Britney Spears Paid $2.7 mil to Lawyers Since Her Father Came Into Her Life

Since Britney Spears was deemed unfit to manage her own life, and father Jamie was ordered to take the helm, the pop star has paid $2.7 million in lawyers' fees and costs to fight the litany of suits filed against her, according to the LA Times. More than 17 lawyers and firms have seen some of that money.

"Since the initiation of the conservatorship, as a result of the concerted efforts of Mr. Spears as well as all the professionals involved, all aspects of Ms. Spears' life have been stabilized and continue to improve," lawyer Geraldine Wyle wrote. She wrote that the singer's mental health continued "to mend," that she had regained "substantial visitation" with her children and that her career "has been revitalized."

Wyle wrote that Britney Spears faces "complex and challenging issues" necessitating outside attorneys, including Spears' divorce and custody proceedings with Kevin Federline ($460,000 in total fees and costs), a Florida civil suit brought by a former manager ($113,000), a driving-without-a-license trial ($26,000) and a dispute over mold in a Malibu property leased by Spears ($7,000). The accounting does not take into account the $375,000 Spears paid to cover her ex-husband's legal expenses, nor does it disclose how much her entertainment attorney, who is charged with rebuilding her career and writing contracts for her, was paid.

Among the legal bills were costs associated with fighting what the conservatorship attorneys have described as a conspiracy to disturb her father's control.

In the first six months of the conservatorship, Jamie Spears' attorneys billed $102,000 fighting alleged attempts to end the conservatorship by outsiders. The efforts included getting a restraining order against one of the alleged conspirators, Britney Spears' former confidant Osama "Sam" Lutfi, and beating back an attempt by lawyer Jon Eardley to intervene in the case.

Some of the costs were necessary because of Spears' celebrity, according to court documents. In a September filing, for example, a lawyer for Jamie Spears billed nearly $4,600 for a messenger service to ensure confidentiality of legal documents and plunked down $25 for private courthouse rooms to prevent reporters eavesdropping in hallways.


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