Vardags is a top London-based divorce law firm serving high net worth (HNW) and ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individuals based in Canada but having links to England and Wales. We have an expert team of fluent French-speaking lawyers, including our Founder and President Ayesha Vardag. As such, we are uniquely well-placed to assist French-speaking Canadian clients.
Although Canada’s legal system shares similarities with England and Wales, it is bijural – meaning it has both common law and civil law systems. Therefore, for those who can choose where to get a divorce, one or the other jurisdiction may be more financially favorable based on various factors, such as whether they are the financially weaker or stronger party.
Whether you can claim English jurisdiction is complex and depends on factors such as where you and your spouse currently live, where you have previously lived, and your respective domiciles. Very often, a British person living abroad (or someone married to such a person) can access the English justice system without necessarily having ever resided in England.
Vardags is one of the UK’s leading divorce law firms, specializing in ultra-high net worth, complex international divorce cases. Our Founder and President Ayesha Vardag, billed “Britain’s top divorce lawyer”, is noted for her ground-breaking work in divorce law and impressive track record of achieving major victories for her clients.
Our offering for Canadian clients is further strengthened by Canadian-born Partner and fluent French speaker Caroline Korah. Coined a ’rising star’ by Legal 500, Caroline brings her international expertise and experience in cross-border disputes to our team.
Our specialist divorce lawyers have extensive experience advising on jurisdiction disputes, providing clients with outstanding legal strategies that identify the best possible route, and in turn outcome, for their case. For the financially weaker party, our in-house forensic financial and valuation team also has unparalleled expertise dealing with international, offshore and onshore assets and structures, including the tracing of, and enforcement against complex financial structures and trusts. For the financially stronger party, the team has extensive experience in securing favourable valuations of corporate and trust structures and defending them from attack.
London, as the ‘divorce capital of the world’, is known for making generous awards to the financially weaker parties, and the court has wide discretionary powers. In these circumstances, it is imperative to act fast and instruct a lawyer as soon as possible. At Vardags, we will help ensure that your case proceeds in the most advantageous jurisdiction and secure the best possible financial outcome for you.
If you are considering or going through a divorce, contact us before your spouse does.
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
In many countries, a couple can divorce with little or no financial support being given to the poorer party. Sometimes, you might not even know about the divorce until it has already been finalised. That does not prevent you from seeking the support of the English courts.
If your ex opposes your plan to move abroad with your children, there are numerous strategies that can be deployed to overcome their opposition.
While the court will be unable to stop you from relocating, it’s primary concern will be whether it is in your children’s best interests to do so, and whether there is an appropriate strategy in place for the children to maintain regular contact with the other parent.
All parties in a divorce are under a duty to provide “full and frank” disclosure. This means that they have to tell you about all their assets and income. Unfortunately, some wealthy spouses think that they can hide their assets – placing them under the control of companies, or moving them offshore.
Vardags are very experienced in these types of cases. Our in house forensic accountancy team can search for assets across the globe, and are experienced at understanding and unravelling complicated corporate structures.
Vardags Limited is a limited company trading as Vardags, Company No 7199468, registered in England and Wales, having its registered office at 10 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7NG. Vardags is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number 535955). Its VAT number is 99 001 7230.
Vardags uses the term ‘Partner’ as a professional title only, to describe a Senior Solicitor, Employee or Consultant with relevant experience, expertise and qualifications (whether legally qualified or otherwise) to merit the title. Our Partners are not partners in the legal sense. They are not liable for the debts, liabilities or obligations of Vardags Limited. Similarly, the term ’Director’ is a professional title only, to describe a non-legally qualified employee or consultant of Vardags with relevant experience, expertise and qualifications to merit the title. It does not necessarily imply that the relevant individual is a director of Vardags Limited.
A list of the directors of Vardags Limited and a list of the names of those using the title of ’Director’ and ’Partner’ together with their official status is available for inspection at Vardags’ registered office.