Vardags law firm – which has acted for a string of billionaires, celebrities, sporting stars and royalty – has established a Monaco desk dedicated to providing a specialist service tailored to the needs of British expats and others who have strong British connections who are currently resident in Monaco.

The firm was founded by “Britain’s top divorce lawyer” Ayesha Vardag who divides her time between Vardags’ head office in the City of London and her home in Monte-Carlo, where she lives with her husband and two of her children.

Ayesha, who grew up in Oxford, England is fluent in French and Italian.  She has acted for or against heirs and heiresses, tycoons, international sports stars, celebrities and royalty in big-ticket financial and associated cases. She rose to fame for winning the landmark Supreme Court case of Radmacher v Granatino in 2010, which made prenuptial agreements binding in the English courts.

The firm’s website states: “Our Monaco Desk comprises a team of the finest lawyers, dedicated to providing a specialist service tailored to the needs of clients living in Monaco. Working exclusively in UHNW and high-profile matters, both domestically and internationally, and with an exceptional blend of expertise, discretion, drive and dedication, we are able to handle any issues in these areas, including complex assets, property portfolios, company, and trust structures.”

Vardags’ decision to establish a Monaco desk was driven by having had numerous Monaco-based clients over the years.  In such cases a careful evaluation needs to be made about whether the client is better off with the case proceeding in Monaco or whether England is the more appropriate jurisdiction. 

Ayesha said: “The difference in the financial outcome between Monaco and England can run to tens or hundreds of millions of pounds in the largest cases and so anybody who has a British connection or who has a spouse with a British connection needs to take advice that looks at both jurisdictions.  Every second counts as the party that files their divorce petition first can often have a significant advantage.”

Vardags’ Monaco Desk works in close partnership with a network of local contacts including lawyers, banks, family offices, tax advisors and wealth managers.

PHOTO: Ayesha Vardag