Legal News

Picking ?Over the Carcass of a Failed Marriage?

By Dan Slater

The Law Blog usually tries to shoot for the high- and middle-brows of legal news reportage. But, from time to time, we check the tabloids. And though we’ll restrain ourselves from delving into the nuances of A-Rod’s pre-nup (or Madonna’s lack of one!), or speculate on how New York Supreme Court Judge Harold Beeler might rule in the “YouTube divorce,” we’re always interested in the lawyers. So here’s a divorce round-up, through the LB lens.

C-Rod v. A-Rod: On Monday, 35 year-old Cynthia Rodriguez filed a petition for dissolution in Miami. While the petition doesn’t cite Madonna as a factor, C-Rod alleges that A-Rod “has emotionally abandoned his wife and children and has left her with no choice but to divorce him.” For legal power, she’s using Maurice Jay Kutner of Kutner & Associates in Miami, and Earle S. Lilly in Houston. TMZ.com reported that A-Rod, 32, has retained Miami divorce big-wig Ira Elegant, who repped Shaquille O’Neal and George Foreman in their divorces.

Christie v. Peter: For this Hamptons drama, 54 year-old Christie Brinkley turned to Robert S. Cohen of Cohen Lans. Peter Cook, 49, is being repped by Norman Sheresky of Sheresky Aronson Mayefsky & Sloan in New York.

Madge v. Guy: Here, a $600 million fortune is at stake for the 49 year-old Material Girl. And Ritchie — who perhaps made some dough of his own on “Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch” — reportedly never signed a pre-nup! For representation, she hired Fiona “Steel Magnolia” Shackleton of Payne Hicks Beach in London. Shackleton, who handled Paul McCartney’s divorce from Heather Mills, and Prince Charles’ split from Diana, has been quoted as saying, “A courtroom is a barbaric venue in which to pick over the carcass of a failed marriage.” As for the 39 year-old Ritchie, though it had been reported that he retained Mayfair law firm Forsters, Ann Northover, head of Forsters’ family division, said late last month that the firm has no involvement.

Smith v. Smith: In the so-called YouTube divorce — in which 52 year-old Tricia Walsh-Smith, who seeks a split from Philip Smith, the Broadway producer, kicked off the proceedings with a homemade YouTube video — Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Harold Beeler is set to rule on July 21. Tricia is repped by David Isaacson from New York, and Joseph P. McCaffery and Daniel O. Stamm from Chicago. Philip, 77, turned to David Aronson, a partner of Norman Sheresky, who’s handling Peter Cook’s divorce.

Photo: iStockPhoto

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on July 09, 2008 (boomark / email).