BRITNEY Spears’ battle to take back control of her finances and career continues – with the star due to address court herself in June.
The Toxic singer is fighting to break free from the 13-year conservatorship of father Jamie Spears, as documented in film The Battle for Britney: Fans, Cash and a Conservatorship. But who is representing her in court?
Samuel D. Ingham III is a lawyer based in Ojai, California.
He studied at the University of California School of Law and is now a State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust a Probate Law.
In addition, Ingham has been trained and qualified as a mediator by the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
A bio on the laywer’s LinkedIn page reads: “My practice is devoted to court proceedings involving conservatorships and trusts.
“These areas both involve the application of complex laws to challenging family situations.
“Over the years, I have developed a “problem solving” approach to these cases to avoid or minimise litigation and arrive at a cost-effective resolution.”
Jamie Spears had been in control of both the singer’s financial and personal affairs before stepping down from the latter role in September 2019 due to health reasons.
Jodi Montgomery – a care professional – then replaced him on what has been a temporary basis.
At the most recent hearing into Britney’s case, her lawyer Samuel D Ingham III told a judge in Los Angeles he would file a petition to make the appointment permanent.
The key legal papers HAVE NOW been filed and obtained by the PA news agency.
Popstar Britney has also requested that she address the court herself at her next hearing.
According to the New York Times, Mr Ingham said: “The conservatee has requested that I seek from the court a status hearing at which she can address the court directly.”
He proposed that the hearing be scheduled on an “expedited basis,” preferably within 30 days.
Spears’s lawyer did not say what the 39-year-old singer wants to tell Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny.
However, the judge scheduled a June 23 hearing on the status of the conservatorship.
The news comes just a month after we reported she was “100 percent confident she will take back control of her life again”.
As well as requesting Montgomery be made permanent, Britney has asked her father to resign from his role overseeing her personal life.
The legal documents also state the Toxic singer, 39, reserves the right to eventually request an end to the conservatorship completely.
It is not clear which other high profile names Ingham has represented.
However, his LinkedIn page states how the lawyer “regularly represents banks and licensed professional fiduciaries as well as individuals.”
Ingham added: “Also I serve on the Appointed Counsel Panel for the Los Angeles Superior Court.
“The Court has appointed me to act as attorney, guardian ad litem, referee and master in cases as large as $500 million.”
