Our best divorce lawyers serving Durham

“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.

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.

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

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.

Hannah is an Associate at Vardags. Although Hannah works on all aspects of family law, she has a particular interest in complex financial disputes, trusts, artwork, valuation disputes and pre and post-nuptial agreements. She is also a collaboratively trained lawyer, having completed the Collaborative Practice training programme with Resolution, a community of family professionals committed to helping families and individuals resolve issues constructively.

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.

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 a Senior 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.

David is a Senior Partner at Vardags. With over 35 years of experience at the forefront of the profession (Lawyer of the Week in 'The Times’ October 2024), 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.

Anna is an Associate at Vardags, advising on a full range of family law issues such as financial arrangements on divorce, child arrangements and nuptial 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.

Harriet is an Assistant Solicitor at Vardags, advising on all matters concerning divorce and financial claims, private children law matters, and protective injunctions under the Family Law Act 1996.

Our Head of Reputation and Privacy, Alex McCready, can assist clients during their case where there are issues of reputation and privacy, particularly for high net worth or high profile individuals who face frequent media scrutiny. 

In cases involving complicated financial structures and arrangements, our Head of Financial Forensics, Katharine Anderson, can offer support to the family law team on your case, particularly in relation to tracing assets.

If there is a business that is part of the marital assets under consideration, our Corporate Consultant, Caroline Graham, can provide assistance in relation to technical corporate issues arising as part of the financial aspect of divorce.