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LOS ANGELES - Britney Spears' recently resolved custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline wasn't just messy, it was expensive. Court documents show legal bills submitted on behalf of two law firms who represented Spears total more than $466,000. That's on top of the $250,000 the 26-year-old pop singer has agreed to pay Federline's attorneys.

The largest bill comes from attorney Stacy D. Phillips, who says in court filings that she is owed nearly $407,000 for four months of work. Phillips claims she has written off another $125,000 in fees.

Attorney Laura Wasser, who took over the case in June and negotiated an agreement between Federline and Spears' camp that allows the singer more time with her young sons, is seeking $60,000. She worked on the case nearly two months.

Federline retains full custody of the children, but Spears has some overnight visits.

Spears and Federline were married in 2004 and completed their divorce last July. She pays him $20,000 a month under an agreement finalized in July.

Phillips claims in court documents the case was made more complicated because Spears is under the temporary conservatorship of her father, James. He took control of his daughter's personal and financial affairs after a series of high-profile incidents of erratic behavior and two hospitalizations.

Any payments will have to be approved by a Los Angeles court commissioner, and attorneys representing Spears' and her father's interests indicated last week in court they intend to contest Phillips' bill.

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/filings-spears-custody-fight-with-k-fed-costly/12156

Britney Owes Big Money for Custody Battle

Who said getting back on track was cheap?

Stacy Phillips, one of the shorter-term members of Britney Spears' legal team, has let it be known that shoring up one's defenses can be downright bank-breaking.

According to a declaration filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the "Sometimes I Run" songstress owes $338,414.87 to Phillips for $700-an-hour services rendered between March and June-and there are rumors of a lawsuit in the works, because Spears' camp is objecting to the hefty sum. (View court documents.)

But that's a discount, says the attorney, who states that the tab includes "time already deducted as a courtesy," time "written off" and $75,000 that she expects to get next month. (A court commissioner earmarked that sum for Phillips in April while poring over Spears' bills.)

Phillips was dismissed before Spears' custody settlement was reached last month with the help of Spears' recently reinstated family lawyer Laura Wasser, who broke ranks last fall but returned in time to help Spears obtain more visitation privileges with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James (although Kevin Federline still has sole physical and legal custody).

Wasser's most recent bill, encompassing two months of counsel, totals $60,075, per another declaration filed on behalf of the law firm of Wasser, Cooperman & Carter.

But because her firm has already applied Spears' $25,000 retainer fee toward her bill, she's requesting no more than half of the total sum at this time.

Why so high, you might ask?

Phillips says that Spears' conservatorship arrangement, which has gotten much of the credit for her 180-degree turn for the better over the last five months, made her case more complex.

Indeed. Attorneys for dad Jamie Spears indicated in court last week that they intend to contest his little girl's legal bills. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 16 to discuss Phillips' fee.

Meanwhile, the firm of Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps is requesting $110,000 of the $220,600 it says it's owed for 402 hours of representing the conservatorship.

Posted Aug 18th 2008 6:52PM by TMZ Staff

So you thought Larry Birkhead's legal bill was sky high? The lawyer who repped Britney Spears for a grand total of four months wants more than $481,000 in attorney's fees -- and she didn't even go out for lobster.
Attorney Stacy Phillips filed a declaration, claiming her $481,627.37 bill is a bargain, since she graciously discounted her fees by more than $126,000.00.

In court docs obtained by TMZ, Phillips whines she was completely put out by repping Brit, moaning that she was called back from her "pre-honeymoon" to attend a hearing in "non-Court attire." We're wondering if that was the day we saw her appear before the judge, wearing a sleeveless cocktail number.

Phillips says in her declaration that her rate is $700 an hour, similar to what Richard Gere paid Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman."

Now compare Phillips' bill to that of disso-queen Laura Wasser, who settled the whole case after Phillips was fired. Wasser's two-month bill is $59,700.

Sources say Phillips is ready to sue Britney, because her peeps are refusing to pay the bloated bill.

Anyone seen this picture before?

The boys were also excited to talk to Buzznet about their VMA nomination for Video of the Year. When asked who should win for Video of the Year (other than themselves), Kevin quickly replied, "Chris Brown's 'Forever' …or Britney's 'Piece of Me'. She seems to be having a really great comeback and that's awesome!"