Vardags is a leading divorce and family law firm, consistently achieving the best results for our clients in Bristol. Our founder and president, Ayesha Vardag, is widely hailed as “Britain’s Top Divorce Lawyer” and the “Diva of Divorce”, acting on behalf of against some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people. Vardags’ elite team of expert divorce lawyers and family law solicitors are restless in the pursuit of gaining the best outcomes for our clients. Whether your case involves private businesses, large property portfolios, or international/hidden assets, Vardag’s legal professionals excel in identifying the best strategic solutions for your unique circumstances.
We offer a free consultation to all qualifying clients, typically those with net assets in excess of £1m or combined incomes surpassing £150,000. Our exceptional divorce lawyers will commit themselves to thoroughly understanding the intricacies of your specific situation and will help you through the subsequent legal stages. After our discussion, we will be best placed to provide an insight into potential outcomes and to provide an estimate for the likely costs.
Our divorec lawyers also serve the surrounding areas, including Bath, Newport and Weston-super-Mare, ensuring the best legal solutions are available to those in need.
Vardags’ team of top divorce lawyers provide our clients in Bristol with the highest quality legal support, our solicitors ensure the best chance of achieving a positive result. We strive to provide a service that is both compassionate and the very best in terms of quality.
Our award-winning divorce lawyers and family law solicitors for Bristol specialise in:
Filing a divorce petition first can give you the legal edge over your spouse, ensuring that our top divorce lawyers deliver the best outcome for you and your family. If you think you may need our help, don’t delay. Contact Vardags before your spouse does.
Bristol County Court is situated just off the A4044. For those driving, there is lots of parking across the city, including Just Park which is 0.3 miles from the court. If arriving by train, the court is accessible with Taxi’s and busses.
Bristol is home to a growing number of ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals and families who have amassed significant wealth, with affluent suburbs including Clifton, Cotham and Redland. Our offering in Bristol promises to clients our utmost diligence, discretion and care when dealing with their case. Our best-in-class solicitors, regarded as one of the finest legal teams by Mr Justice Peel, unwaveringly go the extra mile in each and every matter that we deal with, regardless of the situation at hand, advising on the full ambit of family law matters as well as property and reputation and privacy issues. At Vardags, we also understand that any legal case can be mentally taxing, which is why our leading solicitors endeavour to support you as holistically as possible, providing realistic advice while making your objectives, aims, and needs a top priority.
Vardags represents clients who are part of wealthy families. We act equally for those seeking to protect their assets and those fighting for their fair share. We specialise in large and complex divorce cases including those involving private companies, property empires, trusts, international/hidden assets and investments.
The list below is only a guide and once contacted by one of our highly trained Client Relations Specialists, the most appropriate lawyer will be allocated to you, taking into account your specific circumstances and particular needs.
We offer a free consultation to suitable clients, typically those where the family's net assets are in excess of £1m or the combined income is in excess of £150,000
Please note that the following guide only applies to divorces started before 4pm on 5th April 2022. For divorces after this date, no fault divorce now applies.
Please note that the following guide only applies to divorces started before 4pm on 5th April 2022. For divorces after this date, no fault divorce now applies.
A couple is allowed to divorce once they have been married for at least a year and it can be shown that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. There are five facts that can be used to evidence the breakdown of the marriage:
The court has to be satisfied that the marriage has irretrievably broken down and that the parties have been separated for a continuous period amounting to at least five years.
Where these requirements are met, the respondents consent is not required, although this does not mean that the petitioner can continue without the respondent being involved. The divorce process still needs to be followed as with every other ground.
If you’re considering or going through a divorce, click below for a free initial consultation with one of our expert solicitors.
Click here to read more or here for our complete list of Divorce FAQs
Vardags is one of the UK’s top divorce law firm serving clients in Bristol. We specialise in complex, high net worth and international cases. The Legal 500 has said of Vardags lawyers: “The team is noted for its sheer intellect”
Vardags is among the leading family law firms serving clients in Bristol. Our solicitors specialise in complex cases for high net worth individuals, including international child relocation, child abduction, and prenuptial agreements. The Legal 500 has said that "clients feel in totally safe hands" with Vardags' Children & Family lawyers.
Our reputation and privacy attorneys, headed by top media lawyer Alex McCready, work in and out of the public eye on cases involving defamation, privacy and reputation management. We provide expert advice and representation across the full range of reputation and privacy related matters, including crisis management, emergency injunctions and actions against online and new media.
Our criminal defence solicitors are led by top criminal defence lawyer Rob Conway. Vardags is a successful and rapidly-growing law firm with an outstanding reputation for winning cases for clients in Bristol.
Vardags is a top law firm with a trailblazing fertility and surrogacy department. We have had success with some of the most groundbreaking cases of the last decade in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, with rulings that have changed the law. Vardags remains at the cutting edge of fertility law, pushing for further improvement of the outdated legislation in place in Britain.
Led by the vastly experienced Frank Ryan, a lawyer who “delivers results, time and again, often with devastating effect”, Vardags’ civil litigation team is renowned for its nous and its consistent ability to deliver results.
Vardags is a top professional negligence law firm with expertise in complex and substantial claims. You may have seen our name in the press as our clients are often very high profile. Equally we settle many claims entirely out of the public eye. Our solicitors are led by top professional negligence lawyer, Frank Ryan, who has over 30 years of experience across a range of professional negligence cases.
Vardags’ top employment team represents high net worth individuals and companies in substantial employment disputes in Bristol. We are a firm with an exceptional record of representing clients in matters including unfair dismissal, workplace discrimination, and in the transfer of contracts under TUPE.
Vardags' wills and trusts team has the specific expertise to cater to the wills and trusts needs of high-net-worth and high-profile individuals. Richard Todd QC, Leading Counsel for Yasmin Prest said of Vardags: “a note to acknowledge your firm’s pivotal role in achieving such an outstanding result in the recent Supreme Court case of Petrodel v Prest”.
“Britain's top divorce lawyer” Ayesha Vardag rose to fame for winning the landmark Supreme Court case of Radmacher v Granatino in 2010, changing the law to make prenuptial agreements legally enforceable in England and Wales.
The founder and President of Vardags, Ayesha specialises in high-net-worth divorce, often with an international or celebrity element. Ayesha, described as “The Diva of Divorce” (TIME Magazine), has a reputation for hard-hitting litigation, commercial savvy, fearlessness, and strategic intellectual vision. This, coupled with a no-nonsense style, and a passion for her cases informed by her own experience of divorce, has won her an ultra-high-net-worth, high-profile client base second to none, made up of clients who expect the very best.
Simon McKirgan is Senior Partner at Vardags and a top international divorce lawyer, with experience in representing individuals or their spouses/partners from commercial, City, banking, investment, media, entertainment and sporting sectors, and entrepreneurs.
Simon specialises in high and ultra-high-net-worth divorce and financial disputes often involving complex jurisdictional issues, and separation and cohabitation disputes and private children proceedings, including international relocation. He has a wealth of experience in handling celebrities and the sensitivities around their cases.
The "ferociously bright" (Legal 500) Emma Gill specialises in divorce and matrimonial finance.
She is known for her legal insight, dedication and tireless attitude to securing her clientele the very best possible outcome. She regularly acts for the best and brightest entrepreneurs, business men and women, professionals and sports personalities. Her clients come to her for her creative, practical, no nonsense advice.
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. David also takes a strong interest in non-disclosure and enforcement issues as well as nuptial and cohabitation agreements.
Robert Hines is a Partner at Vardags, advising on all aspects of family law particularly cases involving contentious or strategic planning elements.
Robert has particular expertise in advising HNW and UHNW clients, often in connection with complex financial disputes, including those with significant disclosure issues and/or involving international dimensions/multiple jurisdictions and/or complex trust, business and/or other intricate structures, or with publicity issues. He has also advised on all forms of marital agreements, cohabitation disputes and private law children matters, including applications for leave to remove children from the jurisdiction.
Lucy is experienced in advising on all matters arising out of divorce and separation, and is experienced in the complex issues that arise with high net worth clients, with a particular focus on private children matters. She has built a reputation as a rising star, both within the firm and from peers in her field. Lucy is also heavily involved in the development of junior lawyers at the firm and is the Deputy Training Principal for the firm nationally.
Annemarie regularly acts for business men and women, high earning self-employed consultants, professionals, sports personalities and their families.
Annemarie’s particular specialism is in the resolution of financial matters on divorce, and the resolution of financial matters between unmarried couples and parents. Her cases typically include those with high-value and complex financial issues, including the valuation of business assets, property, pensions and trusts. Her experience includes advising on cases involving nuptial agreements and those with an international element.
Maria is an Italian Avvocato qualified to practise law in Italy and a solicitor qualified to practice law in England, and Wales, having successfully passed the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS).Maria is uniquely qualified 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.
Natalie advises clients on a wide variety of family law issues, with a particular focus on children matters and divorce and financial matters. Natalie also has extensive experience in other areas including domestic abuse, special guardianship and care proceedings, in which she has represented both parents and children.
Nikki already has a wealth of experience as a Senior Associate, with ten years’ exclusive focus on family law. She is a well-respected family law practitioner, regularly appearing against more senior lawyers including Partners and Directors from other Tier 1 and 2 law firms.
Nikki advises clients on all aspects of the law in this area, particularly relating to the breakdown of relationships and divorce proceedings. She also has particular experience assisting international clients and has worked on cases that involve jurisdictional disputes that raise complicated and unique legal questions. Her client base is global, with clients specifically in Dubai, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Reece is a highly regarded associate in the firm, specialising in family and children law matters, with a particular focus on high value financial and complex cases.
Reece has a broad base of clients including high net worth and high-profile individuals. He has advised several sports personalities, particularly footballers.
Kate is an Associate in the family department at the Manchester office and has developed a strong reputation as an active member of the team with a varied case load and client base. Kate has experience in all aspects of family and children law matters, including high value financial cases and those involving vulnerable parties, particularly clients facing domestic abuse.
Rebecca is an Associate in the family department in the Cambridge office. Recognised as a Leading Associate by the Legal 500 2025, she is described as being ‘an exceptional lawyer with a hugely detailed knowledge of her field.’ Rebecca has built a strong reputation in the local community as a tenacious yet approachable family law practitioner. She advises on all issues arising from the breakdown of a marriage, both financial and in respect of arrangements for children, for high-net-worth individuals.
Gareth Curtis is a Partner at Vardags, advising on the full spectrum of family law issues, with particular experience in financial remedy cases as well as financial claims made on behalf of children in Schedule 1 proceedings.
A Legal 500 Leading Partner with a “fine legal brain”, Gareth specialises in HNW and UHNW cases involving complex legal and financial issues, including businesses, trust arrangements and offshore structures. Gareth also has in-depth knowledge of:
- Freezing injunctions
- Maintenance pending suit actions
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Cohabitation agreements
- Separation agreements
- Domestic abuse