The big guns draw.
Kanye West has hired an experienced attorney with a wealth of experience representing billionaires in divorce cases: Melinda Gates’ former attorney Robert Stephan Cohen.
A representative for Cohen’s senior partner Clair Lan’s Greifer Thorpe & Rottenstreich LLP confirmed to Page Six on Wednesday that West recently hired him to act as counsel for the rapper’s divorce from Kim Kardashian.
Because Cohen is based in New York, TMZ reported that West, 45, has also hired attorney Nicholas A. Salick in California, where the case is being heard.
In a 2021 Insider profile, Cohen, 83, spoke about his process in handling celebrity divorces, including preparing financial statements, reviewing the details of his client’s wealth and conducting a 90-minute introductory interview on “the psychology of the… dealing with the divorce.”
The lawyer said of what he does for a living: “There’s the hard part, the destruction of a marriage. But the other side of that is that we start people and give them a new life.”
Robert Stephan Cohen has represented many high profile clients including Melinda Gates, Chris Rock and Michael Bloomberg.
Cohenclairlans.com
Robert Stephan Cohen has represented many high profile clients including Melinda Gates, Chris Rock and Michael Bloomberg.
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Chris Rock, who hired Cohen to represent him in his divorce from his wife Malaak Compton-Rock, 20, told the website that his lawyer’s calm presence helped him through a “very difficult time” in his life.
“Divorce attorneys are like doctors in a weird way,” said the 57-year-old comedian. “You must have a good bedside manner. And Bob has a very good, calming way. Gets you through, lets you see the big picture. He explains the realities of the situation.”
In one of his most famous cases, Cohen helped 58-year-old Gates get out of her divorce from Bill Gates with an estimated settlement of about $76 billion.
Cohen is West’s fifth attorney in this divorce case as the billionaire entertainer has been represented by a revolving door of attorneys for the past year and a half.
Kardashian is represented by attorney Laura Wasser.GC Images
In March, Yeezy founder fired attorney Chris Melcher shortly before a pre-scheduled court hearing.
Sources told TMZ at the time that West let go of the attorney because their relationship had “become extremely difficult with little communication.”
The father of four then kept Samantha Spector, but she decided to step down from the case just two months later in May.
Exact details about her departure were not known, but Spector called the cause “an irreconcilable breakdown of the lawyer-client relationship”.
Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021 after nearly seven years of marriage and four children. Getty Images
Kardashian, 41, has previously opened up about her frustration with her ex’s ever-changing advice.
After the “Jesus Walks” rapper repeatedly attacked the “Kardashians” star on social media, she partially replied, “I want to keep all matters regarding our children private and I hope he can finally answer the third attorney he’s last met.” had year to resolve all issues amicably.”
Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021 after nearly seven years of marriage. The former couple were legally separated this March.