest, most successful and widely respected family law departments. She has worked exclusively in this field since 2001 and throughout her career has developed a reputation as one of the leading family/ matrimonial/ divorce lawyers in Northern Ireland due to her sensitive, informed and proactive approach.

We are delighted that Clare has decided to join our busy team where she will continue to provide her expertise to those clients in need of specialist family law/ matrimonial/ separation and divorce advice throughout Northern Ireland. She heads up our committed and busy team operating from our offices in County Down and Lisburn and is instructed by clients throughout the whole of Northern Ireland.

Clare has extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of family and matrimonial law including separation and divorce, annulment and judicial separation proceedings, resolving financial disputes following relationship breakdown, acting on behalf of high net worth individuals, acting in cases with an international element, advising on pre and post nuptial settlements, cohabitation disputes, civil partnerships, domestic violence issues, complex children’s cases, including applications to relocate, international child abduction, and care, adoption and wardship proceedings.

Clare is a qualified Advanced Advocate, meaning she regularly represents clients at all court levels and is one of a select group of lawyers appointed to the Hague Convention Panel of Solicitors in Northern Ireland, who can be appointed to represent parents in difficult and complex international child abduction cases.

Notable Experience

  • Drafting and negotiating complex financial settlements involving various assets including foreign and inherited property, pensions, trusts, investments, businesses and farms.
  • Successfully representing clients in a range of niche financial claims including ‘injury on duty’ payments, pension, business and inheritance disputes arising as part of divorce settlement.
  • Successfully securing the return of children removed by Social Services in disputed ‘non accidental injury’ cases.
  • Successfully representing clients in a range of complex international child custody cases involving multiple jurisdictions, including UK and Republic of Ireland, Canada, Australia and Asia and assisting in acting in a number of cases under the Hague Convention cases seeking ‘return orders’ for children wrongfully abducted to Northern Ireland.

Memberships & Qualifications

  • Clare is a longstanding accredited member of the Law Society Children Order Panel, as well as the NIGALA Children Order Panel, a select group of legal advisors appointed to act on behalf of children in specified proceedings.
  • She is also a qualified Collaborative lawyer, meaning she can assist those couples looking to avoid an acrimonious divorce.

Education

  • Queen's University Belfast Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

Specific Areas of Focus

  • Adoption
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Annulment of Marriage
  • Child Abduction
  • Child Abuse Claims
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