Maria Fiorito

Partner - Dual Qualified (Italy & England)

Partner – Avvocato Italiano e Sollicitor Inglese

Maria is an Italian Avvocato and Partner at Vardags, qualified to practise law in Italy and a solicitor qualified to practice law in England and Wales. Maria has specialised in complex international family and divorce cases for decades, and is uniquely placed to assist high net worth individuals in cross-border disputes. Maria is highly regarded and praised by the clients she advises - her empathetic approach, combined with sharp legal and analytical expertise, makes her an invaluable contributor to every case she handles.

Maria è un Avvocato italiano abilitato all’esercizio della professione forense in Italia e un solicitor abilitato all’esercizio della professione legale in Inghilterra e Galles, avendo superato con successo l’esame di conversione del Titolo di avvocato e ora Senior Associate presso Vardags.

BOOK MY FREE CONSULTATION

TOP DIVORCE LAWYER ITALY | EXPERT IN CROSS-BORDER DIVORCES

Maria previously worked for two of the biggest family law firms in Milan, dealing with high net worth divorce cases involving famous personalities and entrepreneurs. She decided to move to London in order to broaden her international experience and she subsequently decided to cross-qualify in England and Wales. Before joining Vardags, Maria worked for a year in another large national family law firm in London. She joined Vardags in 2018 and was promoted to the role of Associate in April 2022. She was then promoted to Senior Associate in April 2025.

Maria is heavily involved in Italian networking in London and in Italy, attending cultural and social events as a member of the Women in Law Association, the British Lawyer Association and the Associazione Italiana degli Avvocati per la Famiglia ei minori.

As a dual-qualified solicitor, Maria is uniquely well-placed to assist clients in cross-jurisdictional disputes, or where there are complex Italian elements to the proceedings, such as custody disputes or pre-marital arrangements such as “communione separazione dei beni”. Maria’s skills are endlessly praised by the many high net worth international Italian clients she represents. Her nurturing personality greatly complements her legal and analytical skills, making her a great asset on any case.

Maria leads our Italian desk, having built a reputation as a top Italian lawyer in London, with her being mentioned in La Notizia for offering ‘Italian style’ divorce in London.

Education

Maria graduated from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan.

Languages

Maria’s first language is Italian but she can also read and translate French and Spanish.

Publications

Maria has written and contributed to features across both the Italian and English press. Recently, she contributed a chapter on the Italian divorce process to the The International Comparative Legal Guide which can be found here.

Personal

In her spare time Maria loves reading romantic novels, despite being a divorce lawyer, and having long walks in the countryside.

Istruzione

Maria ha conseguito la Laurea Magistrale presso l’Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano.

Carriera

Nella sua carriera ha lavorato presso due dei più prestigiosi studi legali di Milano, occupandosi di cause di divorzio per clienti facoltosi, tra cui personaggi famosi e imprenditori. Successivamente, ha deciso di trasferirsi a Londra per ampliare la sua esperienza internazionale e conseguire l’abilitazione anche in Inghilterra e Galles. Prima di unirsi a Vardags, Maria ha lavorato per un anno in un altro importante studio legale nazionale di diritto di famiglia a Londra. Si è unita a Vardags nel 2018 ed è stata promossa al ruolo di Associate nell’Aprile 2022. È stata poi promossa a Senior questo Aprile 2025.

Maria è attivamente coinvolta nelle reti professionali italiane sia a Londra che in Italia, dove partecipa a eventi culturali e sociali in qualità di membro della Women in Law Association, della British Lawyer Association e dell’Associazione Italiana degli Avvocati per la Famiglia e i minori.

Come avvocato, Maria è particolarmente preparata ad assistere i clienti in controversie trans-giurisdizionali o in procedimenti con elementi italiani complessi, come gli accordi prematrimoniali e il riconoscimento delle convenzioni matrimoniali Italiane quali la "comunione e la separazione dei beni". Le sue competenze sono costantemente elogiate dai numerosi clienti internazionali di alto profilo che rappresenta. La sua personalità attenta e perfezionista si unisce perfettamente alle sue capacità legali e analitiche, rendendola una risorsa preziosa per ogni caso.

Facendo parte del nostro Italian desk, è stata menzionata su La Notizia per offrire divorzi ’in stile italiano’ a Londra.

Lingue

Maria è madrelingua italiana e parla fluentemente l’inglese. Possiede inoltre competenze di lettura e traduzione in francese e spagnolo.

Pubblicazioni

Maria ha scritto e contribuito ad articoli sia sulla stampa italiana che su quella inglese. Recentemente, ha contribuito con un capitolo sul processo di divorzio italiano alla International Comparative Legal Guide che può essere trovato qui.

Personale

Nel tempo libero Maria ama leggere, nonostante sia un avvocato divorzista, e fare lunghe passeggiate in campagna.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

“Maria Fiorito gave me such peace of mind during an exceptionally stressful time. She just had my back, supported me throughout, and her knowledge and skill were just outstanding.”

Client through Legal500

AWARDS

Featured in La Repubblica: Maria Fiorito on the Standish case

Maria Fiorito discusses love in lockdown in la Repubblica

“Among the most famous divorce law firms in the world”

“Diva of Divorce For The World's Super Rich”

“The Rolls Royce and the Ferrari of the family law world”

WE ARE READY TO HELP

We offer a free consultation to all suitable clients. This is not just a formality. We take the time to understand your unique situation, explain the next steps, and provide a clear sense of potential outcomes and likely costs.

Timing matters in high-stakes family law. If you think you might need our help, don’t delay.

Telephone +44 1913 039551 Phone lines are open 24 hours

WhatsApp +393456119464 Scan QR to open WhatsApp

Message Send confidential message

Alternatively, click here to send a message

OUR SERVICE

Going through a separation or divorce can feel like one of life’s biggest challenges. Our leading team of divorce and family lawyers is here to guide you through the process with clarity and compassion, ensuring your interests are protected every step of the way with discretion, expertise, and unwavering support.

One of the most difficult aspects of separation or divorce is understanding how to divide finances fairly. It is crucial to understand which matrimonial property regime applies, as this dictates how assets are handled upon divorce. While the "community of property" (comunione legale) is the default system in Italy, spouses can formally opt for a "separation of property" (separazione dei beni) regime.

Under this arrangement, each spouse maintains exclusive ownership of all assets acquired during the marriage. Consequently, upon separation, there is no joint marital estate to be divided, which greatly simplifies the financial settlement process. Each party retains their own property, although obligations concerning spousal and child support are assessed independently based on legal criteria.

HOW CAN VARDAGS HELP YOU?

Strategic Separation and Divorce Representation:

Whether you are initiating proceedings or responding to a petition, we provide tailored strategies to protect your interests, explain your options and help you make informed decisions.

Financial Settlements:

Dividing assets and securing your financial future is a critical part of any separation or divorce. The process can be complex, involving not just property but also maintenance agreements, business interests, and international holdings.

A key step in the process is the dissolution of the legal communion of assets (comunione legale). It is important to understand that this does not happen at the beginning of the legal proceedings, but rather at a precise moment: either when the court president authorises the spouses to live separately or upon the signing of a consensual separation agreement.
From that point on, any assets that were held in the comunione legale transition into a state of ordinary co-ownership (comunione ordinaria), subject to division that is typically done in equal parts.

Maintenance:

Beyond asset division, spousal support is a central issue. Italian law distinguishes between two types of maintenance:

Separation Maintenance (Assegno di mantenimento): This is based on the principle of marital solidarity and aims to preserve, as much as possible, the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage. However, the right to receive this maintenance is permanently lost if the recipient enters a new, stable cohabiting relationship that mirrors a marital bond.
Divorce Maintenance (Assegno divorzile): This is not tied to the previous standard of living. Instead, it is determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of factors including the spouses' economic conditions, the duration of the marriage, each person's contribution to the family's life and assets, and the objective ability of the receiving spouse to become self-sufficient. In some cases, this can be settled with a one-off lump-sum payment (una tantum).

Child Arrangements:

Where children are involved, our lawyers prioritise their welfare while guiding you through the most practical solutions for living and contact arrangements.

International and Complex Cases:

Our team is experienced in cross-border disputes, jurisdictional issues, and enforcement of orders worldwide.

WHY CHOOSE VARDAGS?

When facing separation or divorce, choosing the right legal team can make all the difference. Vardags is one of the world's best family law firms, renowned for handling complex, cross-border and high-value cases. Our lawyers combine exceptional legal expertise with strategic insight to deliver outstanding results for our clients.

If you are going through a separation or divorce, contact us for a free, confidential consultation. Our lawyers will take the time to understand the details of your unique situation, talk you through the next steps of the process, and give you unparalleled legal expertise from the very first conversation. Our mission is to protect what matters most: your lifestyle, your financial future, and your personal interests – especially when the stakes are at their highest.

If you think you might need our help, don’t delay – contact us before your spouse does.