Vardags > London, England > Firm Profile

Vardags Offices

Vardags
10 OLD BAILEY
LONDON
EC4M 7NG
England
Visit website 020 7788 7156 020 7404 8995

Vardags > The Legal 500 Rankings

Private client > Family Tier 2

‘Both the Rolls Royce and the Ferrari of the family law world‘, Vardags stands out for its handling of ‘the most complex and difficult of cases‘. Firm founder and team head Ayesha Vardag, an ‘extremely intelligent lawyer’ valued for her ‘wise insights and clever strategies‘, often supports ultra-high-net-worth clients in complex financial disputes. Simon McKirgan is a go-to for difficult cases, including jurisdiction disputes. The children team is headed up by Caroline Korah, who is ‘the perfect balance of empathetic and tough’ and experienced in both domestic and international matters. David Lister joined the team from Rayden Solicitors in July 2023, and is ‘a stalwart and legend in the field‘, while the group gained Robert Hines in November 2023, who is ‘a brilliant and gifted lawyer’, from Mishcon de Reya LLP. Antonia Barker and Lois Rogers departed the team in August 2023 to Hamblin Family Law LLP and Ribet Myles, respectively.

Practice head(s):

Ayesha Vardag

Other key lawyers:

Simon McKirgan; Caroline Korah; David Lister; Robert Hines; Jennifer White; Ellie Hagan

Testimonials

‘Ayesha Vardag is extremely impressive not least because of the firm she has created but also client list she has. She is an extremely intelligent lawyer who contributes hugely to any case with wise insights and clever strategies.’

‘Robert Hines is a brilliant and gifted lawyer. He has a fantastic knowledge of matrimonial finance work and applies that knowledge with vigour.’

‘Vardags are both the Rolls Royce and the Ferrari of the family law world. The firm’s strength and ability is remarkable. They take on unwinnable cases and win, they fight the unfightable and succeed and they relish the most complex and difficult of cases.’

‘Simon McKirgan’s attention to detail is remarkable and his approach to family law devastatingly logical and right. If you have a hard case, go to him.’

‘David Lister is a stalwart and legend in the field, he is known for his good humour and compassion as well as his killer tactical instincts and legal experience. He is a joy to work with and clients love him.’

‘This is a slick and well organised team. They have great resources inhouse to support the advice they give to UHNW individuals – including tax advisers etc. The clients are very well looked after and praise the support they receive.’

‘Caroline Korah is the perfect balance of empathetic and tough. Fiercely intelligent and sensible. Clients love her and she’s a pleasure to work for.’

‘Ellie Hagan is an outstanding associate. Meticulous on top of the papers offering continual strong support to the client throughout the case.’

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management Tier 3

Vardags offers representation to various high-profile and high-net-worth clients in defamation, privacy, harassment, blackmail, and reputation protection cases. Highlighted for its ‘great expertise and background in the media coupled with a non-sensationalist approach to resolving disputes‘, the team is skilled in crisis management, frequently assisting with data breaches and online attacks. Libel and privacy specialist Alexandra McCready leads the practice, bringing extensive experience in both pre and post-publication matters, and online and offline reputation management issues. Gregory Monk acts for a predominantly international client base in claims concerning misuse of private information, harassment and defamation.

Practice head(s):

Alexandra McCready

Other key lawyers:

Gregory Monk

Testimonials

‘Brilliant team that is really cohesive, very quick at providing further information, a joy to work with.’

‘Alexandra McCready is fantastic. She is completely on top of the relevant legal principles but also very commercial and excellent with clients who clearly trust and like her. ’

‘The Vardags reputation management team are top draw. What makes them stand apart from their major competitors is their highly personal approach. The team take extra care to listen to their clients and other expert consultants to determine the most appropriate strategy for victory. They have great expertise and background in the media coupled with a non-sensationalist approach to resolving disputes. Highly recommended.’

‘The two members of the team I work most closely with are Alexandra McCready and Gregory Monk. I can’t recommend them highly enough. The deep expertise of their area, coupled with extensive media and regulatory knowledge, make them trusted advisers to their extensive client base.’

‘Vardags have a strong team in the area of reputation and privacy. They take a comprehensive, professionally holistic approach to matters, which often seeks out seemingly small, even esoteric, points but then, to their client’s advantage, make them centre stage as points of legal strength.’

‘Alexandra McCready is a particular star. Personally charismatic and always professional to a tee.’

‘Very approachable and knowledgeable team who offers sensitive advice to clients in highly stressful situations.’

‘With high-profile clients, the reputation management team is a critical component of the firm, and it is without rival. Excellent and well-measured responses to tricky situations undertaken by true experts.’

Work highlights

Private client > Family Tier 1

Specialist family law firm Vardags has an increasingly prominent role in the Cambridge market. Though its group is led from Manchester by Emma Gill, the local office has two experienced associates in the 'truly excellent' Rebecca Fenner and new hire Anna Jones, who joined from Tees Law. They frequently handle cases involving assets in the £3-£20m range and above, often involving cross-border elements. Jones is known for acting with 'utmost professionalism and respect, whilst ensuring effective outcomes for her clients'. The firm's capabilities include standout valuation, financial forensics, criminal, and civil litigation expertise, as well as proficiency in media, privacy and defamation matters.

Practice head(s):

Emma Gill

Other key lawyers:

Rebecca Fenner; Anna Jones

Testimonials

‘Rebecca Fenner is a standout. She meets an ideal balance between being firm, robust and very approachable. Her work is always of the highest standard and she thinks ahead within the litigation to strategise for the client. She has had some remarkably good outcomes in cases where I have worked with her, which has been due to her hard work.’

‘Anna Jones and Rebecca Fenner and both excellent family law practitioners. they are very effective at driving matters forward and securing the best outcome for their clients.’

‘Anna Jones is an excellent solicitor, who truly cares about each of her clients. Working alongside her as a fellow solicitor is always a joy. Anna conducts interparty discussions with the utmost professionalism and respect, whilst ensuring she achieves effective outcomes for her clients. ’

‘Rebecca Fenner is an exceptional lawyer with a hugely detailed knowledge of her field. Her empathetic and kind approach to clients helps to reassure them, but she is also practical and conscientious and will leave no stone unturned to ensure the best results for those she represents. She has excellent analytical and client care skills. I would recommend her to anyone.’

‘A strong team with an excellent knowledge of their area.’

Work highlights

Private client > Family Tier 1

Full-service family practice Vardags in Manchester has ‘a strong reputation for handling complex and high-net-worth family law cases’, and the group regularly acts for a variety of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients on the financial aspects arising from relationship breakdowns, such as divorce and financial remedy proceedings, as well as the full range of children matters. The team often advises on cases with an international element and leverages the knowledge of the firm’s financial forensic and property departments. Praised by one client as ‘the best divorce lawyer anyone could ever instruct', practice head Emma Gill is an expert in divorce and matrimonial finance. The group also includes family finance specialist Gareth Curtis, Lucy Williams, who advises on all matters relating to divorce and complex children work, including parental alienation and abduction, and Annemarie Bradley, who ‘works tirelessly for her clients and simply goes above and beyond' in both financial and children matters. The ‘unbelievably supportive' Nikki Hale, who specialises in complex financial cases, is another key practitioner. Former Poole Alcock LLP lawyers Amie Pine, who specialises in financial matters, including those in the agricultural sector, and Nicola Jones, who brings extensive experience in both finance and children matters, joined the group in November 2023.

Practice head(s):

Emma Gill

Other key lawyers:

Gareth Curtis; Lucy Williams; Annemarie Bradley; Nikki Hale; Amie Pine; Nicola Jones; Kate Kempster

Testimonials

‘Vardags Solicitors have a strong reputation for handling complex and high-net-worth family law cases. The team is distinguished for its strategic approach to financial disputes and arrangements involving children. Their expertise in navigating thorny legal issues, combined with a commitment to clear and straightforward client communication, sets them apart.’

‘Emma Gill is exceptional. She is highly intelligent yet down-to-earth, pragmatic and reassuring. To describe Emma as a lighthouse at what was the darkest time for me is an understatement. Emma is, as I have told her many times, the best divorce lawyer anyone could ever instruct and a truly wonderful person.’

‘Kate Kempster was an absolute pleasure to deal with and her knowledge of publications and legal documents was fantastic. Her communication skills were exemplary and I had every confidence in her abilities. I felt supported during a very challenging period of my life and greatly valued the services provided by Kate and her team.’

‘I worked with Gareth Curtis, Kate Kempster, and the rest of their team. Gareth and Kate were very clear in their advice for what they felt was the best outcome for me. They are extremely professional, but at the same time friendly and helpful. The made me feel at ease throughout a very difficult process to which I could see no end. As a client, I felt valued, respected and thoroughly represented. I have no hesitation in recommending them to any potential client.’

‘Nikki Hale has been unbelievably supportive throughout the whole process. Nikki and her team have responded incredibly quickly with any queries I may have raised. They have been reassuring when needed, responded quickly when needed and never phased by anything that happened; in fact, they always think one step ahead.’

‘Lucy Williams is fantastic.’

‘Annemarie Bradley works tirelessly for her clients and simply goes above and beyond.’

‘Amie Pine has pretty much given me hope in humanity. The care she takes and the level of understanding she has for my particularly difficult case and her work ethic is second-to-none.’

Work highlights

Vardags > Firm Profile

Vardags is a leading, law-changing, blue-chip law firm, specialising in high stakes, complex, and international cases for high-net-worth individuals and their companies. ‘Britain’s top divorce lawyer’ Ayesha Vardag leads a team of the country’s best legal minds. The firm has taken City quality into the private sphere, and become one of the very few UK law firms called upon to advise heads of state, on matters of both English and international law. The firm’s lawyers are frequently called upon as experts on the biggest cases and legal issues of the day, by outlets such as BBC News, CNN, the Today Programme, and Newsnight.

Principal areas of work
Divorce: Vardags is best known as one of the country’s top divorce firms, providing a full range of matrimonial law services for high-net-worth individuals. The firm has been involved in many, if not most, of the leading ‘big money’ cases of our times. Vardags is outspoken in its support for no-fault divorce, having founded and spearheaded the Campaign for Family Law Reform, and co-parenting, consistent with its own commitment to equality and family-friendly policies. The firm is unique in having an in-house financial forensics team and its invaluable expertise in remuneration and complex corporate structures, valuations, options and derivatives, and asset tracing ensures every client gets their fair share. In the 2010 landmark case of Radmacher v Granatino, Vardags changed the law by making prenuptial agreements enforceable in England and Wales. Since then, Vardags has acted in many high profile cases heard in the English courts, including:

  • Obtaining a record award against declared bankrupt Mr Young and a record costs award for Michelle Young in Young v Young
  • Acting for Yasmin Prest in the High Court case which ran into the Supreme Court ‘corporate veil’ victory of Prest v Petrodel
  • Acting successfully in a ground-breaking transatlantic nullity case involving Sharia, English, US and Italian law
  • Obtaining what is believed to be a record interim child maintenance award against a foreign royal family member
  • Acting in a case involving a head of state which was England’s first concluded family law arbitration
  • Acting for Li Quan in the international tiger charity case
  • Acting for the Marchioness of Northampton in her famous divorce settlement
  • Securing the highest award ever award after a foreign divorce in Al-Baker v Al-Baker
  • Winning the leviathan jurisdiction battle and one of the largest ever reported divorce awards for the former Miss Malaysia against her Laura Ashley tycoon husband, in Chai v Khoo
  • Securing a Court of Protection order generating consent to fertility treatment for a client’s husband after a tragic road accident left him on life support in 2018, a ground-breaking legal first
  • Vardags acted for the husband in FRB v DCA, a high-profile divorce case involving very complex financial proceedings relating to the divorce of the scions of two allegedly billionaire families.

Children and family: Vardags’ children and family department offers a full range of family law services, including prenuptial, postnuptial, and cohabitation agreements, fertility and surrogacy, and disputes involving children.

Vardags’ dedicated children’s team handles a wide range of matters, from fertility and surrogacy to disputes relating to family breakdown. Many of the department’s cases have an international element, such as international relocation, the registration and enforcement of foreign contact orders, and all other forms of cross-border children disputes.

Vardags is a champion of the reform of UK surrogacy laws, which often force hopeful parents to go abroad or to enter into precarious agreements. The Vardags team can help legally secure and protect families created through assisted conception, fertility treatment, donor conception, and surrogacy. Familiar with the sensitivities of modern family-building, Vardags offers specialist legal advice and representation to help high-net-worth individuals place their family life on a firm legal footing.

Commercial and civil litigation: The civil and commercial litigation team works on a wide range of commercial matters, including shareholder disputes, professional negligence, and insolvency agreements. The team advises on some of the most high-stakes, complex disputes across a range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, and international arbitration.

Criminal defence: The criminal team advises clients who are subject to investigation by the police and other investigative bodies, including the SFO and HMRC. The team provides full representation and advice from before arrest to trial and appeal, and has acted in some of the most high-profile cases in the Old Bailey over recent years. The team provides comprehensive representation in relation to assault, drugs, harassment and sexual offences as well as all aspects of white-collar crime, regulatory crime, and confiscation proceedings. It has an extraordinary record in shutting down investigations before charges are brought.

Reputation and privacy: Vardags’ reputation and privacy team works to protect the best interests of high profile and high-net-worth individuals and successful companies. It represents celebrities, sports stars, entrepreneurs, and business executives on all areas of media and privacy litigation, including press management, online media issues, and defence against smear campaigns.

The department has also ensured that some of Vardags’ most high profile cases going through the English family courts are kept entirely out of the public eye. The firm handles these cases with the utmost discretion and expertise cultivated from years of experience in handling the press.

Clients: Vardags acts for high-net-worth individuals, their families, and their companies in high-stakes legal matters when a successful outcome is paramount.

Its divorce lawyers always aim to find a resolution, but are prepared to fight hard to win clients their fair share. They are also well-equipped to assist the financially weaker party by facilitating lending, tracing hidden assets and defending their best interests.

Vardags also supports its clients by providing a top-quality legal service to high-net-worth individuals in need of a children, criminal, civil litigation, property, or reputation lawyer.

Regional offices: Led by a surge in client demand, Vardags has expanded nationally and now works with clients from across the world in London, Manchester and Cambridge.

International: Vardags has unrivalled international expertise and a global clientele. Their familiarity with complex legal work spanning international jurisdictions is unparalleled and the firm is truly multi-lingual.

Recruitment: Vardags hand-picks stellar individuals who demonstrate intellect, creativity, determination and integrity and hail from the top academic and commercial institutions, including leading City firms. The firm has created a unique graduate training programme allowing the most talented young lawyers to join the firm directly on graduation from university and study through to qualification while being paid a full salary and doing real work. This leads their lawyers to qualify at a level described at the Bar as several years ahead of those of other firms.

Vardags Manchester: Vardags Manchester is a specialist divorce and family law firm for high-net-worth individuals and their families residing in the north west of England. Practising under the expert guidance of ‘Britain’s top divorce lawyer’ Ayesha Vardag and headed by ‘Manchester’s celebrity divorce lawyer’ Emma Gill, the Manchester office has brought a truly unique standard of service to the region. Since opening in 2016, Vardags Manchester’s innovative practice has earned the reputation as the region’s go-to law firm for high value, complex international divorce cases. Emma Gill is frequently sought out for commentary by the national press, including The Times and The Guardian. She is also a BBC Breakfast regular and often shares her legal expertise on Radio 5 Live.

Principal areas of work
Divorce: Vardags Manchester is best known throughout the region for its cutting-edge, top quality divorce law practice. Emma Gill and her team have represented some of the North West’s most high profile and high value clients in divorce cases involving several millions of pounds.

As a firm specialising in the most valuable cases, Vardags Manchester’s lawyers are unrivalled in their experience of handling the uniquely complex financial circumstances arising from high-net-worth divorce. The legal team works with the firm’s unique in-house forensic accountants, transforming the outcomes of divorce proceedings with expertise in remuneration, valuations, corporate structures, and asset tracing.

Vardags Manchester has represented clients in some of the most challenging and high-stakes cases in the region, including:

  • Acting in an unprecedented case for the wife of a successful businessman to challenge the validity of a highly limiting post nuptial agreement. The agreement had been signed at a time when the husband had failed to disclose a diagnosis of a life threatening condition.
  • Representing a nationally renowned actor in a dispute with his former wife over arrangements for their daughter, particularly around issues regarding privacy and use of the daughter’s image in national and social media.
  • Acting for the wife of an entrepreneur worth millions, whose attempts at lack of disclosure and dissipation of assets were uncovered by our financial forensics work.
  • Raising a powerful and innovative argument for the wife in a dispute worth over £15m in which the husband sought to retain over 80% of assets.
  • Arguing that the significant assets built up by a husband through hard work and clever entrepreneurship in his youth were non-matrimonial, reducing the sum eligible for division with his younger wife.

Children and family: Vardags Manchester’s children and family department offers a full range of family law services, including prenuptial, postnuptial, and cohabitation agreements. Emma Gill and Lucy Bolton are experts in children disputes, and many of the team share a background in child protection law. In every case, their primary goal is to protect the best interests of the children concerned.

Unlike many, Vardags Manchester focuses on providing advice that is not only of the highest legal merit, but also practical and pragmatic, taking into consideration the particular circumstances of both families and individuals.

In line with the firm’s commitment to families’ right to choice, the Manchester office is a champion of the reform of UK surrogacy laws, which often force hopeful parents to go abroad or to enter into insecure agreements. The team can help legally protect families created through assisted conception, fertility treatment, donor conception, and surrogacy. Familiar with the sensitivities of modern family-building, Vardags offers specialist legal advice and representation to help high-net-worth individuals place their family life on a firm footing.

Clients: Vardags Manchester represents the North West’s elite, including entrepreneurs, executives, and sports personalities. Clients instruct the firm for world-class support in high-stakes legal matters, when a successful outcome is paramount.

Clients are usually based in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Shropshire, and Merseyside, although Emma Gill has a healthy London-based practice.

Recruitment: Vardags Manchester selects the very best and brightest young lawyers who share the firm’s love for the North West. Creativity, determination, and integrity are particularly admired. The firm has created a unique graduate training programme allowing the most talented young lawyers to work while being paid a full salary, and qualify at Vardags fully financed, directly on graduation from university.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Founder and President Ayesha Vardag [email protected] 02077887156
CEO Stephen Bence [email protected] 02077887156
Regional Managing Partner, Head of Manchester Emma Gill [email protected] 0161 532 9509
Partner, Head of Reputation and Privacy Alex McCready [email protected] 02077887156
Senior Partner, Family Simon McKirgan [email protected] 02077887156
Senior Partner, Family David Lister [email protected] 02077887156
Partner, Head of Financial Forensics Katharine Danby [email protected] 02077887156
Partner, Valuations Ben Crowne [email protected] 02077887156
Partner, Family Annemarie Bradley [email protected] 02077887156
Partner, Head of Children Caroline Korah [email protected] 02077887156
Partner, Head of Manchester Children Lucy Williams [email protected] 0161 532 9509
Partner, Family Gareth Curtis [email protected] 0161 532 9509

Meet The Team(s)

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Stephen Bence photo Dr Stephen Bence Dr Stephen Bence is the CEO at Vardags (non lawyer). Stephen is… View Profile
Caroline Korah photo Caroline Korah Caroline, a partner in family law at Vardags, specialises exclusively in family law and… View Profile
David Lister photo David Lister David is a Senior Partner at Vardags. With over 35 years of experience… View Profile
Alex McCready photo Alex McCready Alex is a Partner and head of Reputation & Privacy at Vardags.… View Profile
Simon McKirgan photo Simon McKirgan Simon, Senior Partner at Vardags, specialises in the top end of high… View Profile
Ayesha Vardag photo Ayesha Vardag Ayesha Vardag, Founder and President of Vardags and ‘Britain’s top divorce lawyer’,… View Profile

Diversity/Community


Vardags knows that when the very best people are given the very best opportunities and appropriate support they will excel, regardless of their background. We do not ask questions about gender, race, sexuality or religion, as we feel they are private, and not relevant to employment. As an equal opportunities employer, Vardags works to foster an environment that nurtures and stimulates achievement, encouraging others to do the same.

Vardags has pursued pioneering approaches to parental leave and childcare to ensure that new parents are never sidelined – practices recognised in founder and president Ayesha Vardag’s receipt of the 2015 Natwest Everywoman Award. We relish the perspective and compassionate leadership that mothers and fathers can bring, rather than forcing our employees to choose between their career and their children, and we encourage others to follow our lead and work to make the legal profession supportive of parents.

No-one should be held back from excelling in the legal profession because of their financial background. Vardags’ graduate training programme was crafted in recognition of this, and those starting their careers with us benefit from earning a real salary throughout their training period. This means that no matter where they started, the more promising young lawyers can reach the top.

Vardags feels strongly that quality jobs and elite representation should not be focused exclusively in London. Vardags seeks to bring our calibre to regions of the country often ignored by other firms. This has brought high-quality legal representation to these areas, as well as the opportunity for talented lawyers to work on top cases without the need to relocate.

We have great faith in the power of the law to change society for the better. Vardags is a passionate advocate for no-fault divorce, which removes blame culture in divorce and means that marriage breakdown need not destroy respect and decency between spouses. We championed these reforms for several years and were delighted to see the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill receive royal assent earlier this year. Most recently, we have campaigned to change surrogacy laws in England, which currently restrict the options of hopeful parents, forcing them abroad, or into unreliable arrangements with British surrogates.

Client Testimonials


CLIENT: Pauline Chai
MATTER: Divorce
TESTIMONIAL: Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory.

CLIENT: Michelle Young
MATTER: Divorce
TESTIMONIAL: Your legal tactics are by far the best.

CLIENT: Mrs Monica
MATTER: Divorce
TESTIMONIAL: [Vardags is] expensive but indispensable.

CLIENT: Antoinette Lemvigh
MATTER: Divorce
TESTIMONIAL: Vardags is absolutely 100% for any woman in a vulnerable position. They were perfect to go to.

CLIENT: Richard Todd QC (counsel)
MATTER: Divorce
TESTIMONIAL: [Ayesha] lights up the room when she comes in and brings a confidence that her client will prevail.

CLIENT: Anonymous
MATTER: Children
TESTIMONIAL: [Katherine and her team] have all been so patient… and I honestly cannot thank you enough.

CLIENT: Anonymous
MATTER: Children
TESTIMONIAL: You have my highest appreciation. The quality and attention to detail is as high as I could have hoped for and the result is… very strong.

CLIENT: Janet Weitz, CEO and publishing director, Alliance Publishing Press Ltd
MATTER: Civil litigation
TESTIMONIAL: [Frank Ryan’s] insightful advice and professional conduct make him an ideal ally and a formidable foe.

CLIENT: Toni Hilton, Dean of the Glasgow School for Business and Society at Glasgow Caledonian University
MATTER: Civil litigation
TESTIMONIAL: Frank Ryan is a lawyer who thinks out of the box and delivers results, time and time again, often with devastating effect. I would always want him on and by my side.

CLIENT: Tariq
MATTER: Criminal
TESTIMONIAL: I would not hesitate to recommend Rob to anyone seeking a highly skilled and personable criminal lawyer.

CLIENT: Julie Carter
MATTER: Criminal
TESTIMONIAL: Excellent criminal department… I would use this firm for any matter in the future. Complete confidence in receiving the best care.

CLIENT: Anonymous
MATTER: Reputation and privacy
TESTIMONIAL: Alex is the definitive reputation and privacy lawyer.

CLIENT: Toni Hilton, Dean of the Glasgow School for Business and Society at Glasgow Caledonian University
MATTER: Reputation and privacy
TESTIMONIAL: Highly approachable, tactically astute, and always passionate about her client’s cause, Alex is an extremely good lawyer.

CLIENT: Jo Eccles, managing director, SP Property Group
MATTER: Property
TESTIMONIAL: James is superb and he always delivers the speed, efficiency and service level our clients expect.

CLIENT: Arthur Lintell, Knight Frank
MATTER: Property
TESTIMONIAL: James is absolutely first class. He is head and shoulders above many who work at the top end of the London property market.