We offer a free consultation to suitable clients in and around Nottingham — typically individuals whose family’s net assets exceed £1 million or whose combined income exceeds £150,000. If you are facing a complex family matter in Nottingham or the wider East Midlands, our leading family lawyers are ready to help from the very first conversation.
During your initial consultation, our team of divorce solicitors will take the time to understand the details of your individual circumstances, explore the legal pathways available to you, and offer a clear, practical view of the likely outcomes and costs. This early clarity helps you make confident, informed decisions from the very beginning of your case.
How much does a divorce cost?
Divorce costs vary significantly depending on the complexity of the case, particularly where there are business interests, international assets, or contested financial settlements. Our team can give you a clearer estimate after an initial consultation.
Do I need a solicitor to get divorced?
It’s possible to apply for a divorce without a solicitor, but this is rarely advisable where there are significant assets, business interests, or children involved. A solicitor ensures your financial settlement is fair, your assets are properly disclosed, and your interests are protected throughout the process.
What is a no-fault divorce?
Since April 2022, England and Wales have operated a no-fault divorce system, meaning neither party needs to assign blame to obtain a divorce. This has simplified proceedings, though financial settlements and arrangements for children still need to be resolved separately.
How is money split in a divorce?
There is no fixed formula for dividing assets in a divorce. The court considers factors including the length of the marriage, each party’s needs, income and earning capacity, and the standard of living during the marriage. For high-net-worth cases, this often involves forensic accounting to trace and value complex or international assets.
How is property divided in divorce?
Parties to divorce proceedings may hold property either solely, jointly with the other (either as joint tenants or tenants in common), or jointly with a third party. If a property is held with a third party, it is sometimes necessary to join that party to the financial proceedings.
Broadly, to be considered for division within financial proceedings, a property – or interest in a property - must usually be ‘matrimonial’ in nature. Matrimonial assets are those built up by the parties during the marriage period (generally from the date of cohabitation – insofar as that cohabitation led seamlessly to marriage – until the date of separation). They are distinct from ‘non-matrimonial’ and/or ‘pre-marital’ assets, which are assets either brought into the marriage by a spouse, having been owned prior to the relationship, or acquired unilaterally (such as by way of gift, or inheritance).
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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
Vardags is among the law firms for clients in Nottingham seeking divorce and family law advice. We specialise in complex, high net worth and international cases. The Legal 500 has said of Vardags: “The team is noted for its sheer intellect”
Vardags is among the leading family law firms in the UK. Our solicitors specialise in complex cases for high net worth individuals based in Nottingham, 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.
“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.
David is a Senior Partner at Vardags, and as of November 2025, is the Head of London Family. 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.
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.
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.
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.