Hollywood, law firms battling to hire Camille Vasquez after Johnny Depp trial win: sources

Johnny Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez has been flooded with offers from Hollywood and is at the centre of a bidding war between law firms.

Johnny Depp’s lawyer Camille Vasquez has been inundated with offers from Hollywood and is at the centre of an ongoing bidding war between law firms that want her on their team following her victorious performance in the actor’s trial, sources told the New York Post.

The tough-as-nails lawyer, 37, became a star in her own right in the drawn-out defamation trial — sparring with Amber Heard during intense and sometimes vicious cross-examination and becoming a darling among Depp fans.

According to the New York Post, say doors are opening for Vasquez — it’s just a matter of which one she chooses.

A US jury found Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamed each other, but sided far more strongly with Depp who was represented by lawyer Camille Vasquez. Picture: AFP

“Talent agents are circling Camille because they recognise that she is the unicorn — a smart, savvy, poised lawyer whose impressive, inspirational performance during the trial propelled her to a rare level of visibility,” a source said. “And the fact that she is a woman of colour is an added bonus.”

Vasquez and her colleagues convinced the jury that Heard defamed Depp on all three counts brought against the actor for writing in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed that she was “a public figure representing domestic abuse.”

Since the trial wrapped, Vasquez has already received offers from several traditional TV networks and cable channels, sources told The Post.

Ben Chew and Camille Vasquez, attorneys for US actor Johnny Depp, depart after speaking to reporters outside the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse. Picture: Getty Images

“Camille is inarguably a great voice to weigh in on legal matters and networks are naturally chomping at the bit to speak with her about on-air opportunities,” a former network executive familiar with the offers said.

Despite leading the plaintiff’s case with lawyer Ben Chew, Vasquez remains an associate at high-profile law firm Brown Rudnick, though celebrity lawyer Judd Burstein guessed “she’ll be a partner soon.”

“No firm would allow her to have a role in a big trial like this if she wasn’t on the partner track,” said Burstein, who represents Nicki Minaj. “There are two factors that go into making a partner — your quality of lawyering and ability to attract business. She can probably go anywhere and make a nice deal for herself.”

Johnny Depp's attorney Camille Vasquez talks with trial services specialist Thomas Gibson after the jury began deliberations. Picture: AFP

A legal source confirmed what Burstein suspected.

“The legal community is buzzing with firms fighting to be the highest bidder for Camille to join their team,” the source said. “She’s a shark and her performance in trial showed it.”

A woman partner at a high-profile law firm in Los Angeles just a few years older than Vasquez said she was “very surprised to see she was an associate,” considering what she handled at the Depp trial.

“Most of the time associates aren’t given the type of roles she was given — doing the cross and closings, that’s pretty unprecedented,” the source said.

Comparing Vasquez to Heard’s lawyer Elaine Bredehoft, the source said, “Camille’s trial skills were much more effective than Elaine Bredehoft to a point where I almost felt bad for Elaine where she was being out-layered by an associate like that.

“I’m shocked she wasn’t promoted before the trial and I would be completely floored if she wasn’t promoted by now,” the source added.

Johnny Depp's attorney Camille Vasquez gives closing arguments at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia. Picture: AFP

Brown Rudnick told The Post that it is “thrilled that so many people are seeing what we’ve known for years: that Camille Vasquez is a star.”

“We were always confident that she had what it takes to succeed on this stage. That’s why she is a key member of the trial team and has a bright future with us,” the firm added.

Depp’s lawyer gained so much fandom that one fan gave herself a tattoo with the outline of Vasquez’s wavy hair and power suit, with the word “objection” underneath.

Johnny Depp talks with his attorney Camille Vasquez. Fans have speculated they are dating. Picture: AFP

Actor Johnny Depp talks with his attorney Camille Vasquez after she spoke during closing arguments at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia. Picture: AFP

Lawyer Camille Vasquez embraces US actor Johnny Depp. Picture: AFP

Fans also speculated that Vasquez might be dating Depp, a rumour that was quickly quashed by both teams and further trounced after she was pictured post-trial with her boyfriend Edward Owen.

Vasquez, who is still working for Depp, declined to comment. A rep for Depp had no comment.

The actor will be back in court in July after Gregg Brooks, a crew member on a movie set, accused him of assault. Brown Rudnick is representing him in the case.

Amber Heard rented a $31,000 a month mansion to stay in during the trial. Picture: Supplied

INSIDE AMBER HEARD’S MANSION RENTAL

Amber Heard has reportedly forked out more than $31,000 a month to stay in a luxury mansion during a six-week defamation trial brought against her by her ex husband, Johnny Depp.

The whopping 1200 sqm home is set on one acre a short drive from the Fairfax County Courthouse.

Despite the eye-watering amount the 36-year-old splashed on the two-storey Virginia property, Heard said she can’t afford to pay Depp what she owes him in the aftermath of the trial.

The actor was ordered to pay Depp $US15 million ($A20 million), $A13.8 million in compensation and $A6.9 million in punitive damages, minus the $A2.7 million Depp was ordered to pay her.

Her lawyer, Elaine Bredhoft, said Heard cannot afford to pay the damages and intends to appeal the verdict.

The kitchen features marble benchtops and chandeliers.

Amber Heard stayed in a $31,000-a-month Virginia mansion during her defamation court case with Johnny Depp.

The Virginia mansion features eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms.

The mansion features dual sweeping staircases to the second level.

Heard’s family reportedly also stayed at the property, about a half-hour drive from the Fairfax County Courthouse.

Set on one acre, the property features a tennis court, eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, four-car garage and a home theatre.

Marble and chandeliers adorn the house, which also features a pair of sweeping staircases at its main entrance.

Rental records show the property was rented on May 4 of 2022 for $A31,246 a month, after being advertised for more than six weeks.

Ms Heard was reportedly seen by witnesses at the property with her sister Whitney.

Witnesses also reported seeing security for Heard’s daughter, Oomagh Paige, at the house.

Originally published as Hollywood, law firms battling to hire Camille Vasquez after Johnny Depp trial win: sources