As I delve into the world of high-profile legal eagles, I find myself awestruck by the caliber and diversity of their expertise. The trio of Brett Ward, Kristina Royce, and Marilyn Chinitz have carved out a niche for themselves in the realm of Hollywood divorces, handling cases that would make even the most stoic among us cringe. Yet, they navigate these treacherous waters with grace and poise, making them the go-to lawyers for A-listers seeking to end their marriages with as little drama as possible.
Should fortune favor you, you may never have to contact anyone on this list. However, if an unexpected predicament arises such as a car accident involving your Cadillac SUV in the Hamptons or accusations of racketeering and sex trafficking at a luxury New York City hotel, these are the lawyers who will be indispensable to you. They are known as The Troubleshooters – elite legal problem solvers, even though some of them practice law in cities like New York, Atlanta, or Las Vegas. These attorneys not only assist their high-profile clients in navigating criminal complications but also guide them through the frequently complex legal battles that ensue from divorce proceedings, workplace conflicts, and estate management. In the ensuing pages, THR showcases the top lawyers that many can afford to hire.
Blair Berk
Criminal Law
One of this prominent law firm’s recent courtroom successes involved preventing rapper DaBaby from serving jail time. The artist, aged 32, was facing felony battery charges for reportedly punching a 65-year-old man in the face and causing him to lose several teeth following an argument over a music video shoot at a house that DaBaby had rented from the man. As a result, DaBaby received a one-year probation sentence and was required to pay $10,000 in compensation. This year, she also represented baseball player Shohei Ohtani in his fraud and theft case against his interpreter. Her clientele has also included NFL player Darren Sharper (who was accused and convicted in 2014 of drugging and attempting to sexually assault 16 women across four states) and rapper Cee Lo Green (who faced sexual battery charges in 2013; the case was ultimately dismissed).
Tom Clare and Libby Locke
Criminal Law
As a passionate gamer, I’ve been following the latest drama unfolding in the academic world. The power couple, Claudine Gay, ex-Harvard president, and Neri Oxman, former MIT professor, have found themselves embroiled in separate plagiarism allegations. Interestingly, Neri is married to Bill Ackman, the billionaire who spearheaded the movement to oust Claudine from her position.
Jeffrey Eisen
Estate Law
Death and tax obligations might be unavoidable, but Eisen’s law firm, renowned for managing estates ranging from Marilyn Monroe to Irving Berlin, Albert Einstein, and Elvis, strives to make these processes as seamless as possible. Currently, he is engaged in discussions regarding the licensing of Muhammad Ali’s likeness, name, and image, and untangling the legal complexities surrounding an unnamed A-list musician’s estate that found itself in an IRS audit.
Drew Findling
Criminal Law
This Atlanta-based lawyer is a favorite of rap royalty — he defended Cardi B in her 2018 assault case and this year got felony gun charges against Lil Baby dropped in Las Vegas. But his biggest, most controversial recent client also was his most unlikely: He initially defended Donald Trump against Fulton County DA Fani Willis’ 13 felony counts for allegedly attempting to illegally overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. This self-described “left-wing liberal” who on social media has called Trump “racist” and “pathetic,” has a long record of successfully defending the seemingly indefensible (including once winning the acquittal of a woman who doused her husband with gasoline and set him on fire).
Bryan Freedman
Civil Law
Freedman represented Kevin Spacey when the actor was accused of sexual assault. When Tucker Carlson, Chris Cuomo, Megyn Kelly and Don Lemon were all ousted from their respective networks, he’s the guy they called for legal advice. Dr. Dre’s ex-wife hired him to get spousal support, FKA Twigs hired him when she alleged Shia LaBeouf abused her, Gabrielle Union hired him in her toxic workplace claim against America’s Got Talent, and Diplo hired him when he was accused of distributing revenge porn. A self-described courthouse “pit bull,” Freeman has a simple legal philosophy, which he shared with THR in June: “If you fuck with my client, you get what you get.”
Harlee Gasmer
Family Law
Her impeccable reputation for confidentiality, often referred to as “The Vault”, is so thoroughly earned that we can’t disclose the identities of her high-profile clients. According to her firm’s biography, she excels in handling intricate divorce cases that involve wealthy individuals, celebrities, and industry leaders. These cases typically entail dealing with complex compensation structures, alimony, child support, and custody disputes.
Mark Geragos
Criminal Law
He hasn’t had much luck with Scott Peterson, but he just may turn out to be the lawyer who gets Lyle and Erik Menendez sprung from prison. The publicity-loving L.A. mouthpiece claims he’ll be introducing new evidence that will exonerate the brothers — convicted of murdering their parents in 1993 — during a resentencing hearing scheduled for November. But the Menendezes aren’t his only clients: Geragos also just signed on as Hunter Biden’s latest attorney. The president’s son has plead guilty to tax charges and is scheduled to be sentenced in December.
David Hyman
Civil Law
If you’re considering a lawsuit against Netflix, regarding Fiona Harvey’s portrayal as Martha in the popular series ‘Baby Reindeer’, it’s likely you’ll find yourself going up against this individual. Hyman has been representing Netflix since its days as a DVD-by-mail service, but lately he’s found himself quite busy. Besides handling Harvey’s allegations, he’s also dealing with cases related to ‘Love Is Blind’ (a contestant is accusing the show of putting her in potentially harmful situations during filming) and ‘Squid Game’ (an Indian filmmaker is suing over claims that the series copied his 2009 Hindi-language film ‘Luck’).
Ambika Kumar
Media Law
As a passionate gamer, I’m the one they call whenever tech and free speech clash in the vibrant landscape of Silicon Valley. I stand tall for giants like Microsoft, shielding them from gag orders that threaten to silence them when their customers’ data is scrutinized by the government. I’m also a steadfast ally to TikTok, battling against restrictions in places like Montana. Lastly, I rally for Meta, defending them against lawsuits claiming that social media platforms carry harmful influences.
Lisa Helfend Meyer
Family Law
As a founding partner of her self-established and female-managed law firm, she has been responsible for resolving divorce cases involving several well-known celebrities, including Janet McCormack (former spouse of Eric McCormack), Jwan Yosef (ex-partner of Ricky Martin), Nicole Young (ex-wife of Dr. Dre), Brandon Blackstock (previously married to Kelly Clarkson), and Christina Ricci (formerly with James Heerdegen).
Paul D. Murphy
Civil Law
In the ongoing legal dispute between Angelina Jolie and her ex-husband Brad Pitt regarding their shared French winery, Chateau Miraval, attorney Murphy recently stated that Jolie will provide eight years’ worth of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) following a court ruling. Both parties have viewed this decision as a victory. Despite Pitt’s lawyer declaring it a “significant setback” for Jolie’s case, Murphy argued that the production of NDAs is not a major issue but rather about power and control in their ongoing legal battle.
Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro
Criminal Law
In their role as joint lawyers for Alec Baldwin during the Rust manslaughter trial, Nikas and Spiro achieved the most high-profile victory of the year at an unprecedented speed. They successfully secured a not guilty verdict for Baldwin in only three days. Moreover, Spiro is also the legal advisor for New York City Mayor Eric Adams and represents Elon Musk in various matters, including his lawsuit against GARM. This lawsuit alleges that GARM breached antitrust laws by colluding with several brands to withdraw advertising funds from X after Musk purchased the platform in 2022.
Martin “Marty” Singer
Civil Law
This attorney represents a diverse and high-profile roster that includes Bill Cosby, Charlie Sheen, John Travolta, Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Ricky Martin, Kim Kardashian, Jonah Hill, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Kevin Costner. His latest cases include a dispute between 79-year-old Priscilla Presley and an ex-business partner over a million dollars, which is claimed to be a case of financial exploitation of the elderly. Additionally, he’s been handling a lawsuit filed against Lizzo by three former stage dancers who allege a toxic work environment.
Brian Steel
Criminal Law
Discuss loyalty. An Atlanta attorney nearly faced imprisonment himself – for contempt of court – when he refused to disclose the origin of certain information while defending rapper Young Thug (also known as Jeffery Williams) on charges related to gang activities, weapons, and drug possession in Georgia. Fortunately, Steel didn’t spend time behind bars, as his wife secured his release on bond. However, his unwavering dedication has undoubtedly delayed the progress of the legal proceedings significantly. The jury selection process for this case alone stretched over a period of ten months.
Robert Strauss and Jonathan Forster
Estate Law
They offer guidance on estate planning and asset protection to many well-known individuals, whom they choose not to disclose publicly. Forster is known for crafting privacy trusts to shield celebrities’ names from public property records and establishing irrevocable trusts for the children of prominent clients. Strauss, the firm’s leader, frequently helps his clients reduce their estate and capital gains taxes by tens of millions of dollars.
Adam Streisand
Estate Law
In the thick of a drama reminiscent of the TV series ‘Succession’, attorney Streisand finds himself at the heart of the matter, as he represents Rupert Murdoch in a family trust alteration that hands control to son Lachlan while excluding other siblings. Predictably, these sidelined siblings have filed a lawsuit, with a court trial expected in 2025. However, Streisand has already secured a partial victory in certain aspects of the case through a summary judgment. Keep an eye on this developing story.
Brett Ward, Kristina Royce and Marilyn Chinitz
Family Law
Out of the three legal representatives, they have handled approximately half of the high-profile, wealthy divorce cases in Hollywood, including those of Channing Tatum, Jeff Garlin, Forest Whitaker, Michael De Luca, Tom Cruise, Wendy Williams, Michael Douglas, and Anthony Scaramucci. Royce is handling Channing Tatum’s divorce case, while Chinitz has previously represented the likes of Tom Cruise, Wendy Williams, and others. Ward, on the other hand, has a diverse clientele that includes Emily Ratajkowski, Pamala Davis (ex-wife of 1-800-Lawyers founder Bruce T. Davis), among others.
Laura Wasser
Family Law
The most recent time Jennifer Lopez sought a divorce from Ben Affleck, she initially filed without legal representation. Given her prior experience, this was not surprising. However, as the proceedings became complex, she engaged Wasser’s services, as numerous others have done over time. Among her many notable clients are Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Olivia Wilde, and Kevin Costner.
Douglas H. Wigdor
Criminal Law
Prior to Sean Combs’ arrest in September, a lawsuit had already been initiated by New York attorney Wigdor. The lawsuit was filed as far back as November 2023, on behalf of singer Cassie Ventura, who was the victim seen in a 2016 hotel surveillance video being physically assaulted by Combs. This lawsuit is notable for introducing the term “freak-offs” into legal terminology. Combs quickly reached a settlement with Ventura, without disclosing the amount, the following day. Most recently, Wigdor is representing a woman who has accused country singer Garth Brooks of rape, an allegation that Brooks denies.
Donald Woodard and Uwonda S. Carter
Civil Law
Whenever I find myself in situations where deals aren’t quite working out or require some adjustments, especially when it comes to NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) contracts, I always appreciate having the contacts of Woodard and Carter readily available. Their recent successful renegotiation of college basketball star and rapper Flau’jae Johnson’s contract with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation is a testament to their abilities, reportedly securing her a significant increase in earnings, estimated at millions of dollars.
Laura Zwicker
Estate
Zwicker emphasizes that all her clients are exceptionally protective of their privacy. She prefers not to disclose specific names. However, it’s known that she manages sensitive tax, estate, and other complex matters for a significant portion of Hollywood’s elite. This includes a prominent movie director who sought immigration help during a move overseas, as well as a renowned actor who established an offshore trust for his family. Moreover, Zwicker is highly skilled in cases involving valuation and intellectual property.
The following story was published in the October 23 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Consider subscribing by clicking here.
Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos
Criminal Law
Faced with charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution — plus whatever laws he may have broken with those 1,000 bottles of baby oil — Sean “Diddy” Combs turned to two of L.A.’s top defense attorneys (after the 54-year-old rapper split with former attorney Shawn Holley, see page 78). Agnifilo’s previous clients have included Martin Shkreli (the so-called Pharma Bro) and NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere, as well as various Russian banks, a Turkish Iranian gold trader and a Syrian Lebanese gun runner. Geragos, who opened the firm with Agnifilo in March, also happens to be the daughter of veteran L.A. troubleshooter Mark Geragos.
Edward Burke Jr.
Should you find yourself in a tricky situation within the Hamptons, much like Justin Timberlake experienced this past summer, Burke is the Long Island lawyer you’d want to reach out to. He has previously represented figures such as Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd (after an incident involving his Cadillac SUV and a utility pole following a wild night at a Southampton fundraiser), Matt Lauer from the Today show (over disagreements with neighbors regarding trees, among other legal matters), and publicist Lizzie Grubman, who famously rammed her SUV into a crowd outside a Hamptons nightclub in 2001. Burke successfully negotiated a lighter sentence for Grubman, reducing it to just 38 days. With Timberlake, Burke skillfully managed to secure reduced charges so that the singer could resume his Everything I Thought I Was tour without any delays.
David Z. Chesnoff
Criminal Law
In the role as attorney for real estate heir and convicted murderer Robert Durst, Chesnoff appears in Max’s documentary sequel The Jinx Part Two. Based in Las Vegas, this flamboyant lawyer adds an interesting touch to the series (his office boasts a large Elvis Presley painting), but he also represents another client who could potentially star in his own cable TV drama: Alexander Smirnov, the ex-FBI informant accused of lying to federal agents about Joe and Hunter Biden’s dealings with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
Shawn Holley
Civil and Criminal Law
You’ve truly achieved success in Hollywood law when a TV series creates a character inspired by you (Jax Stewart from Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt is somewhat based on Holley’s life). She was temporarily Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyer before she let him go, and unsuccessfully defended Danny Masterson in his 2023 rape trial. Her clientele has ranged from Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, Michelle Rodriguez, Katt Williams, Snoop Dogg, Mike Tyson, Shemar Moore and various Kardashians, all the way to the late Michael Jackson and Tupac Shakur.
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2024-10-28 18:55