Arnold Schwarzenegger And Maria Shriver's Lawyers: Who Are They? (PHOTOS) | HuffPost Life

Schwarzenegger And Shriver's Lawyers: Who Are They?

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Senior Editor, Huffpost Parents & HuffPost Relationships

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After separating from Arnold Schwarzenegger last month and finding out about his long-hidden love child with former housekeeper Mildred Patricia Baena, Maria Shriver did what every savvy woman (with means) would do--lawyer up. And not just with any lawyer--Shriver snapped up attorney-to-the-stars Laura Wasser to represent her in what has the makings of a contentious (and expensive) split.

This week Schwarzenegger followed suit and hired legal counsel of his own--famed divorce lawyer Robert Kaufman. Both are known for maintaining a low profile for their clients, so don't expect a public battle--according to experts, if divorce proceedings ensue, these two will likely settle out of court.

It's not the first time Kaufman and Wasser have gone head-to-head; the celebrity lawyers squared off for Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey's split in November 2005.

Below, some of their most well-known clients.

Kaufman/Wasser Clients

Kaufman's Client: Jennifer Aniston(01 of08)

Kaufman represented Jennifer Aniston in her split from Brad Pitt in March 2005. Hollywood's former golden couple was married for four-and-a-half years before calling it quits. Aniston is now rumored to be dating screenwriter Justin Theroux, while Pitt has moved on with longtime love Angelina Jolie, with whom he has six kids.

Kaufman's Client: Reese Witherspoon(02 of08)

Reese Witherspoon retained Kaufman in her 2006 split from ex-husband Ryan Philippe. According to divorce documents obtained by TMZ, Witherspoon requested joint legal custody of the couple's two children and primary physical custody, in addition to "exclusive use of the family residence." The former couple--who had been married for seven years--opted for an uncontested divorce, which kept many of the details private. Nearly three years after her divorce was finalized, Witherspoon remarried entertainment agent Jim Toth in March 2011.

Kaufman's Client: Jessica Simpson(03 of08)

When Jessica Simpson separated from ex-husband Nick Lachey in November 2005, she hired Kaufman to duke it out with her estranged ex's lawyer--Laura Wasser. Simpson and Lachey's three-year marriage was partly chronicled on MTV's reality series "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica." According to TMZ, Lachey agreed to take a smaller settlement--less than 50% of their reported $36 million in combined assets--in order to avoid a contentious court battle.

Kaufman's Client: Lisa Marie Presely(04 of08)

When odd couple Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson split after less than two years of marriage, Presley hired Kaufman to represent her in their January 1996 divorce. The pair married in a secret ceremony in the Dominican Republic in May 1994, though many thought the union to be a publicity stunt to salvage Jackson's reputation (he had just been accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy).

Wasser's Client: Britney Spears(05 of08)

Wasser represented Britney Spears in her November 2006 divorce from backup dancer Kevin Federline, with whom she has two sons. Despite Spears' erratic behavior and trip to rehab, Wasser was able to initially secure a 50/50 custody split with Federline. In September 2007, Wasser resigned as Spears' lawyer, around the time Federline requested to amend their custody agreement. TMZ reports that Spears was a "problem client" who didn't listen to Wasser's advice.

Wasser's Client: Robyn Gibson (06 of08)

Robyn Gibson retained Wasser when filing for divorce from Mel Gibson, her husband of 28 years, in April 2009. Because the couple did not sign a prenuptial agreement, Gibson's estimated $900 million fortune could be split 50/50 under California's community property laws. The divorce--though not yet finalized--is reportedly smooth, with the estranged spouses using lawyers, accountants, and business managers to hash out the settlement instead of a judge.

Wasser's Client: Angelina Jolie(07 of08)

Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Billy Bob Thornton after a brief 18-month marriage in July 2002. Jolie's attorney, Wasser, ensured that most details of their uncontested divorce remained confidential. When asked by the Smoking Gun about Jolie and Thornton's custody agreement (of adopted son Maddox), Wasser said, "It was a big point in the divorce that things remained confidential...It would be a disservice to both of them to provide those kinds of details."

Wasser's Client: Kate Walsh(08 of08)

Wasser represented "Private Practice" star Kate Walsh in her messy divorce from film executive Alex Young in December 2008. Instead of the multi-million dollar settlement and spousal support Young requested, he received $627,000 and half the residuals for the "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" episodes Walsh filmed during their brief 14-month marriage. Their contentious split was finalized in April 2010.

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