We specialise in large and complex divorce cases. These often feature private companies, property empires, trusts, and international/hidden assets. We also serve the surrounding area, including Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and Edgware.
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. Our experienced family lawyers will take the time to understand the details of your unique situation and talk you through the next stages of the legal process. We will then be able to give you a sense of the possible outcomes of your case and even the likely cost.
Vardags’ team of top divorce lawyers offer unparalleled legal support to our clients in Watford. We understand that navigating a divorce can be a challenging and emotionally charged period for you and your family. Our goal is to guide you through this process with compassion and expertise, securing the most favourable outcome for you.
Our award-winning family lawyers specialise in:
Filing a divorce petition first can give you the legal edge over your spouse, ensuring that our top divorce lawyers deliver the greatest outcome for you and your family. If you think you may need our help, don’t delay. Contact Vardags before your spouse does.
Watford County Court is around a 20-minute walk from Watford Junction Train station or is accessible using taxis or busses. It is also a short walk from Watford High Street train station which has frequent, direct trains connecting to London Euston and Watford Junction.
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
A merger occurs where pre-existing companies are combined, which results in the creation a of single new company. Typically, the merging companies are equal or similar in terms of their existing size and scale of operations. The newly merged company tends to assume a new company name and operates under new management.
It is important to note that, despite often being used as interchangeable terms, mergers and acquisitions are two distinct restructuring processes. A merger involves separate companies joining forces to establish a new joint company. In contrast, an acquisition involves a financially stronger company taking over a smaller, financially weaker, company.
Mergers in the UK are subject to the legislation contained within the Enterprise Act 2002. Alongside this, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the regulatory body that controls and scrutinises mergers, in order to prevent mergers from unfairly restricting competition. For example, in 2019, the CMA blocked the proposed merger of the UK supermarket giants, Asda and Sainsburys, over fears that reduced competition would result in higher prices for consumers.
There are several types of merger that exist, each of which is dictated by the relationship between the merging companies, and the reasons they wish to merge. The five most common types of merger are:
Horizontal merger: companies in direct competition with each other that provide the same goods or services to consumers. Two competing UK supermarkets would fall into this category.
Vertical merger: companies that serve different functions in the supply chain of the same goods or services. For instance, a car manufacturer and a car parts supplier.
Congeneric merger: companies that serve the same customer base but provide different types of goods or services. A bank and an insurance company agreeing to merge would be a prime example of this.
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
“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.








