ONE of the lawyers hired by Melinda Gates has previously worked for Donald Trump's ex-wives Ivana Trump and actress Marla Maples.
The philanthropist, 56, and husband Bill filed for divorce on Monday, bringing an end to a 27-year marriage.
Both have hired three lawyers to represent them. Melinda has hired Robert Cohen – who previously represented President Trump's former wives Ivana Trump and Marla Maples, the BBC reports.
Ivana, Trump's first wife, got $14million plus a Greenwich, Connecticut mansion, an apartment in Trump Plaza and use of the Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida for one month out of the year when the couple finalized their divorce in 1992.
Mr. Cohen, who is highly regarded in the legal sector, has worked for comedian Chris Rock and former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg.
He has also represented late Sopranos actor James Gandolfini and Pulp Fiction actress Uma Thurman, according to Chambers and Partners.
Cohen has been recognized by the Times and Wall Street Journal as one of the most important divorce lawyers in the country.
Meanwhile, the Microsoft co-founder has hired Warren Buffet’s lawyer friend in his $124billion divorce from Melinda.
The law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson headed by Charles Munger – who is also a longtime pal of Gates – is listed as one of three firms representing the Microsoft mogul after he announced their split.
The firm representing Bill was founded in 1962 by legal eagle Munger, 97, who has known business investment tycoon Buffett since 1959.
Munger, who is worth $2.2 billion, according to Forbes, isn't listed as one of the lawyers on the case but it's reported that he's close with Gates.
He is an expert lawyer specializing in business, philanthropy and real estate and Bill once described Munger as the "broadest thinker he has ever met."
Speaking about their pal, Buffett told Farnam Street that Munger "comes equipped for rationality" and that "he’s got his own mold."
The law firm was mentioned in the court papers filed by Melinda in King County Superior Court in Seattle, Washington and stated that their marriage was “irretrievably broken.”
It comes as Melinda does not appear to be asking for any spousal support and she will not revert back to her maiden name French once the divorce is finalized, according to court documents.
The couple's divorce documents also revealed that there appears to be no prenup agreement.
It's understood that they will split their property according to a separation contract.
Melinda has reportedly asked for a trial date in April 2022.
Husband Bill shared the news in a tweet where he said they decided to "end our marriage" after a "great deal of thought and a lot of work."
He noted that they had raised "three incredible children" and worked to help people all over the world with their philanthropy work.
Gates said: "We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives."
"We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life," he concluded. Melinda tweeted an identical statement to her account.
Melinda joined Microsoft in 1987 and met Bill at a business dinner in New York City, and after a year of dating, it was reported that Bill had to make a pros and cons list about getting married.
Tech mogul Gates, who has become a leading figure in the fight against Covid-19, was the richest man in the world until Amazon's Jeff Bezos knocked him off his perch in 2017.
Melinda’s net worth is around $70billion, according to Spears.
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