Holmes hires top lawyers for divorce
Cast member Tom Cruise poses with his wife actress Katie Holmes at the premiere of "Tropic Thunder" at the Mann's Village theatre in Westwood, California August 11, 2008. The movie opens in the U.S. on August 13. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni Photo by REUTERS
Actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes arrive to attend a reception to benefit UNICEF hosted by Gucci and Madonna at the United Nations headquarters in New York February 6, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas JacksonPhoto by REUTERS
Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. WENN.comPhoto by Mandatory Credit: Andres Otero/ WENN.com
The cover of October issue of Vanity Fair featuring Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and their baby Suri shot by photographer Annie Leibovitz exclusively for Vanity Fair is seen here in this undated handout photo. (REUTERS/Annie Leibovitz exclusively for Vanity Fair)Photo by REUTERS
In this handout photo provided by NBC, actor Tom Cruise (L) stands on the couch during an interview on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" June 8, 2005 in Burbank, California. When asked about his relationship with actress Katie Holmes, Cruise said he is "looking forward to travelling, scuba diving and spending the rest of his life with her." (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBC handout) Photo by Getty Images
Katie Holmes' engagement ring is seen as she arrives at the UK premiere of Tom Cruise's "War of the Worlds" in Leicester Square, London, June 19, 2005. REUTERS/Mike Finn-KelceyPhoto by REUTERS
Katie Holmes and then-boyfriend Tom Cruise, pose at the premiere of "Batman Begins" in Hollywood in this June 6, 2005 file photo. REUTERS/Chris Pizzello/FilesPhoto by REUTERS
Tom Cruise and his wife Katie Holmes pose on the red carpet at the British premiere of the film "Valkyrie" at Leicester Square in London January 21, 2009. REUTERS/Toby Melville Photo by REUTERS
Tom Cruise and his fiance Katie Holmes ride a motorbike on the red carpet at a special fan screening of Paramount Pictures "War of the Worlds" at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on June 27, 2005. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni Photo by REUTERS
Tom Cruise and then-girlfriend Katie Holmes smile as they arrive for the David Di Donatello awards ceremony in Rome April 29, 2005. REUTERS/Chris HelgrenPhoto by REUTERS
Actor Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes pose for their official wedding portrait in Lake Braccino, Italy, Nov. 18, 2006. REUTERS/Robert Evans/Handout Photo by REUTERS
Hollywood star Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes wave as they arrive for the French premiere of his latest movie "War of the Worlds" by U.S. director Steven Spielberg in Marseille June 17, 2005. REUTERS/Jean-Paul PelissierPhoto by REUTERS
Actor Tom Cruise accompanies his fiancee Katie Holmes, holding their infant daughter Suri, as they arrive at the city hall in Rome November 15, 2006. REUTERS/Alessandro BianchiPhoto by REUTERS
The cover of the May 1, 2006 issue of 'People' magazine featuring actor Tom Cruise and his then fiancee Katie Holmes detailing the birth of their first child, Suri. REUTERS/People Magazine/Handout Photo by REUTERS
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Katie Holmes has recruited a team of top lawyers as she prepares for a divorce battle royal with Tom Cruise.
The Top Gun star has reportedly been blindsided by his wife's decision to end their five-year marriage and his longtime publicist Bert Fields admits Cruise has yet to figure out who will represent him in as fights Holmes for custody of their daughter Suri.
The actress clearly has the advantage, signing up lawyers from two East Coast-based powerhouse legal firms, who have specialised in high-profile divorces.
New Yorker Allan Mayefsky represented Christie Brinkley in her divorce battle with Peter Cook and New Jersey divorce lawyer Jonathan Wolfe has written extensively about prenuptial agreements and ways to recover hidden assets in divorce proceedings.
Both attorneys have confirmed they will be representing Holmes, who filed divorce papers on Thursday.
Calling the divorce a "personal and private matter," Wolfe says, "Katie's primary concern remains, as it has always been, her daughter's best interest."
Holmes has requested sole legal custody and "primary residential custody" of six year old Suri, according to TMZ.com.
Fields can only hope the divorce proceedings will be civil, telling the Los Angeles Times, "I would hope that it's not a contentious matter. I know Tom is not a particularly contentious person."