D4vd’s high-powered attorney has a storied past representing some high profile Hollywood trouble makers — including Lindsey Lohan, Mel Gibson, Britney Spears, Harvey Weinstein and Kanye West.
Hot shot lawyer Blair Berk was retained by the rapper, real name David Burke, shortly after Celeste Rivas’ dismembered corpse was found in his Tesla in September when tow yard staff detected a foul odor.
Berk burst on the celebrity scene in 2006 when she famously represented Mel Gibson during his Malibu DUI case. Gibson pleaded no contest, avoided jail time and eventually the conviction was expunged.
The attorney also worked behind the scenes “to help control” the circus-like atmosphere surrounding the case, stemming from Gibson’s anti-semitic dress down of the cop who pulled him over.
The actor hired her again in 2011 when he was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. Berk negotiated a no contest plea deal allowing him to avoid jail time.
“She’s huge when it comes to crisis management and guiding the media narrative.” says attorney Royal Oakes who is watching the Burke case closely.
Berk successfully navigated Lindsey Lohan through her cocaine and DUI charges in 2007 in which Lohan served just one day behind bars. She’s also repped Britany Spears defending her party ways around the same time.
The lawyer joined Harvey Weinstein’s legal team in 2017. Berk issued denials for her client, arguing claims of “consensual sexual contact later regretted” shouldn’t be considered criminal conduct.
“The selection of Berk is interesting as it signals a lower profile approach than taking someone like Mark Geragos, who tends to be more aggressive,” says Oakes.
Here’s the latest on the death of the teen girl found in rapper D4vd’s Tesla
The lawyer has less experience when it comes to murder charges. She recently represented Monica Sementilli, who was sentenced to life in prison for the 2017 murder of her famous Hollywood hairdresser husband, Fabio Sementilli.
The accused wife had conspired with her porn star boyfriend, who she was having an affair with, to kill the hairdresser with a knife in a gruesome murder mystery that rattled the city.
Other attorneys on Burke’s team include Marilyn Bednarski, who has extensive jury trial experience. Burke hasn’t been charged with anything yet and the case is expected to be presented to DA Nathan Hochman’s office Monday morning.
Rivas’ body parts were savagely spread out in two different cadaver bags found inside the Tesla, with her head and torso being stored in one bag and other body parts in the other.
Insects were found swarming over her remains, according to documents unsealed in a Texas court. She had previously been reported missing by her family in April.
Police finally made an arrest on Thursday, “We did the best we can to keep tabs on him, but once we developed probable cause to arrest him for murder, then we were on him pretty diligently,” LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division Commanding Officer Captain Scot M. Williams told The Post.
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