There’s not much difference between our law offices and those of high-profile attorneys like Laura Wasser. Fun fact: we also went to law school, and we also handle high-stakes family law cases. The only real difference is that there’s a distinct lack of celebrities in our waiting room, and our clients aren’t making tabloid headlines (Not that we don’t give our clients the star treatment!).
Celebrity divorce attorneys, however, do get their names splashed across magazines, TMZ, and just about any outlet that thrives on A-list drama. And every time we come across their legal soundbites, we can’t help but either nod in agreement or roll our eyes in exasperation.
So, in the spirit of professional camaraderie, here are some of our favorite pieces of divorce wisdom from our more famous colleagues.
It’s not all champagne and red carpets
This bit of wisdom isn’t just for divorcing spouses but for attorneys, too. Hersh Mannis, the lawyer who represented Britney Spears’ ex, Sam Asghari, once remarked that being a celebrity divorce attorney isn’t as glamorous as it sounds. And given that his client list includes Halle Berry and Pamela Anderson, he would know.
We couldn’t agree more. There’s just nothing glamorous about dissolving a marriage. Divorce involves tons of paperwork, financial audits, and custody negotiations that make Hollywood contracts look simple.
None of the cases we’ve handled have ever felt particularly glamorous, and while we’ve yet to receive a call from Brad Pitt seeking our expertise, we’re inclined to believe his actual lawyers when they say there’s nothing glitzy about it. (Incidentally, Pitt once had Mannis on his legal team during his divorce from Jennifer Aniston.)
Some divorce cases play out like a Hollywood thriller
On the flip side, some divorces are anything but mundane. They can be packed with drama, unexpected twists, and legal maneuvers. Just ask famed divorce attorney Marilyn Chinitz, who once had to retrieve a prenuptial agreement from a safe deposit box in the World Trade Center — after it had melted in the 9/11 attacks. Now that’s dedication.
When a lawyer who has handled cases for Tom Cruise and Michael Douglas says that divorce can feel like something out of the movies, you take their word for it. High-profile divorces often involve clandestine meetings, last-minute filings, and courtroom showdowns that could make for a gripping legal drama. And while most of us aren’t dealing with multimillion-dollar settlements or secret offshore accounts, the unpredictability of family law can still make any case feel like a cinematic event.
In divorce court, emotions can cost extra
Stephanie Lehman, who represented Marilee Fiebig in her split from former Good Morning America host T.J. Holmes, offered a piece of advice in an interview with The Cut that’s often overlooked: When tensions run high, set emotion aside.
We’ve seen every shade of emotional devastation in divorce cases. Some clients are heartbroken — they had a great love, they built a life together, they have kids, a home, two dogs. Others are fueled by sheer rage — How could he do this to me? She needs to pay for what she’s done! He shouldn’t get custody, period!
But here’s the hard truth, as Lehman bluntly put it: “The more emotion they have, the more counsel fees they’ll end up having to pay.” So if your lawyer seems keen to talk about fees, take the hint because it’s not just about numbers; it’s a subtle nudge to remind you that emotional litigation comes with a hefty price tag.
Love is grand but so is a solid contract
Marriage, at its core, is a business agreement, albeit one that comes with a fancy party, an open bar, and a gift registry. But once the last slice of wedding cake is gone, what remains is a financial and legal partnership that needs to be managed wisely.
Kristina Royce, the attorney who has represented the likes of Channing Tatum and Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a firm believer in this philosophy, and we wholeheartedly agree.
Far too many couples focus solely on the romance — the doves, the champagne toasts, and the perfect first dance — while ignoring the very real financial implications of marriage. That’s all perfectly fine, until it’s not. Like any business partnership, a marriage can unravel, and when it does, the financial fallout can be staggering.
And if you won’t take it from us, take it from the attorneys of celebrities who are essentially business tycoons themselves. If our years of blogging (and the financial disasters of stars like Madonna and Halle Berry) haven’t convinced you of the importance of a solid prenup, then we’ve clearly failed as attorney bloggers.
Related reading: 5 Things that celebrity divorce lawyers do that regular lawyers can do too
So, whether your divorce feels like a high-stakes courtroom drama, a tragic romance, or a financial thriller, one thing remains constant: having the right legal team matters.
While we may not have our names in People magazine, we do know a thing or two about handling the twists and turns of divorce. If you’re on the path to divorce in Washington State, give LaGrandeur & Williams a call.