Vardags

Vardags is a leading UK law firm specialising in high-stakes, complex, and international cases for high-net-worth individuals and their companies. Recognised for its ground-breaking legal work, the firm is led by Ayesha Vardag, widely regarded as one of Britain’s top divorce lawyers, and comprises a team of highly experienced legal professionals. Vardags combines City-level expertise with a private client focus and is among the few UK firms called upon to advise heads of state on matters of English and international law. Its lawyers are frequently consulted as experts by major media outlets, including BBC News, CNN, the Today Programme, and Newsnight.

The firm’s principal practice areas include divorce, children and family law, commercial and civil litigation, criminal defence, and reputation and privacy matters. Vardags has acted in landmark divorce cases, including the 2010 Radmacher v Granatino decision establishing the enforceability of prenuptial agreements in England and Wales, and numerous other high-profile cases involving international jurisdictions, complex financial arrangements, and public figures. The firm maintains a unique in-house financial forensics team, providing expertise in corporate structures, valuations, asset tracing, and remuneration to ensure equitable outcomes for clients. Its children and family team provides comprehensive advice on prenuptial, postnuptial, and cohabitation agreements, fertility, surrogacy, and cross-border child disputes, with a strong commitment to legal reform and family protection.

Vardags’ civil and commercial litigation team handles shareholder disputes, professional negligence, insolvency matters, and international arbitration, while the criminal defence team provides full representation in cases involving regulatory investigations, white-collar crime, and serious offences. Its reputation and privacy team protects the interests of high-profile clients, including celebrities, sports stars, and business executives, through media and privacy litigation, press management, and strategic legal guidance to maintain confidentiality in sensitive cases. Clients include high-net-worth individuals, their families, and companies requiring expert legal representation in high-stakes matters.

The firm operates from offices in London, Manchester, and Cambridge, serving clients nationally and internationally. Vardags recruits top talent through a unique graduate training programme, allowing young lawyers to qualify while gaining significant practical experience under senior supervision.

Vardags Manchester provides specialist divorce and family law services for high-net-worth individuals and families in the North West of England. Led by Emma Gill and guided by Ayesha Vardag, the Manchester office has developed a reputation for handling high-value, complex international divorce cases. The team works closely with the firm’s financial forensics specialists to manage intricate financial arrangements and asset tracing. The office also provides children and family law services, including prenuptial, postnuptial, and cohabitation agreements, fertility, and surrogacy matters, prioritising the best interests of children and the protection of families.

Clients of Vardags Manchester include entrepreneurs, executives, and sports personalities, primarily from Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Shropshire, and Merseyside, with some maintaining London-based engagements. The office employs a rigorous recruitment process and graduate training programme, enabling talented young lawyers to gain advanced legal qualification and experience immediately after university.

Languages: Multi-lingual capabilities reflecting the firm’s international practice.
Staffing: Senior-led teams supported by in-house financial forensics specialists.
Memberships: Not specified.

Addresses:

• London
• Manchester
• Cambridge