Ayesha Vardag ============= Founder & President "Britain's top divorce lawyer" Ayesha Vardag rose to fame for winning the landmark Supreme Court case of *[Radmacher v Granatino](https://vardags.com/law-guide/important-divorce-cases/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](https://vardags.com/law-guide/the-ultimate-guide-to-high-net-worth-and-ultra-high-net-worth-divorces), 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. Ayesha was awarded Woman of the Year at the GG2 Awards 2023 which celebrate the extraordinary talent that exists in the British Asian community, and with fellow winners including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Her acceptance speech can be viewed [here](https://lnkd.in/e774hCD6). She is also listed in the 2023 GG2 Power List, which profiles Britain's 101 most influential Asians. [BOOK MY FREE CONSULTATION](https://vardags.com/contact/consultation) Accolades --------- - GG2 Woman of the Year 2023, awarded for consistent high achievement. - GG2 Power List 2023, profiling Britain's 101 most influential Asians, with fellow ranked individuals including Rishi Sunak and Sadiq Khan. - "Britain's top divorce lawyer*"* was Ayesha Vardag's billing by the Law Society, *The Guardian*, *The Telegraph, The Independent, Manchester Evening News, Daily Mail, OK! Magazine, Cosmopolitan* and *HuffPost US*. - *TIME Magazine* featured Ayesha as "The Diva of Divorce*"*. Other outlets to feature this sobriquet include the *Financial Times,* *BBC News, the Times, the Telegraph, Daily Mail, the Sun, Easy Living, and OK! Magazine.* - Ayesha is one of only a handful of family lawyers to receive *The Times*' accolade "Lawyer of the Week". - The *Evening Standard* called her "one of the star lawyers turning London into the divorce capital of the world*".* - Ayesha received the [2015 Natwest Everywoman Award](https://vardags.com/ayesha-wins-natwest-everywoman-awards), for "changing the legal landscape", in recognition of the landmark win that ensured that prenuptial agreements could be legally enforced in the UK and her pioneering working practices which, through flexible and generous maternity packages, enable female employees to reach their highest potential in an infamously male-dominated industry. - In 2015, Vardags became the only law firm to feature on [The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100](https://vardags.com/vardags-in-sunday-times-virgin-fast-track-100), as the 46th fastest growing company in the United Kingdom. - In 2017, Vardags was declared the fastest growing law firm in Europe's [FT 1000](https://vardags.com//posts/vardags-fastest-growing-law-firm-ft-1000)rankings. - In 2019, Ayesha was awarded the 'Outstanding Achievement in Law' Award at the GG2 Leadership Awards. Education --------- Ayesha read Law at Queens'College, Cambridge, and subsequently secured a Duke of Edinburgh award for membership of the Inner Temple. She was a Cambridge Wiener Anspach scholar for a Masters in European Law at the Université Libre Brussels. Press & publications ------------------------ Ayesha regularly features in the national and international media as an expert on the leading cases and legal issues of the day, appearing on *BBC News*, *CNN*, the *Today Programme* and *Newsnight,* as well as the 'Ways to Change the World' podcast hosted by Channel 4's Krishnan Guru-Murthy. She has published articles in *The Times*, *The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The Huffington Post, Spear's Wealth Management* and the *Business Quarter*. Her views have been canvassed by the Law Commission. Ayesha is also a sought-after lecturer, appearing at the Shelley Society at Eton, the White Paper conference, the inaugural session of the Law Society's public debates, on 'The End of Marriage As We Know It' and at the Marriage Foundation's inaugural conference. Career ------ Ayesha, trained as both barrister and solicitor, has had a diverse and illustrious career in law. Ayesha's negotiating skills and litigation savvy, mastered during her training at a top City law firm, make her a formidable force. A supremely versatile lawyer, Ayesha marries razor-sharp expertise on complex financial matters with the empathy and common sense afforded by her own experience of divorce. Ayesha worked on expert research projects at the International Court of Justice in The Hague and at the UN (IAEA) Legal Division in Vienna and helped draft the nuclear energy Safety Convention. She qualified and worked initially as a finance solicitor at the global City law firm Linklaters (London, Moscow) and then at the New York law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges in London. Ayesha is dual-qualified as a solicitor and barrister of the Inner Temple. She did pupillage at the leading professional negligence set, 4 New Square. Her training in matrimonial law was as a mini-pupil to Nicholas Mostyn (then QC), then as one of two assistants to Raymond Tooth at Sears Tooth, who hired her away from the Bar after working with her on her own divorce. Ayesha led the family law course at the 5\* law school at Queen Mary, University of London. She set up her own specialist divorce and family law firm, Ayesha Vardag Solicitors, in 2005, from the spare room in her Islington home. The firm incorporated and became Vardags in 2010, by which point it had become the go-to firm for some of the weightiest divorce cases in the country. Ayesha has acted for and against heirs and heiresses, tycoons, international footballers and polo players, celebrities and royalty. She has been noted as acting in almost all of the biggest cases running through the family courts, for clients including: - [Li Quan](https://vardags.com/law-guide/important-divorce-cases/quan-v-bray) in the international tiger charity case; - The Marchioness of Northampton in her high-profile settlement; - Yasmin Prest in the High Court case which ran into the Supreme Court corporate veil victory of *Petrodel v Prest*; - [Michelle Young](https://vardags.com/law-guide/important-divorce-cases/young-v-young), obtaining the suspended committal of Scott Young for non-disclosure; - Meshkah Tawfik, the wife of a Qatari prince and - The former Miss Malaysia, in [*Chai v Peng*](https://vardags.com/law-guide/important-divorce-cases/chai-v-peng), winning jurisdiction in the High Court and Court of Appeal after a battle that spanned two hemispheres. Her firm now has more than one hundred members and three offices around the country. After establishing itself as the biggest family law presence in what is described as the "magic circle", Vardags expanded to include private client, civil litigation and criminal defence departments and can now offer a bespoke solution for all her clients' legal needs. Languages --------- Ayesha is a native English-speaker, is fluent in [French](https://vardags.com/team/specialist-divorce-lawyers/france) and [Italian](https://vardags.com/team/specialist-divorce-lawyers/italy), has conversational [Spanish](https://vardags.com/team/specialist-divorce-lawyers/spain), and rusty [Russian](https://vardags.com/team/specialist-divorce-lawyers/russia), Urdu and Portuguese. Personal -------- Ayesha is a Shehzadi of the Pashtun Lodhi dynasty which ruled India before the Mughals. She grew up in an Anglo-Scottish home in Oxford with her English mother who worked at New College, while being romanced with stories of her father: barrister, politician, alumnus of Magdalen College, and the youngest ever senator of Pakistan. Amnesty International campaigned for her father when he was repeatedly imprisoned and mistreated for making pro-democracy speeches under martial law. He faced down three assassination orders under a previous regime. Ayesha's grandfather was exiled by the British for pro-independence politics and her grandmother grew up in the old royal style, carried everywhere in a palanquin until her marriage, then became an exiled princess in a palace in the deserts of Saudi Arabia until her husband was recalled to become Mayor of Karachi. Ayesha - (pronounced I-sha) - was named by her mother after the legendary heroine of the 19th century novels "She" and "The Return of She", written by anthropologist and explorer Rider Haggard, dubbed "She-who-must-be-obeyed" and immortalised by Hammer films with Ursula Andress and Christopher Lee. Ayesha enjoys opera, travel, movies and dramas, has seven combined children, multiple dogs, cats and horses, and is a committed amateur horsewoman. She lives in Florence with regular time in England. Reported Cases -------------- - [TY v XA \[2024\] EWFC 96](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2024/96.html) - [CG v SG \[2023\] EWHC 942 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2023/942.html) - [GA v EL \[2023\] EWFC 187](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2023/187.html) - [GA v EL (No 2) (Post Separation Accrual) \[2023\] EWFC 206](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2023/206.html) - [FRB v DCA \[2019\] EWHC 2816 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2019/2816.html) - [FRB v DCA (No. 2) \[2020\] EWHC 754 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2020/754.html) - [FRB v DCA (No. 3) \[2020\] EWHC 3696 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2020/3696.html) - [FRB v DCA (No. 4) \[2021\] EWHC 116 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2021/116.html) - [AB v CD (No 1) \[2019\] EWHC 1695 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2019/1695.html) - [AB v CD (No 2) \[2019\] EWHC 2244 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2019/2244.html) - [Y v A Healthcare NHS Trust & The HFEA & Z (by his litigation friend, The Official Solicitor) \[2018\] EWCOP 18](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCOP/2018/18.html) - [Al-Baker v Al-Baker \[2016\] EWHC 2510](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2016/2510.html) - [Al-Baker v Al-Baker \[2015\] EWHC 3725 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2015/3725.html) - [Al-Baker v Al-Baker \[2015\] EWHC 3229 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2015/3229.html) - [Quan v Bray & Anor \[2015\] EWCA Civ 1401](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2015/1401.html) - [Quan v Bray & Anor \[2015\] EWCA Civ 1253](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2015/1253.html) - [Quan v Bray & Ors \[2014\] EWHC 3340 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2014/3340.html) - [Chai v Peng & Ors \[2017\] EWHC 792 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2017/792.html) - [Tan Sri Dr Khoo Peng v Pauline Siew Phin Chai \[2015\] EWCA Civ 1312](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2015/1312.html) - [Chai v Peng \[2014\] EWHC 3518 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2014/3518.html) - [Chai v Peng \[2014\] EWHC 3519](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2014/3519.html) - [Chai v Peng \[2014\] EWHC 1519 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2014/1519.html) - [Chai v Peng \[2014\] EWHC 750 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2014/750.html) - [AM v SS \[2014\] EWHC 865](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2014/865.html) - [AM v SS \[2014\] EWHC 2887 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2014/2887.html) - [AM v SS \[2013\] EWHC 4380 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2013/4380.html) - [Young v Young \[2013\] EWHC 3637 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2013/3637.html) - [Met v Hat \[2013\] EWHC 4247 (Fam)](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2013/4247.html) - B v R \[2009\] EWHC 2026 (Fam) \[2010\] 1 FLR 563 - [Radmacher (formerly Granatino) v Granatino (Rev 4) \[2010\] UKSC 42](https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2010/42.html) - [Radmacher v Granatino \[2009\] EWCA Civ 649 \[2009\] 2 FLR 1181](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2009/649.html) - [Radmacher v Granatino \[2008\] EWCA Civ 1304 \[2009\] 1 FLR 1566](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2008/1304.html) - [NG v KR (Pre-Nuptial Contract) \[2008\] EWHC 1532 (Fam) \[2009\] 1 FLR 1478](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2008/1532.html) - N v R (Injunction) \[2008\] EWHC 1347 (Fam) \[2009\] 2 FLR 342 - [S v S (Non-Matrimonial Property: Conduct) \[2006\] EWHC 2793 (Fam) \[2007\] 1 FLR 1496](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2006/2793.html) [![linkedIn](https://vardags.com/images/linkedin-grey.png)Connect with me on LinkedIn](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ayesha-vardag-a7a932a "LinkedIn") "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." The Huffington Post ### AWARDS [![Ayesha Vardag wins Outstanding Achievement in Law Award](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/awards_1.jpg) Ayesha Vardag wins Outstanding Achievement in Law Award](https://vardags.com/posts/ayesha-vardag-wins-outstanding-achievement-in-law-award "Ayesha Vardag wins Outstanding Achievement in Law Award") [![White gave us equality, Radmacher, autonomy: Ayesha Vardag's lecture on the biggest ever family law cases](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/7fc8d32aa9cc94c16172e4760c7742ce.jpeg)White gave us equality, Radmacher, autonomy: Ayesha Vardag's lecture on the biggest ever family law cases](https://vardags.com/posts/ayesha-vardags-lecture-on-the-biggest-ever-family-law-cases "White gave us equality, Radmacher, autonomy: Ayesha Vardag's lecture on the biggest ever family law cases") [![Ayesha Vardag comments on new types of prenups in the wake of Radmacher victory](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/e7c4b89a47216ef8108c20e901843c1f.jpeg)Ayesha Vardag comments on new types of prenups in the wake of Radmacher victory](https://vardags.com/posts/prenup-clauses-radmacher-victory "Ayesha Vardag comments on new types of prenups in the wake of Radmacher victory") [![Chai v Peng: Press release](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/5c3e026f4f42b8c31df720308670dde4.jpeg) Chai v Peng: Press release](https://vardags.com/family-law/chai-v-khoo-press-release "Chai v Peng: Press release") [![Ayesha wins at NatWest Everywoman Awards](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/4fb98fee970a495646acd9afc25633a4.jpeg) Ayesha wins at NatWest Everywoman Awards](https://vardags.com/posts/ayesha-wins-natwest-everywoman-awards "Ayesha wins at NatWest Everywoman Awards") [![Vardags' victory: Halsbury Legal Awards success](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/awards_3.jpg) Vardags' victory: Halsbury Legal Awards success](https://vardags.com/posts/vardags-victory-halsbury-legal-awards-success "Vardags victory: Halsbury Legal Awards success") [![](https://vardags.com/images/press/the-times.png) Ayesha Vardag talks to The Times about the potential consequences of the government's planned tax hikes](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/child-abductions-may-rise-after-tax-raid-say-lawyers-of-the-rich-9h7sqmc5v "Ayesha Vardag talks to The Times about the potential consequences of the government's planned tax hikes") [![](https://vardags.com/images/press/the-times.png) The Sunday Times Magazine Interview with Ayesha Vardag](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-interview-top-divorce-lawyer-ayesha-vardag-on-becoming-a-mother-again-at-50-prenups-and-maternity-policy-z9v2w320m "The Sunday Times Magazine Interview with Ayesha Vardag") [![The Telegraph Logo](https://vardags.com/images/press/the-telegraph.png) Ayesha Vardag explains the value of a post-nup](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/would-sign-post-nuptial-agreement/ "Ayesha Vardag explains the value of a post-nup") [![](https://vardags.com/images/vardags_150_150.png) Ayesha Vardag on why rich spouses like Pauline Chai bring their cases to London](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2015/feb/24/divorce-rich-husband-london-english-law "Ayesha Vardag on why rich spouses like Pauline Chai bring their cases to London") [![](https://vardags.com/images/vardags_150_150.png) "Divorce case of the century." Ayesha Vardag comments on Radmacher case](http://www.thelawyer.com/total-eclipse-of-the-heart/1003738.article "'Divorce case of the century.' Ayesha Vardag comments on Radmacher case") [![](https://vardags.com/images/press/bdbba024d77a30c4b18ce407a69626c9.png) Watch now: Ayesha Vardag and Katrin Radmacher leave the High Court](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaY8nJYY7EA "Watch now: Ayesha Vardag and Katrin Radmacher leave the High Court") [Vardags climbs ranks of UK's biggest firms in The Lawyer's UK 200](https://vardags.com/posts/vardags-london-climbs-ranks-of-uks-biggest-firms-in-the-lawyers-uk-200) WE ARE READY TO HELP -------------------- 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 [ Telephone 020 7404 9390](https://vardags.com/tel:020%207404%209390 "Call") Phone lines are open 24 hours WhatsApp 07385025158 Scan QR to open WhatsApp Alternatively, What our clients say -------------------- I always felt I was in the best hands, I highly recommend them! Alessandra Arrigoni Vardags were outstanding throughout my divorce. They were incredibly supportive from the very first meeting & when my mother passed away a month into the proceedings they were so kind & understanding. Amanda Allen Vardags is among the most effective, efficient, and successful group of solicitors I have encountered. Cliff Krause Beyond the direct legal work they were extremely knowledgeable and creative in coordinating with other service providers when required, which was key in securing a fair financial result and, more importantly, maintaining my... parental relationship with my young children during the divorce proceedings and beyond. Throughout the whole process they never lost sight of the best long term outcome, whilst always staying on top of procedure and providing flawless execution. I highly recommended them! Heinz-Peter Stohl Throughout my time using Vardags I felt that I have always been in the best possible hands. I enjoyed an excellent level of service and received accurate and precise legal advice. The lawyers are hugely talented, sensitive and... focused on getting the very best results. Their no-nonsense and direct approach is most valuable when time and costs are of the essence. I highly recommend them over and above any other law firm I have ever dealt with. Thank you Vardags. Valerie I hope you don't need it, but if you do, I would highly recommend Vardags. Xiao Ma Media Highlights ---------------- [Year in Review 2021](https://vardags.com/posts/year-in-review "Year in Review 2021") [Doing it for themselves: Why I'll always fight to empower women and children](https://vardags.com/family-law/ayesha-vardag-empower-women-children "Doing it for themselves: Why Ill always fight to empower women and children") [Chai v Peng: Press release](https://vardags.com/family-law/chai-v-khoo-press-release "Chai v Peng: Press release") [How to save your marriage by Ayesha Vardag "Britain's Top Divorce Lawyer"](https://vardags.com/posts/top-divorce-lawyer-ayeshas-guide-saving-marriage "How to save your marriage by Ayesha Vardag 'Britain's Top Divorce Lawyer'") [Vardags named as one the UK's leading female-powered businesses](https://vardags.com/family-law/lawyers-vardags-one-of-top-200-female-powered-businesses "Vardags named as one the UK's leading female-powered businesses")