Angelina Jolie hired two powerhouse trial lawyers to help with her divorce

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Over the weekend, TMZ reported that despite Angelina Jolie’s insistence that Brad Pitt had struck their son Maddox, she was not hellbent on seeing Brad prosecuted criminally in any way. That story, plus the stories of their three-week temporary custodial relationship, seemed to indicate that there was some kind of thawing in the seemingly “icy” (or “pragmatic/organized”) way Angelina was handling their split. Some Brangeloonies even theorized that there was a possibility that Angelina and Brad would end up reconciling at the end of the day, that Angelina’s divorce filing was a wake-up call for Brad. I even thought that could be a slim (very slim) possibility. But Angelina really is going full-steam ahead: she’s just hired two more heavy-hitter lawyers.

Angelina Jolie just added a couple of aces to her already star-studded lineup of legal eagles — coming on board are the 2 lawyers that helped Shelly Sterling execute the sale of the L.A. Clippers. Sources close to the situation tell TMZ … Angelina hired Pierce O’Donnell and Bert Fields in a move to bolster her team that’s led by disso queen Laura Wasser. The explanation is simple — Pierce and Bert are the most coveted trial lawyers.

Obvious question — Why does Angie need trial lawyers? Glad you asked … if her divorce case with Brad Pitt gets super ugly … Pierce and Bert will handle it.

[From TMZ]

Again, I admire how organized she is. Chances are, she probably won’t need this legal dream team, but it’s about how she’s thinking long-term and preparing for the worst-case scenario. If Brad tries to “go nuclear” on her, she’ll be ready. She also hired these lawyers because (I suspect) she wanted to have them on her side before Brad even approached them. She’s consistently out-maneuvering Brad. And in case you were like me and thinking “why do I know the name Bert Fields?” it’s because he really is one of the biggest heavy-hitter lawyers out there. He’s Tom Cruise’s long-time lawyer, and his client list includes Warren Beatty, James Cameron, George Lucas, Dustin Hoffman and more.

Apparently, Bert Fields’ office has already sent out a letter excoriating the press for all of the false reporting around this divorce. Per Perez Hilton:

“What is at stake here is the health, welfare, and safety of six minor children. Their protection is the only issue about which Angelina is concerned. Unfortunately, the situation has been widely misrepresented, and protection of the children’s welfare may be jeopardized by the continued planting and publication of false and inflammatory media reports about Angelina, the children, and every aspect of the family situation.”

[Via Perez Hilton]

Sure. But the leaks to TMZ aren’t coming entirely from Brad Pitt’s team, you know. Both sides are leaking to TMZ, and Brad is leaking to Us Weekly and People. So… I don’t know, talk to your client and her estranged husband.

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Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet, WENN.

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153 Responses to “Angelina Jolie hired two powerhouse trial lawyers to help with her divorce”

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  1. Alix says:

    Jolie is handling this whole thing like a total boss, gotta love it. And nooooo, these two aren’t ever getting back together…

    • Goats on the Roof says:

      They aren’t getting back together, nor should they from the sounds of it. The people who keep saying they will reconcile/hope they do aren’t paying attention. This has been a nasty split preceded by what sounded like a relationship beyond repair. Just let this one go, my friends.

      Also bothered by the statement from Angie’s lawyer…as if some of the early exclusive tips weren’t coming from Wasser. *eye roll*

    • Seraphina says:

      Like a boss is spot on. Gotta admire her and the way she handles it.

    • dwtsfan says:

      Sad, they always came off like soul mates,what could break them up? Family abuse? Yup, neither would tolerate that. Yet none seem the type to be abusive,whether its physical or emotional unless some substance were involved. I feel bad for the kids, they were a tight unit family and it will hurt them so much. Maddox is her baby n eldest, he would stand up for mom n siblings if dad got violent.Divorce is so last measure.

      • SaraR. says:

        I agree. It is sad that people don’t give the benefit of the doubt to mother who said that she is doing this for protection of her family. No one is even speculating how Brad spent 2012 award season walking with the cane because he fellwhile holding Vivienne and injured his leg. No one is speculating that in April of last year he fell in his flip flops and bruised his face. Yes, I think there is a lot of love there, but there is also the point where enough is enough.

      • kay says:

        Did you see those pictures a while back of the two of them on the balcony. He looked like he was ranting at her and she looked distressed. TBH when I first saw them, alarm bells went off and I kept thinking it looks like he is berating her. I keep going back to that.

      • Sarah says:

        We really don’t ever know what goes on behind closed doors. And I don’t give her kudos for all of this – it sounds like she only separated when an outside party contacted child protective services. I’m thinking these kids have been exposed to years of their “passionate” relationship

    • Bridget says:

      Considering that she pretty much ghosted BBT when it was clear he wasn’t that interested in bringing Maddox into their family, it’s no shock that she would do the same in this situation with Pitt. I can’t imagine a scenario where they get back together.

      • dj says:

        @ Bridget. Actually, that is the one thing that bothers me about this whole situation. It seems like a pattern with Angelina GHOSTING people. BBT, her dad and now BP. I have always been a big fan of Angelina. I have had to end relationships before too. But it seems like a pattern with her. My question is: can ALL these ppl have done something so horrible and integrity injuring to abruptly ghost them ALL? I don’t know. Again, just hypothesising and I cannot help but notice a pattern.

      • Ava says:

        Can that behaviour after a divorce really being defined as ghosting though? Isn’t that pretty normal? As for the deadbeat dad with the motormouth… it’s v. painful and exhausting dealing with dads like that, you keep giving them chances they don’t even really deserve and still somehow can’t appreciate. After a while it’s like ENOUGH! Voight was mostly an absent parent iirc, which makes it even more understandable.

        *EDIT – so Trump basically called Angelina an ugly whore a few days ago and her dad’s response was “so what?”. THIS IS A DAD YOU GHOST.

      • Ange says:

        DJ have you HEARD what her father has said about her to the press?! I’d ghost him too! She may even unconsciously be picking men who need ghosting later because of her dad’s influence growing up.

      • Jag says:

        @dj – Yes, if her picker is broken, she could absolutely keep dating people who need ghosting.

        I’m not friends with any of my long-term exes for this reason. They were all sociopaths or narcissists, neither of which I need in my life.

        I’m glad that she is being so proactive. We really don’t know how long things have been escalating – if they have.

      • Bridget says:

        Jon Voight is the kind of dad you ghost.

        But it’s clear that she’s ruthless when it comes to her kids, and will cut you out if you pose a danger to her kids. I mean, BBT didn’t seem like he wanted Maddox, and now we’re talking about Pitt having struck him. Those aren’t scenarios where I can find fault with her ghosting. My point was more that this appears to be the line you just don’t cross with Jolie – her kids.

  2. Ana says:

    Completely agree with you Kaiser
    . I just don’t understand why some people thinks she is going to withdraw the divorce papers. If that marriage was a mess.
    I think she would only think in a possible reconciliation if Brad Pitt would completely change is lifestyle and that means stop drinking, stop leaving the house and go to France when he´s having arguments with her, stop looking 30 years younger and go to after parties with the likes of Selena Gomez and company and stop taking pictures with Playboy type girls with a bear in his hand. Then probably Angelina will give him a chance.

    • LAK says:

      I couldn’t sleep last night and whilst Web surfing came upon a website that has gifs taken from their relationship over 12yrs.

      Put side by side, charting their relationship using red carpet/ award show footage. It’s amazing how long they have been on the outs. I put it at roughly 3-4yrs.

      For myself, I could say that I thought the more restrained poses were simply because they’d matured and grown out of overt displays of PDAs, but my goodness, when you see the progression, especially Brad disconnecting that long ago, you realise that they will never reconcile. The distance between them and their body language change…..wow.

      It reminds me of the Charles and Diana christmas cards where you can trace the relationship breakdown based upon the cards. The first year is all touchy feel-ly wedding photo and with each growing year there is physical distance that gets bigger, the participants become more mannequin and the cards become more elaborate tableaus with the strained smiles.

      • Lahdidahbaby says:

        Interesting, LAK — I’d love to see that. Where can I find it?

      • LittleTeaPot says:

        Yep, I saw all the gifs as well. It was on D-Listed & it was eye-opening.

      • cindy says:

        Do you have a link by any chance? I would love to see this. Meanwhile I will try to find it.

      • Dana says:

        I looked at recent pics of them together on family vacations or date nights in L.A., Budapest, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Vietnam etc. Even the pics of them at the girls’ soccer game last year. They were pretty affectionate in all those pics and they didn’t look unhappy.

      • SaraR. says:

        @Dana
        I agree. There was that footage from Jamba Juice in store camera from two months ago: they where there with Shiloh and they were very affectionate to each other. I don’t think they were on outs for 3 or 4 years. If you read interviews from last year, they sound like they had problems like any married couple, but were committed to each other and their family. Something happend, and we will eventually find out what. Or not.

      • LAK says:

        Pictures can be deceiving and often are for many famous people. It’s the footage that reveals the real situation.

        To be clear, i’m not saying they are fighting in the later years. And the footage is red carpets or award shows, perhaps they were having off days every time they attended a red carpet or award show in the last 3-4yrs of their relationship whilst having a perfectly normal, happy relationship in their down time.

        The pictures tell one story and the footage tells another story.

      • Lilly says:

        Well this is the last interview they did together (less than a year ago):

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcDFFj9JlNI

        I know they’re actors, so we never really know what’s going on, but they seemed pretty into each other. I do think their ‘brand’ kept them together, but I think they also really cared for each other.

      • Crumpet says:

        I found lots of posts where she is looking him in the eye (having put her hands on his face to turn in toward her) and he is either looking past her or at her forehead.

        He’s got his demons, and instead of confronting them, he fops them off on whatever woman he is in a relationship with. I think he has been pulling away for years, and she’s finally had enough. Especially in light of how it has been effecting their children.

      • Nicole says:

        @LAK, where is this?! I have been searching for the likes of this!

      • Katie says:

        It was obvious when they started spending more and more time apart a few years ago.

        They went from years of following each other everywhere the work took them and rarely being apart for more than a few days, to following each other but running off somewhere else for a week or two all the time, to very rarely following each other and just meeting up on neutral ground for a few days or weeks. After filming on BTS ended there seemed to be a lot of times where they would fly into London or NY from different locales, swap kids around, and fly off again within a day or two. 5-6 years ago you’d never see that.

      • PennyLane says:

        Those gifs were very educational. It was like watching “Scenes from a Marriage”, only less cheerful.

        Obviously every long-term relationship is going to have its ups and downs, but the body language in those clips was very revealing. He’s been over it for awhile.

      • Carmen says:

        I think she’s the one who’s been over it for a while. He’s the one who is crying and devastated and claiming he was blindsided. He’s like a lot of selfish, immature guys who take their marriage for granted and then wonder what hit them when the wife finally throws in the towel and says enough is enough, I’m outa here.

      • Yatsan says:

        May you share the link please?

      • Bridget says:

        I think it also coincides with the major career shift between the two of them. Pitt is still dedicated to acting and making movies. Jolie seems to enjoy directing, but more as an avenue to bring attention to the stories that she views as being important. She’s been pulling away from Hollywood for years, and Pitt is very Hollywood.

      • Abby says:

        Link?

    • Ana says:

      Their problems start this year when he was filming Allied. That was when we saw her a lot with her brother, then all his visits to France including Fathers’ Day. There are those picture at Jamba juice but everybody who has problems in the relationship knows that there are good days and bad days. The problem is when the bad days are more and more frequent. Pitt acted as a single man all year. After those pictures in February of the two together in Cambodia we did not see them alone again. Allied was a big mistake IMO. (not because of the Marion shit) but because if they were having problems maybe that was the right time to stop working and focusing in your relationship.

  3. Luca76 says:

    We really don’t know who is leaking everything to TMZ (just as I’m sure that Johnny Depp absolutely didn’t leak that video to TMZ and I doubt Amber did either). It could be Angelina’s side sure. But it also could be very greedy court employees.

    • Nicole says:

      Did you see SNL Saturday night? I thought of you during the last skit. My fiance and I are so entertained by You Must Remember This that he ran in when he heard the older actress was Kate McKinnon and she ‘worked’ for MGM.

      • Nicole says:

        And after working in a hospital, absolutely people are greedy. Down here, they gave out info on Paula Deen. When I saw her name on the chart, I was like damn, I guess I should have called TMZ!

  4. Bichon says:

    Why didn’t these people just have an affair till it wore off?

    • Soror Bro says:

      That’s what Leo does.

    • Luca76 says:

      Oh please their relationship lasted 12 years. Longer than any of their other marriages and longer than anyone expected. As far as celebrity marriages go it’s an eon. And I do believe they both love their kids. It’s sad it’s turned so ugly, my feeling is they shouldn’t have married. They should have just kept it unofficial.

      • almondmilk says:

        If Brad is an alcoholic or has substance abuse issues that have gotten out of control it would have still happened whether married or not.

        Sure I guess it woudl have been a bit easier for her personally to extricate. But money is no issue or problem.

        But custody, treatment and counseling would have all been the same.

    • Goats on the Roof says:

      I thought something similar, but then felt like shit because there are six kids. :/

      Honestly, though, throughout the years there has been a TON of reporting (most of it written off as ‘tabloid garbage’) about their fundamental differences in raising children. Now they’ve split, and we find out it was actually true…They don’t agree on parenting at all, it seems. And this is what can happen when you jump into a family with someone without knowing them well enough. Brad split with Jennifer in January, Angie adopted Zahara that July (a decision she said they made together), Brad started the legal adoption process for Maddox and Z, and then Shiloh was born like 14 months after he announced his separation. Three kids in under a year and a half is a lot, man.

      I really hope the children are getting the support and comfort they need right now. Brad and Angie don’t get my sympathy.

      • Lahdidahbaby says:

        I tend to agree with every bit of your post, Goats.

      • Colette says:

        If you believe the tabloids and gossip sites because I have yet to read one interview where they said they had different parenting styles? So if we are to believe the tabloids,they have an open relationship,they are both cheaters,she is an heroin addict,she has hepatitis,she has been pregnant 50 times,they have adopted 30 children,and Brad runs out of rooms crying a lot.

      • Kitten says:

        Agree completely.

        @Colette-You’re comparing a problem like differences in parenting style to some of the outlandish, clearly untrue, claims that the tabs have made. Why would it be so hard to believe that Brad and Angie disagreed about how to parent their children? After all, that is a fairly common problem among married couples.

      • Colette says:

        @Kitten
        They have been parenting kids for 11 years.They both have discussed the issue,in multiple interviews, that Brad can’t so no to his girls,that he can’t discipline his daughters.So obviously it is more than having different parenting styles is my point.It’s not like they just became parents THIS YEAR or they became a blending family THIS YEAR.They have discussed parenting,schooling,etc in many interviews.

      • Esmom says:

        Colette, I hear you but there is a huge difference between parenting young kids and parenting teenagers. Their differences might not have been so stark up until fairly recently. I can tell you my husband and I definitely differ on how to deal with our teens quite often, when we rarely differed on how to deal with our toddlers. The emotional energy required, at least for me, to parent teens is tremendous. I sometimes think I’m not cut out for it, especially on days when I am like “who are these young men who bear zero resemblance to the cuties they once were seemingly yesterday?”

      • Bridget says:

        @Esmom is right. When the kids get older, things that may not have been a big deal when the kids were smaller turn into gaping, fundamental differences.

      • C'est la Vie says:

        With you Goats, on everything. Yes, those kids need some stability in their lives. Enough said.

      • Colette says:

        Brad has talked about parenting teens and how he didn’t want be a stern,stoic father like his dad.I don’t believe they are divorcing because of parenting styles.That’s my opinion.Bye

    • Original T.C. says:

      Affairs are married people. Lordy!
      They were together for 12 years, much longer than most marriages these days. Additionally they only recently got married because their children were begging them too. In retrospect the children probably had some anxiety that their parents may split up and wanted the marriage for security.

  5. Fa says:

    One of the lawyer is not a divorce lawyer he is a big litigator lawyer

    • roses says:

      Yep a litigator, meaning she probably considering suing someone but who? If its tabloids, its hard to sue them in the US.

      • Fa says:

        That’s the question we still don’t know the really story about the divorce filing we hearing of all these rumours from tabloids whose know nothing by getting information from sources what if these sources lying to tabloids and something else is going on and also nothing is coming directly from them

      • Naya says:

        It could be the tabloids but I doubt it. It seems counter productive to sue over details that arent being carried on mainstream media, Streisand effect and all.
        I have been wondering why Brads airport tape hasn’t surfaced yet. Airport security would have a copy as would the FBI and maybe DCFS, those are enough parties that a leak would be hard to trace back. I have no doubt that it exists, so why isnt this damning footage out yet? Its making me wonder if HE also has something on her. Something big enough to cause a stale mate in which nobody is releasing anything but everybody is preparing for the possibility that someone will release something. It would explain bringing on fixers and litigators in such a public way. Almost like a “don’t f*ck with me” warning. Anyway, I believe the only reason that tape isnt out yet is because both sides are deeply vested in blocking its release.

      • roses says:

        yeah I was curious and just looked at the tabs covers that went out last and that National Enquirer cover is beyond repulsive about her and her kids so I don’t know. Heck just that alone whole make me go after them.

      • bluhare says:

        Here I am totally speculating, but I’m thinking it’s in case someone tries to spill dirt on her. She’s got an image to maintain.

      • Dana says:

        US weekly created the story about there being video footage of the incident. However this doesn’t fit people’s narrative that Brad and Angelina’s leaking every tidbit of information to the media. Why would his people create a false story that would make him look bad? I don’t understand why people will continue to believe everything written in tabloids. They don’t have any “leaks”. I guess it creates good gossip so that’s why people believe it!
        @roses yeah that cover is repulsive. That allow would make me want to sue if I were a celebrity.

      • Naya says:

        Interesting. I cant read the whole article because there seems to be a paywall but why wasnt this picked up by national media? That makes zero sense. This seems like the kind of banner headline that you would have if you are trying to sell magazines or even are just actively shilling for Brad as US and People seem to be doing. I’m not actively following this story but Daily Mail is famous for regurgitating every tiny old detail on new articles and I havent seen it there either. Looking at the date (28th), I would guess that it was an earlier but failed attempt at a coverup. Unless the “witnesses” were lying about it spilling onto the tarmack, which is possible in the same way that anything is possible. Theres no way a post 9/11 airport wouldnt be required by law to have security cameras trained at a refueling plane. Absolutely no way. I think its more likely that the tape exists and that this is one of the jobs the fixers are trying to fix.

      • lissanne says:

        Naya:
        I was able to read the entire article. It says that there is no footage showing what was described in the media, i.e. Brad climbing on/hijacking a fuel truck. Nowhere in the article does it say that the airport doesn’t have security cameras.

      • Naya says:

        You missed the point completely. If this is a legitimate story then it would be in Brads interests to have it picked up by the bigger outlets. In fact, it would be in those outlets individual interests to cover this since it would surely bring in more clicks than yet another “Brad is distraught” article. And yet this news that would at the very least erase some of the damage to Brads image hasn’t made it out of some nondescript local paper? That makes no sense. That’s your clue that its a b.s. story. The only question is whether it’s b.s. because a local newspaper independently cooked the story or if Brads team tried to plant a story that didn’t take because all the major media players knew otherwise.

      • TotallyBiased says:

        Lissane–the article quotes them as saying “we don’t have that kind of security here.”. I call bs, it’s simply that the airport makes its money by being a relatively private location for VIPs to enter the country, refuel, and go through Customs. Notice requests for the Border Patrol protocol in treating celebrities weren’t met with “just like everyone else” but completely stonewalled.
        There is NO way anyone out there would admit it if Brad DID get a little rowdy with the fuel truck. I also notice the owner was the plane’s refueler–he admits in the article how the airport and his business could be damaged if he wasn’t the soul of discretion.
        I doubt highly that Brad hijacked the fuel truck and went for a ride. But I find any scenario with a drunk or otherwise altered state Brad crowding the refueling process or begging to be driven away from the plane easy to believe.

    • MC2 says:

      Ahhh- so this isn’t a message to Brad- it’s a message to the tabloids & media. If you keep reporting false things then Angelina is ready to sue you and that is why he sent the letter. That is smart.

  6. notasugarhere says:

    Wasn’t George Lucas said to be the person who convinced her to adopt? If he recommended his lawyer, she’d seriously consider the idea.

  7. Tessa says:

    I don’t understand her game plan… Unless there is a giant skeleton in one of their closets. Brad seems to be doing as he’s told at the moment. As many of you have said it would be hard for her to get sole physical custody.
    What on earth is she/he/ them trying to hide?
    Was he long term abusive and she is embarrassed by the fact she tolerated it?
    I’ve read as early as Troy there were stories of roid rage… Or has Brad got something on her?
    All these big guns makes me think it isn’t just about plane-gate and beer and weed.

    • Luca76 says:

      Yeah I get the feeling something big is coming down the pike that she’s trying to insulate herself from.

    • swak says:

      I didn’t get the need for more high powered lawyers either since they were supposedly working quietly on all this.

      • Bob says:

        The high powered lawyers could be there to intimidate DCFS into closing the file on them. Based on TMZ’s reporting and some quick research of CA law, it sounds like they are presently in a 30 day agreement with DCFS to undergo the Family Maintenance support services that would’ve been court ordered had DCFS filed a juvenile dependency action. At the end of 30 days, DCFS will decide if going through the formal process of filing a juvenile dependency action (whereby the court takes legal custody of the children) is a good idea. The expensive lawyers are there to signal Jolie’s willingness to fight the Juvenile Court taking jurisdiction of the custody dispute. That’s the big fucking deal that she is trying to fight off.

        Having your kids in that system is incredibly humiliating to any parent, I can’t imagine someone with Jolie’s level of control issues (which I think make her a badass most of the time, I’m not hatin) handling it well. I’d love to be a fly on the wall watching this strategizing, because I’m convinced that Jolie and Wasser intentionally chose the DCFS route (as in, they had the plan ready to go, they just waited for Pitt to fuck up again) and I’m curious if they’re starting to regret that decision. Like, they thought it would be a good way to get vague reports of abuse out there and scare the shit out of Pitt, but they expected to be able to tie off the DCFS end quickly and now it’s not going as expected.

        Obligatory side note: I feel like an asshole speculating about this, because kids, but it is interesting from a legal strategy viewpoint.

    • lucy2 says:

      It does seem odd that she is building her legal team more, when it sounds like they were reaching temporary agreements.
      For the sake of the kids, I hope there aren’t any further bombshells.

  8. MostlyMegan says:

    I wish all parties the best in this situation, particularly the children, of course. It does strike me as strange that AJ has hired a lawyer to fire a warning shot about the “inflammatory media” when it appears she was the one who decided to proceed with the divorce in the most public way. If she wanted to keep everything on the down/low we wouldn’t have known about it until it was all over. Like the wedding.

    • Lahdidahbaby says:

      Good point.

    • original kay says:

      It is a good point.

      I wonder though, if she had to get out ahead because the FBI, etc, were involved? I don’t know how long it could have been kept under wraps?

      It was on a plane, after all, and involved the FBI. They had to make an emergency stop. That kind of thing gets out fast, I would imagine, in today’s climate.

      • The Original G says:

        They made an emergency stop? It was a routine refuel and customs check.

        Does the FBI make public it’s uncompleted investigations? No. But someone did. Wonder who and why made these stories public? Who benefits from this?

    • Persephone says:

      I don’t agree that they would have been able to keep the divorce quiet, it seems that when someone files court documents in LA TMZ have a copy of it before you’ve left the building.

      • Lalu says:

        It wasn’t going to be kept out if the tabloids because of how famous they are. It does seem like they would have done whatever needed to put out a joint statement that made it seem like they were making the decision together and worked it out in private. The way it happened seemed rather salacious.

    • lucy2 says:

      Someone who saw the filing probably would have spilled, but I do agree it was done publicly, and made very clear that it was about the kids’ well being right off the bat. I think that was all very intentional on her part.

      original kay, was it an emergency stop? I thought it was a planned refueling.

  9. Betsy says:

    I find myself, with little provocation, getting more and more annoyed with both of these two.

    But I guesss I’m the dingy who keeps clicking!

  10. QQ says:

    i don’t understand what people expect from a wealthy woman in the public eye witj 6 kids??? To hire Saul from BB?? Ffs OF COURSE She should have the best her money can buy!

  11. Steph says:

    What is a disso queen and why is Wasser described that way in every single article?

    • LAK says:

      Disso = shorthand for dissolution. Wasser is the go to lawyer for divorces in Hollywood. She’s the dissolution of marriages Queen of lawyers. (get it?!) Argo Disso Queen. It’s meant as a compliment, not derogatory at all.

    • SusanneToo says:

      Disolution-divorce.

  12. paolanqar says:

    My question is: Is she really that rich?
    All the voluntary work she does doesn’t pay much and maybe she can sell anything to the press to cash in big time but her and brad had a very expensive life style.
    I am not saying that she is poor but with 6 kids and no paid job will eventually drain her bank account?

    I know i sound very naive. I cannot think as a super rich person.

    • Luca76 says:

      She got 20 million for Malificent a couple of years back and is also doing Kung Fu Panda which I’m sure pay much better than you’d imagine .i don’t think she worth the 150 million that Forbes claims she’s worth but I also don’t think she’s broke in any world. Although maybe money reasons are why she signed onto that movie the other day?

    • yuck says:

      Irrelevant of custody questions, Brad will certainly have to pay child support. So I don’t think the lifestyle is in any immediate danger.

      • swak says:

        Child support comes down to many things. He may not necessarily have to pay child support. She could be the one having to pay it. We’ll have to wait and see.

    • norah says:

      she got upfront payment and a percent from maleficient which did very well – one of the top grossing films of the year it was released

      • almondmilk says:

        Yes, and Maleficent made close to 800 mil. Plus the KFP franchise. She’s signed on to Mal 2 also.

        She’s fine. Lol

  13. SM says:

    Seriously, 3 lawyers and one fixer? Apparently there is some ticking bomb we do not know about. I hope that we never find out rhough just for the sake of those kids.

    • Pix says:

      I agree. This seems like a large team for a Hollywood divorce. I think she’s either waiting for Brad to drop a nuclear bomb and blow her up or trying to prevent it before he does anything.

    • pwal says:

      Or, she hired the entertainment lawyers to protect her entertainment career. Yes, I get that she’s going to commit more to her humanitarian pursuits, but she still needs to bring in themoney to fund it and maintain her celebrity to shine attention to her causes. Maybe she’s nervous that because she doesn’t act as much and her directing career isn’t exactly on fire, plus ‘her age’ may be used as an excuse to not seek her out. Maybe HW is willing to find any excuse to shut her out. Sony emails, anyone?

      • almondmilk says:

        A few things @pwal

        First of all Huh?

        Because Scott Rudin, the most loathesome tyrant in H’wood goes off on Angelina having the gall to ruin his filmmaking scheduling – that doesn’t equate to the whole of “H’wood.” Chelsea Handler doesn’t either. (snort, guffaw)

        Angelina’s ndustry just made her the youngest Herscholt Oscar winner a couple years ago, gave her the Kramer producing award and still throws a-list projects her way even though they know she’s likely to turn them down.

        I love the transference that ‘basics’ lay at Angelina’s door. Who says she’s nervous? Lol

        Even now studios are doing that same old trick attaching/name-dropping her to pull eyes to something or get other A-listers to bite, when Angelina hasn’t committed and maybe has never considered (see Girl w/ a Gun).

        Let’s put it this way…even if Angelina *needed* to act more than she does now, I doubt she’ll have a problem pulling bank or jobs. I get that there’s a sad bitter contingent that would like her relegated to permanent unemployment- they’re the same ones who want ‘that face’ to suddenly get fug. Lol They need to just hold their breath and wait. 😉

      • Eve says:

        The Sony e-mails scandal made Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal look bad, not Jolie.

  14. Lolo86lf says:

    It makes no sense for Brad and Angelina to be negotiating an agreement and then they “leak” stories to the media! That’s just immature and sneaky. Why don’t they both act like grown-ups who are interested in protecting their children from the media circus.

    • tracking says:

      Because they’re very attuned to PR, and know public perception is crucial to their careers. And they both want to win.

      • Cookiejar says:

        Angelina likely has other goals, going through a “celebrity divorce” is likely unhelpful to her.

  15. Sage says:

    iMO, her “Olivia Pope”suggested she hire the lawyers to threaten or sue tabloids/online blogs for all the negative seedy articles printed about her. It’s about time she stuck up for herself.

    Have either of the lawyers handled divorce cases?

    • SaraR. says:

      Nope. They are entertainment lawyers.

    • original kay says:

      I tried so hard to watch Scandal. I hated it, every minute of it, and I watched the whole first season.

      I did try 🙁 I love Shondaland shows and absolutely adored HTGAWM. Viola is one amazing actress, I loved the supporting cast.

      Scandal was just so flat and boring, I hated the cast, felt nothing for any of them, and loathed Olivia Pope :* I feel kinda bad for hating it so much?

      But I did.

      • tracking says:

        I agree with you, but the Mellie Grant character saves the show for me. I only watch episodes which feature her character heavily.

      • SM says:

        Thank you. People seem to rave about how awesome scandal isand it’s terrible. It’s a soap. I also stoped watching grey’s anatomy after third season because it also went over the top. I am not even considering watching any of Shonda’s creations. They are just not for me.

      • lucy2 says:

        I binged the first season and thought it was entertaining, but it has progressively gone downhill and over the top into a soap opera. I like Kerry Washington as an actress, and Mellie is an interesting character, but I don’t think it’s a very good show.
        HTGAWM doesn’t do much for me either, but I love Viola and keep trying to watch it.

    • wyatt says:

      its about time she speak up about all the evil press she receive for 12 years, enough is enough. GO ANGELINA,give them hell.

      • almondmilk says:

        @wyatt

        Nah.

        She said she doesn’t care about tabloids bs, and I believe her.

        The only thing that would change get mind about it, is that her kids are growing up and are at an age where they can read, see and hear trash. She might try and curb it for them, if she does it at all.

        But it’s not the UK. Our libel laws here are different. Not much she can do but she can at least make it appear that she’s ready if it gets too egregious against her family.

        Unfortunately crypt keeper looking unfunny trashy racist talk hosts kicked off cable can still make bad jokes about her children’s father not wanting them because they’re not white and are adopted.

  16. sushi says:

    The fiction writers can just write anything and immediately the readers just assume they are leaks from either Brad or Angelina and depending on one’s agenda, use the so-called leaks to attack either one of them.

  17. Adorable says:

    The Brangeloonie in me is still sticking to her story that a reconciliation is possible….They did agree to some sort of therapy as a family so I don’t know I’m still very much hopeful(go ahead call me dillusional lol)…I Think these lawyers are for suing the tabs…she did sue news of the world & with that statement given to Perez it tells me they’re aware there are false reports & perhaps intend to sue

    • SaraR. says:

      She didn’t give that statement only to Perez. It’s just Perez that admitted he got the letter.

  18. FF says:

    I don’t know why people think she would file for divorce and then change her mind: she’s not going to file and distress her kids for no reason. If she filed at all she will follow through. She just doesn’t intend it in a way that cuts Pitt out of being the children’s father.

    Also, I’m not surprised it happened. If they’ve been arguing since before the wedding it’s not good for her health, and her fears about cancer make this almost a mandatory move.

    • Cookiejar says:

      And it’s not like Angelina never moved to cut her losses. Sure there are the kids but I assume Brad is perfectly safe as long as he’s not high and/or drunk.

    • Artemis says:

      They’re calling her a badass one moment and then keep the hope that this badass can’t stick to her decisions in the short- or longterm. She clearly gave the divorce a lot of thought and then she made the decision like a person in complete control of their life does. Fans both give her autonomy for doing what is best in a bad situation and take it away at the same time thinking ‘love conquers all’ or some other juvenile reasons they project their hope on. Pitt and Jolie are adults, not children who have an on-off relationship. If she wasn’t good at making decisions, she wouldn’t be where she is today. The fact that she got clean, changed her focus in life and turned her image around in a relative short time span (post-marriage BBT – adoption Maddox) speaks volumes of her character. Not in the last 15 years has she been the type of person to make a big decision and then be all like ‘whoopsie, that’s not what I want’ and go back on whatever she decided!

  19. Colette says:

    These guys are not divorce lawyers,so what makes TMZ think they have anything to do with her divorce proceedings.This is no different from TMZ claiming she wants to be “the top UN official”.As others have said she is probably considering a slander lawsuit.

  20. Sage says:

    They will not reconcile. It’s over. Brad and Angelina burned that reconciliation bridge.

    I just hope they can rebuild a friendship.

  21. Cookiejar says:

    In hindsight you look at pictures and wonder. The one on top, neither looks happy.

  22. Katie says:

    It’s pretty clear there’s something beyond what’s been made public going on here, you don’t need 3 high powered lawyers and a fixer to deal with a divorce where you aren’t asking for financial support and you’re pretty much guaranteed joint custody due to your ex’s actions. You just don’t.

    It’s odd it’s all been made so public. You can hire these people and not make a thing of it until you actually need them to do something. It’s like she’s trying to scare something off with these moves.

    • SaraR. says:

      It is made public, because these lawyers send warning letter to the tabloid press.

      • Katie says:

        Which is a pointless en-devour that serves only to publicize the fact they’re working for her. Not to mention Wasser or her entertainment lawyer could have just as easily sent that letter.

    • almondmilk says:

      Have you been paying attention?

      There seems to have been a possible semi-public child abuse situation that a drunk Brad instigated against their older son. That’s why this isn’t the normal separation. DCFS is involved and possibly other LE.

      The legal team maybe the way the family is circling wagons.

      The nefarious and ominous speculation (weirdly about Angelina *only*) just seems like more of the same from the usual suspects that sis like Angelina and want her lifeless body kicked in a gutter while her children (just the white ones) watch embraced by Jen, who’s back with Brad.

      Lose the fantasy. You’ll be driver disapponted.

      Fans of Angelina have no problem understanding why her cousin Hillary is having such a hard time, even though she’s up against the clown devil incarnate. Lol

      Women can be our own worst enemy.

  23. Candies says:

    “For health of family”could be a combo of many things. Parents constant fight could be one thing. I just still are not buying brad is that bad not that saying he has no fault. Tear up his shirt stories(true or not) give me they can fight hard and go to self medicate… I don’t think they were easy on each other since both can come strong… I only want her to get her way if she has good reasons …
    Dragged divorce is bore but I never thought they be over this quick this year oh well.. Wishing them best years and peace again in whatever they decide…

  24. Frosty says:

    Hindsight is always 20/20.

  25. Lalu says:

    No… These two are not going to reconcile. That is the only thing I feel sure about. Still not understanding why this had to be so messy and tabloidy. I really think it would have benefitted them both to get together and announce this.

  26. Eve says:

    BADASS TO THE BONE!

    OF COURSE she’s going to hire the best lawyers her money can buy. Heck, if it was possible to resuscitate and hire Johnnie Cohcran, she should do it!

    P.S.: the kids will be all right. Pitt may be a himbo but I believe he loves their children. Better put: I don’t think he would “drop a bomb” that could potentially traumatize them.

    • Zut alors! says:

      He may love the children, but I doubt he is prepared or wants to be their primary caretaker.
      People on this site also forget that he too has hired crisis mgmt.
      There is a reason DCFS recommended a therapist be on hand at the children’s first visit.

      • Eve says:

        Agreed. I never liked him. I was never a “full” bragenloonie because I could only, at my very beast, tolerate him (by association).

      • Zut alors! says:

        @Eve
        I’m just glad she is done with him. She’s wasted enough time and effort on this man child.

      • Eve says:

        @ Zut:

        Same thing here.

        P.S.: Eeeesh…so many typos on that reply. Sorry.

        I meant “brangeloonie” and “my very best”.

        *laughs at self*

  27. TheOtherSam says:

    Everyone who’s interested should look up Bert Fields – he is nearly NINETY years old, he has been around Hollywood for ages and was always more of a studio spokesperson and image fixer. Though respected he’s not exactly a ‘powerhouse’ anymore and hardly a ‘heavy hitter’ these days.

    He also is not a divorce attorney but a litigator, his addition to Jolie’s team tells me she is getting ready to sue someone or possibly a media outlet. He has a lot of experience defending high-profile clients against defamation and false claims. I wonder what’s up here.

    • lissanne says:

      I wonder too. I admit to having obsessively read various gossip sites since this started. Not an expert but I don’t think that TMZ, dlisted, or even the Daily Mail have said anything about Angelina that could be considered intentional slander. But I saw some very nasty comments about Maddox. If I were her I would want to go after those sites and get those posts removed. I am a big supporter of free speech and think adult celebrities are fair game, but not teenagers and children.

      • Sage says:

        It’s more the comments section of those websites. To accuse someone of being a drug addict or involved in satanic worship is crazy! It’s even crazier that people take the comments seriously build on it and run with it.

        Anyway, she will have a fought time suing the American tabloids.

  28. Bliss51 says:

    Mr. & Mrs. Smith tells theirs relationship beginning to end. Lust at the start and in the end wanting to kill each other. Well not really kill but still.

  29. Mew says:

    Told ya, when she’s out, she’s out. She means business, she ain’t looking back. No, they are not getting back together, she has had completely enough and she’s fast moving on.

  30. It´s so over! says:

    Bringing here this quote from Lainey, isn’t it great and very spot on?

    “The worst thing a woman can be is ambitious, right? Ambitious, prepared, and organised.” #sarcasm

    For me, these two never comeback together. Like other says already, for the last year &half they were seen together on rare ocassions. She always with the kids and he like a single man.
    A bunch of fans still thinking (or wishing) that the divorce was a wake up call from Angelina. I don’t see it at all she seems a woman that not look back. Right now I more intrigued in their futures love interest, guess Brad will be the first with another couple, the divorced men always do first. She probably will be solo for a few years. Will see…

    • Artemis says:

      Pitt is a ‘broken’ man, he will absolutely go through some hook-ups with attractive women which we will never see (just like he did after Paltrow). Who he will settle with will be interesting. Will it again be an ambitious woman like most of his serious relationships? Or will he want a homemaker that tends to his needs without challenging him and that needs him for financial stability? Either way, he’ll never find his equal like he did with Jolie so any woman will significantly draw less attention, even if she’s a high-powered business woman with killer looks.

      As for Jolie. She went celibate for 2 years after BBT. I see her focusing on the kids and her humanitarian work but maybe having a FWB or two. Or she could totally surprise us and quickly date a politician/policy-maker, lawyer or fieldworker next.

      • wyatt says:

        i dont believe she will let another man be around the children. i believe she and brad will be co-parenting, she will probably marry after the kids are grown.

      • Artemis says:

        A 4th marriage? She didn’t even want to get married to Pitt. They only did it because the kids asked. Without them, I doubt she would have walked down the aisle. If anything, Pitt would be the one open to marriage. He always came across as more in need of a romantic partner whereas Jolie took a break from dating and sex to focus on her newfound motherhood back in 2001.

      • Zut alors! says:

        I don’t think we’ll be seeing any “5 years after Brad” People covers from Angelina. She will remain single by choice.

      • It's so over! says:

        Never been a pitt’s fan so i don’t have any idea of his preferences for hookers and have to say that I have a poor opinion of any man who need to pay for sex, it’s lame. Dislike me deeply. The epitome of the women’s cosification. Since a year tab mag insist in his parties with prostitutes, maybe always they were right?

        Girls, if she ends with the men? Just wishing don’t think so.

      • almondmilk says:

        @artemis

        Still laughing over you thinking Brad is Angelina’s equal.

        ..and I like Brad! (when he’s sober)

        I get that a lot of people thought Brad’s exes weren’t his equal, but that doesn’t mean he’s in Angelina’s league.

        I think even Brad would tell you that.

      • Artemis says:

        @almondmilk
        They were the last of the era of Iconic Supercouples. They were certainly equal in regards to Moviestar fame, allure and attraction.

        @It’s so over:
        Meh, as long as they are legal, I don’t see a problem. These girls make a lot of money and I’m not looking down on a woman who takes that path nor do I condemn men who want to use their services. If it weren’t for sex workers, men would be even worse than they are now so that’s my opinion on that topic.

        @Zut alors!
        By choice, of course. But part of it will be because people will analyse the relationship to death if there would be one in public. And pity the man too, Her political work is scrutinized if she continues a Hollywood image by parading partners and giving quotes when it suits her. She will have to stop doing all that and keep the relationship as low-key as possible.

    • wyatt says:

      i agree with you about Angelina not looking back. I believe she is really hurt because she stay longer with Brad and trusted him,she said “he’s my family”. There is something deeper than the plane incident,it was the last and she knew she had to go. I am a mother that feel a sadness for this mother if the father verbally or physically abuse this child.

      • It's so over! says:

        Totally, the plane incident was: “la gota que colmó el vaso” spanish expression for the last straw. “Seems” the marriage was a patch for a relation ship that already was not working

  31. Mean Hannah says:

    I’m looking at this with what’s going on with me and my sister and friend (we are all in the process of separating/divorcing our husbands) but I think their relationship tanked from the moment she married him. Yes, they’ve been together for a long time, and have children together, but I think he relaxed and started to take her and their family for granted once it was legal. He stopped trying and went back to his old ways and it soon caught up with him and he went out of control. She was fed up and was getting ready to separate when the plane incident happened. Then she was done.

  32. Neil says:

    Fussyeye.blogspot has a different take on the high price lawyers, from what I read. She seems to think these high price lawyers are types of lawyers that when they write “seize and desist” letters to people like Perez Hilton, US magazine people perk up and take notice. In other words, the lawyers were hired to manage the publicity fallout from getting too personal where her children are concerned. Makes sense to me knowing how Angie is usually pretty laid back with the media but as News Of The World found out a few years back, there are limits.

  33. shouldawoulda says:

    Maybe these lawyers were brought on to sue the tabloids because they cannot have any information about the children without the parents consent, or details about any investigation. It is illegal.