LAURA WASSER: I'm the Hollywood divorce lawyer who acted for Kim, Britney and Angelina... here's my foolproof guide to getting the best deal from your ex - and the mistakes that could RUIN you...
The guest list of Kris Jenner’s recent 70th birthday party was a veritable Who’s Who of Los Angeles, featuring celebrities such as Adele, Beyonce, Kris’s six children (including Kim Kardashian) and Harry and Meghan, who proceeded to hijack the –headlines over the ensuing days.And then there was a guest you won’t have heard of but who nevertheless was greeted with great warmth by many of the assembled guests. ‘I might have been the only non-famous person there!’ she jokes.The Hollywood elite have divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, 57, on speed dial. The so-called ‘Disso Queen’ (as in ‘dissolution’ of marriage), she has represented just about everyone in Tinseltown, from Johnny Depp and Kevin Costner to Angelina Jolie, Mariah Carey and model Heidi Klum.When Mel Gibson’s wife Robyn filed for divorce in 2009, the eventual settlement of more than $400 million (£300 million) was thought to have been the highest in –Hollywood history. Who represented her? Laura Wasser.She also looked after Kim Kardashian in her 2013 divorce from Kris Humphries, and again in her split from Kanye West in 2022. Indeed, so impressed was Kim by her lawyer’s ‘bad-ass’ professionalism, she credits Laura as the inspiration for the attorney Kim plays in the new Disney+ legal series All’s Fair.Inspiration but not source, Laura insists. Also starring Glenn Close and Naomi Watts as divorce lawyers, the series features a number of sensational storylines, including that of one client, played by Jessica Simpson, who’s forced by her husband to have numerous disfiguring plastic surgeries. Kim Kardashian by so impressed by her lawyer’s ‘bad-ass’ professionalism, she credits Laura Wasser as the inspiration for the attorney Kim plays in the new Disney+ legal series All’s Fair‘The show is great fun,’ says Laura now, ‘but also good for getting you back to your real life and saying: “At least I’m not them!”’As we chat at her LA offices of Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles, it’s clear that Laura is far more empathic than one would expect of a hard-nosed Hollywood divorce lawyer. Renowned for offering calm, low-key advice to her A-list clients, Laura says she tries to follow the example set by her parents Bunny and Dennis, who divorced when she was 16.‘I had a very good model for how divorce could be with my own parents,’ she explains. ‘They got along throughout the divorce and after the divorce. In 2019, when my mum passed away, my dad was there because he was still her family.’Even with celebrities, her aim is to keep their divorces as low-profile as possible. ‘I say to their PR people: “Until this divorce is over, don’t comment [to the press].” And my clients usually like to keep it quiet, too.’Occasionally though, things can get too noisy. In 2007, Laura resigned from representing Britney Spears in her divorce from Kevin Federline when it descended into a tabloid circus. And in 2018, Laura and Angelina Jolie reportedly parted ways during the actress’s split from Brad Pitt – a divorce which was only finalised in 2024 after eight exceedingly messy years.Laura’s approach is to look for clean, quiet resolution. ‘Generally, clients don’t come to me if they just want to slam their spouse to the wall.’Her father, Dennis Wasser, was a renowned lawyer, too, and represented Tom Cruise in his divorce from Nicole Kidman. in 2018, Laura and Angelina Jolie reportedly parted ways during the actress’s split from Brad Pitt – a divorce which was only finalised in 2024 after eight exceedingly messy yearsLaura never intended to follow in his footsteps, but after taking up law in her 20s, her unstuffy approach quickly gained her younger clients like Britney.Even today – stylish in a green Reformation slip dress and Chloe boots – she could easily be mistaken for a lady who lunches rather than a legal powerhouse. Yet surprisingly for someone so glamorous, she insists that she has never dated any of the male celebs who have passed through her offices.‘They don’t really see me that way and I’m not exactly seeing them at their best. They’re crying, they’re sad and also, I know things about them [through their divorce] that they would probably never want on the Raya or Bumble dating apps.’The Kardashians are long-time friends, ‘and they’re all lovely and great to do business with. They mostly listen to my advice and pay on time’. Some famous people, she adds, don’t. ‘Celebrities are very used to being told “yes” by everybody, so if they’re told “no” by our firm or by a judge, they don’t like that and the people around them will say, “You shouldn’t have to pay.” It doesn’t happen often because, usually, we end up resolving things for them.’While the clients Laura advises are wealthy – her retainer is $25,000 (£19,000) and she charges $1,200 an hour (just under £1,000) – if you’re not in the same money bracket, fear not. ‘Anybody who’s going through a divorce, regardless of how famous or wealthy they are, has the same insecurities and the same broken heart,’ she says. ‘And the advice I would give to your readers is exactly the same.’Here then are Laura’s tips on how to navigate a divorce as smoothly as possible.IF YOU SPLIT UP HERE’S HOW TO DO IT...Discuss marriage hopes before tying the knot‘I’ve been doing this job for 30 years,’ says Laura, ‘and it amazes me that some couples still don’t discuss their expectations of marriage beforehand.’Subjects a couple should discuss, she says, include: ‘Children. Do we want them? Are we going to send them to private or public school? Religion – you’re Catholic, I’m Jewish – how are we going to practise? It’s important to have these conversations and understand what the red flags might be.’Discussing money is also crucial. Conversations about earnings and joint or separate bank accounts aren’t sexy, ‘but they’ll make a couple last longer because they’ll be on the same wavelength’. Laura looked after Kim Kardashian in her 2013 divorce from Kris Humphries, and again in her split from Kanye West (pictured together) in 2022Laura herself speaks from experience. She was 25 when she married her Spanish boyfriend Alvaro at LA’s sumptuous Hotel Bel-Air, and all they discussed before their ceremony, she admits, was the number of bridesmaids and ushers, ‘and who’s the photographer going to be?’ Their marriage lasted only 14 months.Get a pre-nupGiven the wealth of her clients, it’s no surprise that Laura is a big proponent of the pre-nuptial agreement.She also serves on an advisory board for the online company HelloPrenup, ‘where we’re trying to make them more accessible for people, so you’re not paying the huge amounts our clients are paying to get an ironclad pre-nup’.Things that can’t be included in a pre-nup include decisions around child custody and child support.‘You also can’t put in things that regulate someone else’s behaviour, such as: “If you cheat on me, then you have to pay this”,’ says Laura. ‘I also had a client ask, “Can we put something in that my wife has to lose the baby weight within a certain period?”’Laura’s answer was an emphatic no. ‘Men also ask to put in stuff about regularity of sex or certain sexual acts they want and I’ll cut them off and say, “We’re not doing that. Let’s not embarrass you any further.”’Remember, pre-nups aren’t legally binding in the UK, but courts will uphold them if certain conditions are met and they’ve been entered into freely.If you’re set on divorce, pick a good lawyerFinding a good lawyer is essential, says Laura, and in her 2013 divorce manual, It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way, she recommends researching online, asking for referrals from other professionals (such as an accountant or doctor) and meeting two or three different lawyers to gauge their suitability.‘See if you have good chemistry and if you can work with them for the next six to eight months,’ she says. ‘But you also want them to get down to business. This is your lawyer, not your friend.’Also, Laura adds, avoid overly aggressive lawyers. ‘I tell people all the time: the more you and your spouse argue, the more money I make, so work out as much as you can together.’Moreover, some divorce attorneys, she says, ‘lead with domestic violence’ – nudging clients into claiming abuse where there is none. The so-called ‘Disso Queen’ (as in ‘dissolution’ of marriage) has represented just about everyone in Tinseltown, including model Heidi Klum, pictured with her now ex-husband, British singer Seal‘It’s often used as extortion, especially if one party is famous and the other party says: “If you don’t settle under my terms, I’m going to the press with a story that you were a domestic abuser.” And the thing that offends me the most about that is that there are real victims of domestic violence who can’t afford lawyers or get face time with judges.’Has Laura ever dropped a client for wanting to go down that route? ‘Yes.’ Were they a celebrity? ‘Maybe,’ she replies. Losing such a client doesn’t bother her, she says. ‘I’d rather get money doing it the right way.’Take the drama out of your divorceBroach the subject of divorce with your spouse sensitively –unlike the husband of one of Laura’s clients who sent his soon-to-be ex-wife a box of dead roses on Valentine’s Day with a court summons attached.‘Here in LA, most people have been in therapy for a while,’ she says, ‘and I often recommend addressing the subject in a therapy session and saying, “We’re going to change this a bit. We were in therapy to try to save the marriage and now I’ve decided that the marriage is probably over. But you’re still the father/mother of my children and I want to work through this.” Keep those lines of communication open.’Educate yourself about your finances‘Many people, particularly women,’ says Laura, ‘will come in and say, “I don’t really know what we own. I know we live in this house, but I don’t know what the mortgage is.” So educate yourself.’ The four areas you should know about are ‘assets, debts, income and expenses’. Laura pictured in Beverly Hills with her client Kim Kardashian‘Some people don’t keep track of what they spend, so go through your credit card bills and see what you spend on maintenance, whether it’s hair, nails, Botox, whatever. See what you spend on meals, going out, travel. See how much cash you take out.‘Put together what your budget is so you can figure out whether or not your alimony is going to be able to cover that.’Thinking of your divorce as a business transaction will serve you well as you head into it, she says.‘This is probably the most emotional legal action you’ll ever have in your life,’ says Laura, ‘but it’s important to remember that you’re making a deal, too, and you want to make the best deal you can and pay as little money as possible to the lawyers and accountants.’Save money where you canIn 2018, Laura launched the online business, It’s Over Easy, which is now part of Divorce.com – a US online service that aims to provide a far cheaper way of divorcing. ‘I think everybody, rich or poor, should lean into the possibility of doing it online if you can,’ she says (for details on how to divorce online in the UK, see the Gov.uk website).She also suggests engaging the less expensive services of a mediator rather than a divorce lawyer. Staying civil is key. Johnny Depp with his now ex-wife, actress Amber HeardLaura recommends going around the house sticking colour-coded Post-it notes on the items you want and getting your soon-to-be ex to do the same (you can flip a coin for items you both covet). Fighting tooth and nail over soft furnishings, she says, is a waste of money.‘As an ethical human being I’d tell a client we’re not spending $1,200 (£1,000) writing a letter about sofa cushions. Sometimes they’ll say I haven’t got their back, but having your back is telling you to let the sofa cushions go.’Put your kids firstThe golden rule, says Laura, is to put your children first – but it’s a rule that isn’t always followed.She recalls one of her clients receiving an answer phone message in which his wife fiercely berated him for several minutes. ‘“Everybody hates you,” she said. Then just as she’s putting the phone down, you hear a voice in the background say, “I don’t hate you, Dad.” Their child was there the whole time.’Occasionally celebrity clients have wanted to use the press as a tool for rubbishing their spouse publicly. ‘And I’ve said, “Do you really want your kids to read that? He’s still their dad” – and they’ll back down.’In Laura’s own case she has two sons – Jack, 15, and Luke, 20 - by two fathers, neither of whom she married. ‘And there isn’t a scrap of paper between us! I’m very lucky because we have a lot of mutual respect. Laura has two sons – Jack, 15, and Luke, 20 - by two fathers, neither of whom she married. ‘And there isn’t a scrap of paper between us! I’m very lucky because we have a lot of mutual respect,’ she says ‘In the past I’ve had heavy trial schedules, so we didn’t adhere to a custody schedule. I’d say, “I need you to pick up our kid today” and they both always did. And I’ve been there for them, too. Even though you don’t share a bed with them any more,’ she adds, ‘you still share a family.’AND THREE COSTLY MISTAKES TO AVOID...Leading with angerNever see your divorce ‘as a way to exact revenge’. Moreover, don’t use your divorce lawyer as your therapist, unleashing your anger while racking up huge legal bills.‘Do scream therapy,’ says Laura, referencing psychotherapy that encourages screaming to release stress and anger, ‘it’ll cost less. All I can offer if someone is venting is, “That sucks!”’Not understanding the financial picture‘If you don’t have a clear understanding, you may make a mistake and either try to get too much or take too little.’Also, hiding assets, while virtually impossible in this electronic age, is always a no-no.In 1996, a woman named Denise Rossi won $1.3 million (£1 million) in the lottery and didn’t tell anybody during divorce proceedings. The judge found that she had violated disclosure laws and her husband got the lot.Dying on the wrong hillOften, says Laura, clients will waste precious time and money ‘fighting about custody arrangements when they really shouldn’t’.‘For example, they’ll argue over custody on Wednesday nights – but just see how it works first. The first Wednesday it’ll be terrible because you miss your sweet darling, but the second Wednesday, you’ll draw a bath, put on some music and it’s all about you.‘Then the third Wednesday you might go on a date and have great sex with no kids there! So, don’t die on this hill.’And take the high road. Laura had a client whose wife wanted a written apology before she signed off on the divorce. He angrily refused. ‘I said, “Why? It doesn’t cost you anything and you’ve told me that you are sorry.”’ In the end, he wrote the letter and his ex-wife achieved some peace. ‘It was the very last thing we got done.’While being reasonable would make for a terrible episode of All’s Fair, ‘by taking the high road,’ says Laura, ‘you’ll feel better about yourself. And often the other person will rise to meet you.’
