Legal News

Britney's father and revolving door of lawyers run a tight ship, so beware

By Richard Binder

Britney Spears' life is controlled by her father and her affairs handled by a cadre of attorneys seemingly as numerous and indispensable as the backup dancers who surround Spears onstage.

At least 17 lawyers and firms have had a hand in Spears' personal or business matters in the 14 months since a judge determined she was not competent to manage her life and multimillion-dollar music empire herself.

According to court papers, including an accounting filed in Superior Court in Los Angeles on Monday, the singer's estate or the trust that holds most of her assets paid at least $2.7 million in lawyers' fees and costs. Many attorneys continue to work on the case, accruing additional fees that will be submitted for approval at a later date.

The number of attorneys has been a source of amusement and criticism. At a recent court hearing, half a dozen attorneys representing the singer, her father and her estate formed a wall of gray flannel and banker's boxes that obscured the audience's view of the judge and prompted a puzzled opposing attorney to wonder aloud, "Which one of you am I supposed to talk to?"

Read the full story at LA Times.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on March 25, 2009 (boomark / email).