Vardags’ Malaysian Desk delivers a bespoke legal service to HNW and UHNW individuals, their families, and businesses, based in Malaysia. The team, led by Founder and President Ayesha Vardag, comprises the finest lawyers, with unrivalled expertise in the area of judicial dissolution of cross-border marriages and cases involving jurisdictional disputes and international assets. Our Malaysian Desk also work in close partnership with a network of contacts based in Malaysia, including banks, family offices, tax advisors and wealth managers. Previous UHNW clients include Pauline Chai in the widely reported Chai v Peng case against her Malaysian business tycoon husband and Laura Ashley owner, Khoo Kay Peng; Pauline was awarded one of the largest settlements ever recorded.
If you are in an international relationship, the jurisdiction in which your divorce proceeds could make a huge difference to the final outcome. London, as the divorce capital of the world, is known for making generous awards to the financially weaker parties, and the court has a wide discretion in what it awards. In these circumstances, it is imperative to act fast and instruct a lawyer as soon as possible. At Vardags, we will help you ensure that your case proceeds in the most advantageous jurisdiction, as well as providing our expertise on international asset tracing.
Whether you can claim English jurisdiction is complex and depends on where you currently live, where you have previously lived and your domicile. Very often, a British person living abroad is able to access the English justice system, without necessarily being in the country at the time.
Proceedings can also be initiated if one party wants to move to another country with the children, given that the permission of the other parent, or the court, is required. If you are caught in this situation, then you may need to seek legal advice.
Vardags’ services extend well beyond divorce and family law, and encompass reputation and privacy, property, corporate, criminal defence, commercial and civil litigation, employment, and professional negligence.
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
“Britain's top divorce lawyer” Ayesha Vardag represented former beauty queen Pauline Chai in the widely reported Chai v Peng case, against Chai’s ex-husband and Malaysian business tycoon, Khoo Khay Peng. Pauline Chai was awarded a £64 million divorce settlement, one of the largest ever recorded.
Simon McKirgan is Senior Partner at Vardags and a top international divorce lawyer, with experience in representing individuals or their spouses/partners from commercial, City, banking, investment, media, entertainment and sporting sectors, and entrepreneurs. Simon specialises in high and ultra-high-net-worth divorce and financial disputes often involving complex jurisdictional issues, and separation and cohabitation disputes and private children proceedings, including international relocation. He has a wealth of experience in handling celebrities and the sensitivities around their cases. Simon is also a trained collaborative lawyer and is as well-equipped to adopt a conciliatory negotiated approach as a tough litigation stance.
Lois specialises in all areas of family law, including divorce and cohabitation, financial matters and disputes relating to children matters. Her practise area is particularly focussed on complex financial proceedings for high-net-worth international clients.