The Team

Diane Thompson is the sole director of Alpiner Law, a specialist criminal defence firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 8010575).

Diane is an experienced criminal defence solicitor, CLAS-certified practitioner and Higher Rights Advocate with more than 20 years' legal experience.

For over two decades, Diane has successfully managed and delivered criminal defence services while maintaining a hands-on role in representing clients, preparing cases and conducting advocacy.

Having obtained Higher Rights of Audience in 2007, Diane has substantial Crown Court advocacy experience and has personally conducted numerous trials and contested hearings. Her experience spans the spectrum of criminal law, from common assault through to murder, serious violence, substantial drug prosecutions, fraud, terrorism-related offences and complex conspiracies.

She has also acted as junior counsel in a number of murder trials at the Central Criminal Court — the Old Bailey — and has experience in Very High Cost Cases (VHCCs) and other substantial, complex and multi-handed criminal proceedings.

Diane's experience as a solicitor, CLAS-certified practitioner and Higher Rights Advocate gives her an understanding of criminal cases from the earliest stages of the criminal justice process through to serious Crown Court proceedings.

Her experience of complex criminal litigation includes dealing with substantial volumes of prosecution evidence, disclosure and unused material, telephone and digital evidence, financial documentation, CCTV, forensic evidence and expert material.

As the sole director of Alpiner Law, Diane combines more than two decades of experience in successfully running criminal defence services with extensive hands-on criminal litigation and advocacy experience.

This combination of leadership, case management and courtroom advocacy underpins Alpiner Law's approach: personal service, meticulous preparation, clear advice and robust representation.