Brad Pitt hires top Hollywood lawyer amid abuse claims

BRAD Pitt’s not taking his marriage breakup lying down, enlisting some legal firepower in the form of a top Hollywood lawyer.

Pitt is firing back as his split with Angelina Jolie escalates. Picture: pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Cinema for Peace

BRAD Pitt’s not taking his marriage breakup lying down, enlisting some legal firepower in the form of a top Hollywood lawyer.

Pitt has enlisted the services of well-known Los Angeles family law lawyer Lance Spiegel, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The news of Pitt ‘lawyering up’ comes amid fresh reports that the actor is being investigated by the FBI over claims he flew into a drunken rage on a plane and “got physical” with eldest son Maddox.

Lawyer Lance Spiegel will represent Pitt. Picture: BackGrid

Witnesses said Pitt, 52, was “out of control” and allegedly clashed with the 15-year-old in the incident last week, The Sun reports.

“The final divorce decision was only made one week ago. An incident took place and prompted (Angelina) to act and file,” an insider told Us Weekly.

Spiegel, 70, has extensive experience in divorce cases involving celebrities, having represented Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria in her divorce from basketballer Tony Parker, as well as other clients including Heather Locklear, Charlie Sheen and the late Michael Jackson, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Jolie is seeking sole custody of their six-strong brood. Picture: AFP/Yoshikazu Tsuno

While Jolie, who is being represented by celebrity divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, is seeking sole physical custody of their children, she will allow Pitt to have visitation rights. She is not seeking spousal support.

Meantime, Pitt has vowed to fight Jolie for joint custody of their six children amid reports he’s furious at her for portraying him as a bad father.

Jolie asked for physical custody of Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox, in divorce documents filed on Monday. She also asked that her husband of two years be granted visitation.

Originally published as Brad Pitt hires top Hollywood lawyer amid abuse claims