Vardags

Dr Stephen Bence is the CEO at Vardags (non lawyer). Stephen is also an expert in financial forensics, having previously contributed his financial expertise to some of the biggest family law cases running through the English courts. Within the remit of financial forensics, Stephen works alongside Vardags’ lawyers to provide integrated financial and commercial advice throughout the proceedings.

Annemarie Bradley

Annemarie joined Vardags Manchester office when it opened its doors in 2016. She was appointed to the Partnership in January 2021. She advises on cases with complex financial settlements, cohabitation issues as well as private children law proceedings.

Emma Gill is a Senior Partner and Head of Vardags' Manchester office. She specialises in complex matrimonial finance cases, frequently dealing with issues arising from share valuations, option schemes, trusts, foreign properties and pension funds. Emma also acts in financial claims for unmarried partners and is experienced in children matters, often advising on child contact arrangements and relocation within the UK and overseas. Emma’s tough, pragmatic, but sensitive approach has earned her regular recommendations in legal directories since 2009. Legal 500 has previously described her as ‘tenacious in her dealings with tricky legal issues and helpfully no-nonsense in her approach’ and named Emma’s office ‘one to watch in Manchester’. Accustomed to high-profile cases, Emma’s clients include CEOs of multi-million pound companies, footballers and their spouses, entrepreneurs and business owners. Emma’s clients mainly hail from Northern cities and their environs, but she also has a healthy London practice.

Caroline, a partner in family law at Vardags, specialises exclusively in family law and most notably on all aspects of children law. Sensitive and tenacious with trilingual capacity, Caroline is well-versed in domestic and international disputes, with particular experience in cross-border disputes. Her expertise spans widely from child arrangements and relocation matters to parental child abduction (Hague and non-Hague), foreign orders, injunctions and protection orders. Coined a ‘rising star’ in her field, Caroline is renowned for her straight-talking, empathetic and unpretentious approach as a lawyer.

David is a Senior Partner at Vardags. With over 35 years of experience at the forefront of the profession, David’s practice comprises a wide ambit of family law issues, namely high net worth and ultra-high net worth divorce and matrimonial finance issues with complex legal, financial and factual disputes and international elements. He also takes a strong interest in non-disclosure and enforcement issues as well as nuptial and cohabitation agreements.

Alex is a Partner and head of Reputation & Privacy at Vardags. She regularly acts for individuals and companies in times of crisis, helping clients manage complex problems sensitively and discreetly. With particular expertise in pre- and post-publication and broadcast issues in libel and bribery, she has worked to defend clients against national newspapers, websites, blog sites, and social media. Alex has also advised extensively on threats from non-media sources such as disgruntled employees.

Simon, Senior Partner at Vardags, specialises in the top end of high net worth divorce. He has particular expertise in managing ultra-high net worth cases involving very complex financial issues and cross-jurisdictional disputes. He has the expertise and command of both broad lines and forensic detail to be in complete command of his multi-billion pound cases. Simon also deals with separation and cohabitation disputes and private children law proceedings, including international relocation. Simon has great experience in representing individuals or their partners from the venture capital, hedge fund, City, banking, entertainment and sporting sectors, and leading entrepreneurs. He has particular expertise in handling the sensitivities around celebrity cases. As a trained collaborative lawyer, he is able to settle cases through conciliatory negotiation as well as through tough litigation.

Ayesha Vardag, Founder and President of Vardags and ‘Britain’s top divorce lawyer’, is known for her ground-breaking family law practice. As the go-to divorce lawyer for ultra-high net worth clients with the most challenging cases, her work often involves complex financial matters, international jurisdictions and other sensitivities surrounding high profile individuals, including managing the press. With an impressive track record of major victories in the English courts, Ayesha is well established as a leader in the field of family law. She is one of the few lawyers called upon to advise heads of state, both on English and international law, and has been involved in many of the cases that have formed the landscape of divorce law in our times.