Emma Nash

career

Emma trained at a law firm specialising in providing legal services to entrepreneurial individuals and businesses, predominantly those in sports related industries, qualifying in 2011. She subseqeuntly worked at a specialist international family law firm, working almost exclusively for global HNW families. Emma continued to work at several law firms specialising in family law, before joining Vardags as a Senior Associate in May 2025.

Emma specialises in international family law cases, often involving issues concerning jurisdiction, divorce, and children matters. 

As Founder of the Family Law Language Project, Emma campaigns for a better understanding of family law and reducing conflict through a better use of language. She is also a member of Resolution, an organisation of professionals committed to the constructive resolution of family law disputes. She served on the Litigants in Person Working Group from 2018 to 2025.

Emma has Higher Rights of Audience, allowing her to represent clients as a solicitor-advocate. She is also registered with Advocate and has provided pro bono advocacy work for those unable to afford representation.

reported cases

• Ford v Halil [2018] EWHC 1997 (Fam) (12 July 2018) – Jurisdiction for children matter concerning child abduction and change of habitual residence.
• Ford v Halil & Anor [2018] EWHC 1213 (Fam) (09 May 2018) - Jurisdiction for children matter concerning child abduction and change of habitual residence.
• V v V [2011] EWHC 1190 (Fam) (20 May 2011) – Jurisdiction dispute between England and Switzerland for divorce.

Accolades

• Included in the CityWealth top 75 Family Lawyers 2025
• Included in the CityWealth Top 25 Family Lawyers in 2024
• Judge in the British Family Law Awards in 2024
• Judge in the CityWealth Future Leaders Awards in 2023
• City Wealth Future Leaders Awards Partner of the Year (Bronze) in 2022
• Included in CityWealth Top 100 Private Client Lawyers 2021
• Recommended Family Lawyer on the CityWealth Leaders List since 2021
• Recommended Family Lawyer in Spears500 since 2021
• Shortlisted for Family Law Commentator of the Year in 2015 and 2018
• Senior Class Creative Writing Prize at The Lawrenceville School 2002
• The English Speaking Union Secondary School Scholarship 2001/2002

Testimonials

‘Emma Nash is an amazing solicitor in both domestic and international family law matters. I don’t think that I have met anyone else who gives so much of themselves to their clients in helping them achieve their goals. She sees the human in the case, it is not a business transaction to her, she pours her heart and soul into helping her clients.’ - Legal 500

‘Emma Nash is a true champion of Family Law.’ - Legal 500

‘Emma also contributes significantly to the wider Family Law community.’ - Legal 500

Press and Publications

Emma has contributed numerous articles and media commentray to a broad range of respected publications, including The Times, Sky News, BBC Radio 4,  The Independent, The Observer and Spear’s Wealth Magazine.

Recent examples include:

• ‘Custody’ and ‘battle’ should be wiped from divorce vocabulary, The Times
• Interviewing live with GB News on domestic abuse specialists in 999 call centres
• Quoted in ‘The Future of Divorce: Trends and Insights’, CityWealth
• The family law language project, The Smart Divorce Podcast
• A reminder (from abroad) on the importance of complying with court orders, Family Law LexisNexis

Education

Emma studied Law and then completed a Masters of Law in Public International Law at University College London. She then completed the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law in Bloomsbury, and then subsequently the Higher Rights of Audience course at BPP University. 

Languages

Emma is a native English speaker and also speaks intermediate German and elementary French. 

Personal

Emma loves sport. She is a fencer and scuba diver, and she enjoys running, swimming, and going to the gym. She is also a proficient skier whenever she gets the chance to go. Emma also enjoys watching sports, especially football (she supports Arsenal and Charlton Athletic), as well as Formula 1 and MotoGP.

In addition to her interests in sports, Emma enjoys creative writing, cross stitch, sewing, puzzles and cryptic crosswords. 

Emma has travelled widely and scuba dived in some of the most incredible places in the world, diving with seals and sharks. She has lived in New Jersey, USA, and is particularly fond of Germany, where she lived in Berlin, and spent time in Cologne and Munich. 

Emma is currently on the committee for Holborn BS-AC, having previously served as Chair and Secretary for the club.