Lawyers line up for Madonna divorce (From Crewe Guardian)

Lawyers line up for Madonna divorce

10:31am Friday 17th October 2008 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2011

Two of London's most formidable female lawyers will go head to head over Madonna and Guy Ritchie's divorce.

The pop superstar will be represented by Fiona Shackleton who acted for Sir Paul McCartney in his £24.3 million split from Heather Mills earlier this year.

Facing her will be Helen Ward, who secured £48 million for Beverley Charman when she split from her insurance magnate husband John in 2006.

Mrs Charman's payout is thought to be the biggest divorce award in English legal history.

A spokesman for the film director confirmed he had hired Manches, the firm where Lady Ward is a partner, but would not say which lawyer would represent Mr Ritchie. Manches refused to comment.

According to the firm's website Lady Ward "specialises in family law, with emphasis on the financial consequences of the breakdown of relationships with particular expertise in cases involving substantial assets, complexity and an international element."

It adds: "Where it is necessary she also deals with cases involving the resolution of disputes relating to the children."

Arrangements for the couple's children are likely to be central to Madonna and Mr Ritchie's divorce.

The singer has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from a previous relationship. The couple have an eight-year-old son, Rocco, and adopted their younger son, David, three, from Malawi.

The divorce was announced in a joint statement released on Wednesday, nearly eight years after the couple's lavish wedding at Skibo castle, Scotland, on December 22, 2000.