Nicola Hale

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. She has recently been shortlisted for Manchester Law Awards’ Solicitor of the Year.

Nikki joined the Manchester office of Vardags in 2016 as a paralegal, having previously worked at a well-known family law firm in Manchester city centre, running cases concurrently with the principal solicitor. Her talents were quickly recognised at Vardags, and she was offered a training contract within three months of starting at the firm, fully qualifying in 2018.

Nikki advises clients on all aspects of the law in this area, particularly relating to the breakdown of relationships and divorce proceedings. She has already built a solid base of knowledge and experience in relation to:

• Financial matters arising from the breakdown of marriages and civil partnerships

• Interim financial matters such as maintenance and legal funding

• Children issues including contested internal and international relocation

• Preparing, drafting and reviewing prenuptial agreements, including handling any disputes in relation to these

Nikki represents high net worth individuals, guiding them on the complexities that arise for these specific clients:

• Clients with complex business interest
• Cases involving pre-marital or family wealth
• Cases involving trusts

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.

EDUCATION

Nikki graduated from the University of Liverpool, having read Law, and was then awarded a distinction in her LPC and LLM at the University of Law. In her final year at university, Nikki led a team to organise the Law School’s mooting competition with the final held at St George’s Hall.

PRESS & PUBLICATIONS

Nikki has already written several published articles for legal commentary:

· Why it doesn’t pay to delay: A v B (No 2) and the need for certainty on divorce - [2018] Fam Law 1564

· The relevance of family wealth? Promise and precaution - [2019] Fam Law 926

· When draconian is the only way: Hadkinson orders following de Gafforj - [2019] Fam Law 61

PERSONAL

Nikki grew up in Northamptonshire but has lived in the North West for over a decade. Outside of the office, she is a keen amateur cook and enjoys reading, swimming and snowboarding, and she also enjoys regularly eating out in Manchester. However, her time is dictated by her flat-coated retriever who rules her life! She enjoys taking him swimming and for long forest-walks.

TESTIMONIAL

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