Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been cautioned to resolve their dispute over their French winery privately, to avoid a protracted and high-profile court battle similar to that of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
The ongoing legal contest between the Babylon actor and Maleficent actress, revolving around the jointly-owned French winery Château Miraval, has been advised to be settled outside court by lawyer Neama Rahmani.
As reported by Us Weekly, Rahmani warned the A-list couple, who share six children, that they risk losing the winery if the case goes to trial. The lawyer mentioned the notorious defamation case between Depp and Heard, which produced plenty of drama and sustained media coverage over many months.
The case involves a multitude of allegations. From family law and custody disputes to allegations of abuse, and at the center, the highly-valued winery that both contended for.
In February 2022, Pitt initiated a lawsuit against Jolie, alleging that she sold her shares in the winery, violating a previous agreement not to dispose of their stakes without mutual consent.
Pitt also recently claimed in a court filing that Jolie sold her shares to a “Russian oligarch” intending to harm him amidst their divorce proceedings and the ongoing custody battle for their children.
Rahmani explained Pitt’s argument, stating that even if Jolie had the right to sell to a third party, Pitt had a right of first refusal. He had the right to match any offer, and Jolie did not provide him with this opportunity.
Pitt now aims to reverse the sale. Rahmani posited the best possible outcome would be Pitt having sole ownership of the chateau or at least the opportunity to buy Jolie’s shares.
The lawyer emphasized Pitt’s attachment to the estate, where he got married and reportedly intends to retire. Pitt does not wish to share it or have a Russian oligarch as a co-owner.
However, Rahmani warned that if the case does proceed to court, there’s a high probability that neither Pitt nor Jolie will get what they want. Courts can sometimes order properties to be sold, auctioned off to a third party, and the proceeds divided.
Rahmani highlighted the potential for the case to become a contentious and public battle akin to Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s case, given the animosity between the pair, the high stakes, serious allegations, and the lack of any imminent resolution.
