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LONDON: Madonna, one of the wealthiest celebrities in showbiz, will fight to protect her US$490 million in assets in a bitter divorce battle set to be one of the biggest in British legal history.
American singer Madonna, 50, and British director Guy Ritchie, 40, released a joint statement on Wednesday announcing their divorce, ending their eight-year-long marriage.
Two of London’s most formidable lawyers, Fiona Shackleton and Lady Helen Ward will represent Madonna and Ritchie respectively.
Shackleton, nicknamed the "Steel Magnolia", acted for Sir Paul McCartney and Prince Charles in their divorces.
Ward, equally impressive, secured 48 million pounds for Beverley Charman when she split from her insurance magnate husband, which is said to be the largest divorce award in English legal history.
The showbiz couple has a joint fortune of US$525 million, of which only US$35 million belongs to Ritchie.
Without a prenuptial agreement, Ritchie is set to receive a fat divorce settlement from the pop singer.
Madonna has a 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. The couple has an eight-year-old son and an adopted three-year-old Malawian son.
Their marriage disintegrated as the two spent time away from each other promoting their individual projects. There were also rumours of Madonna’s romantic entanglements with baseball player Alex Rodriguez, which is said to have caused the break-up of his marriage.
Madonna is currently on her “Sticky and Sweet” tour, while Ritchie is promoting his film “Rocknrolla”, which has just debuted in theatres.
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