Murdoch Divorce: The Right Representation

Regardless of income, getting the right attorney is important during a divorce proceeding. For any marriage, especially those with children, satisfying agreements made or court decisions obtained are largely due to the skill and understanding of legal counsel. In the divorce matter of Rupert Murdoch, legal skill may make all the difference.

In June of this year, 82-year-old billionaire Rupert Murdoch filed for divorce, apparently taking his wife of 14 years, Wendi Deng, by surprise. This is the third marriage of Mr. Murdoch and the second of Ms. Deng, who is 38 years younger than her husband. The couple has two daughters who are 11 and 9 years of age.

Although the couple entered into a premarital and two post-nuptial agreements, the potential for disagreement over a number of issues remains. In addition to whatever property differences exist, custodial and child support arrangements remain subject to approval by a court.

In July, Ms. Deng replaced her attorney and family friend, Pamela Sloan with well-known New York attorney William Zabel. No stranger to high asset divorce or trust disagreements, Mr. Zabel must address issues including:

• Protection of equity in the Murdoch family trust for the benefit of the daughters of the marriage
• Ownership of residences in California, London, New York and Beijing

By retaining Mr. Zabel, Ms. Deng brought in an experienced attorney known for his skill in steering clients through profitable low-conflict divorce proceedings. Mr. Zabel, who authored a book entitled, The Rich Die Richer and You Can Too, is also unlikely to compromise the rights of his client to avoid litigation.

Choosing the right attorney for your divorce impacts the present and your future. If you have questions about divorce in New York, talk to an attorney with our firm.