Lucy Bolton

CAREER

Lucy is a Partner in our Manchester Team, having quickly risen through the ranks at Vardags. Lucy joined Vardags in 2018 from a national family practice, becoming an Associate in April 2019, a Senior Associate in January 2020, and then Partner in January 2022.

Lucy is experienced in advising on all matters arising out of divorce and separation, and is experienced in the complex issues that arise particularly with high net worth clients, including:

• Jurisdiction disputes
• Complex business structures
• Trusts
• Foreign assets

Lucy is the Head of Vardags’ Manchester children team. Her extensive experience in private children matters includes:

• Cases involving serious allegations of harm
• Allegations of parental alienation
• Matters involving removal of children from the jurisdiction

Lucy is passionate about furthering the careers of others and is the Training Principal for the firm nationally. Lucy deals with the regulatory requirements that come with the role, as well as taking on pastoral responsibility. As a Senior Associate, she independently created and developed a Deputy Training Principal role, rolling out a programme of core legal training and pastoral care for all trainee solicitors. Lucy was elevated to Training Principal in summer 2023.

EDUCATION

Lucy studied law at the University of York.

During her time at university, Lucy was selected to present a paper based on her dissertation at Kent Critical Law Society conference alongside academics and legal professionals. Lucy sat on the ‘Equality and the Home’ panel and presented a paper on development of the law for married couples, divorcing and separating couples through social movements.

ACCOLADES

Lucy receives regular praise in the Legal 500, and in March 2024, received the award of Private Client lawyer of the year at the Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse awards. Lucy is ranked as a Next Generation Partner by the Legal 500.

Since 2020, Lucy has been described in the Legal 500 as lawyer who displays “excellent judgement”, “loved by clients for her down to earth approach to the most complicated of cases” as well as being “simply a breath of fresh air to work with”. In the 2023 edition of the Legal 500 it was commented that “Lucy is an outstanding family lawyer. She has got it all. Its not just that she is on top of the law and the facts of her clients cases, she has something that no amount of training and hard work can buy: she has natural acumen for the work. She is a brilliant tactician and a warm presence.”

Lucy is also recommended as a top family lawyer in the Spears Family Law Index.

PERSONAL

Lucy’s spare time is often dominated by her Shih Tzu, Winston. Although her husband, family and friends sometimes feature too.

Reported cases

• HD v WB [2023] EWFC 2

Connect with me on LinkedIn