Adult film star Stormy Daniels (real name Stephanie Clifford) announced on Twitter on Tuesday that she has parted ways with attorney Michael Avenatti, who represented her in her legal battles with President Donald Trump and Michael Cohen.
“I have retained Clark Brewster as my personal lawyer and have asked him and his firm to review all legal matters involving me,” Daniels said, saying she expects Brewster to be her main lawyer going forward.
I have retained Clark Brewster as my personal lawyer and have asked him and his firm to review all legal matters involving me. Upon completion of Mr. Brewster’s review and further consultation with me, I anticipate Mr. Brewster will serve as my primary counsel on all legal issues
— Stormy Daniels (@StormyDaniels) March 12, 2019
Brewster is a Tulsa, Oklahoma based trial attorney whose practice includes complex medical malpractice, personal injury, and commercial litigation, according to his firm’s website. He has a J.D. from University of Tulsa College of Law. Law&Crime has reached out to him for comment.
Avenatti posted a statement of his own Tuesday afternoon, saying that his firm told Daniels on February 19 that they were “terminating our legal representation of her for various reasons that we cannot disclose publicly due to the attorney-client privilege.”
Please see below statement relating to our representation of Stormy Daniels. pic.twitter.com/RgXd4DXf4X
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 12, 2019
Daniels’ battles against Trump and Cohen became a national story thanks to Avenatti’s near-constant string of media appearances. The main case was over the nondisclosure agreement she signed regarding an affair she claims she had with Trump in the past. Daniels sued, claiming the agreement was unenforceable, and wanted a court order saying so, in order for her to be able to tell her story without fear of legal action. The case effectively came to an end last week. A federal judge said there was no reason to continue litigating since Trump and Cohen had both declared that they would not try to bring any actions against her under the agreement.
Avenatti, meanwhile, has been in some legal trouble of his own lately, having recently turned over control of his old firm Eagan Avenatti to a court-appointed receiver. Since then, Avenatti declared bankruptcy for the firm, even though only the receiver is authorized to do so. Avenatti told the Los Angeles Times he hasn’t done anything wrong.
“We want to ensure the proper distribution of assets to creditors — it means nothing to our current law practice. Onward and upward.”
[Image via Tara Ziemba_Getty Images]
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