Top divorce lawyers serving Southend

“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 Director 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.

Lois specialises in all areas of family law, including divorce and cohabitation, financial matters and disputes relating to children matters. Her practise area is particularly focussed on complex financial proceedings for high-net-worth international clients.

Lois was an integral part of the team on the preliminary issue hearing of Quan v Bray [2014] EWHC 3340 (Fam) which required extensive international asset tracing and disclosure exercise in relation to complex offshore structures.

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.

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.

Charlotte is a Senior Associate in the family team. She advises high-net worth individuals on all issues arising from the breakdown of a relationship, often dealing with matters involving complex trust structures, overseas assets and pre-nuptial agreements. Charlotte has acted for an array of UHNW clients, including entrepreneurs, business owners and executive officers.

Charlotte also has notable experience dealing with children act proceedings, including those with an international element. She has worked alongside family psychologists amongst other experts to ensure that the children’s needs are put first. 

Antonia is a Senior Associate at Vardags who advises on all aspects of divorce for high-net-worth individuals. She has particular expertise in dealing with disputes that have complex financial, legal or international aspects. Antonia is frequently applauded by clients for her professionalism and straight-talking approach. She is also a frequent contributor of academic literature, and has authored several articles for legal journals and other publications.

Sarah acts for a wide variety of individuals from city professionals and entrepreneurs to homemakers. She provides reassuring and proactive guidance during what is an extremely difficult time in people’s lives. Sarah has extensive experience of litigation, but is also committed to achieving solutions outside of the court setting, where appropriate and possible, tailored to each client’s individual circumstances and goals. 

A significant number of Sarah’s cases involve trusts, corporate structures and jurisdiction issues and she is also experienced in dealing with financial claims following an overseas divorce. In addition, Sarah has significant experience in private children matters, including living arrangements and financial provision.

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.

Aisling is an experienced Senior Associate at the firm focusing her practice on divorce and separation including cases with an international element

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.

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. 

If you need to sell the family home or purchase further properties due to a divorce or separation, our Head of Property, James Bunker, can assist the family team to support the property issues in relation to your case.

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.