Matthew Rosengarta power plant judge whose resume includes clerking for the US Supreme Court David Souter and a stint as a Justice Department lawyer, he has a stable of high-profile Hollywood clients including Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann, Sean Penn and Casey Affleck. But it's his work with Britney Spears in successfully freeing the pop superstar from a controversial, restrictive and highly controlled 13-year probation service that launched partner Greenberg Traurig into something of a household name and globally recognized legal eagle.
In a quick four months, from July to November 2021, Rosengart dove headlong into the court case after being hand-picked by the singer herself with one goal – to free Spears from the deal that restricted her rights and left all life decisions in the hands of a group led by her father Jamie Spears. Rosengart achieved this on November 12, 2021, when Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny received an application to terminate the conservatorship. For the past three years, Rosengart has stayed on the case to settle loose results in resolving an ongoing legal dispute with the singer's father, Jamie Spears, over his attorney's fees. The last issue was resolved two months ago, bringing a quieter end to the whole ordeal, but an exclamation mark nonetheless.
There is no active appeal at this time, Rosengart said. “As she wished, her freedom now includes that she will no longer have to attend or be involved in court or be involved in legal proceedings for that matter,” he explained in a statement issued on April 26.
As such, Rosengart is closing the chapter as Spears' attorney as he turns his attention to other clients. “It has been my honor to serve as Britney's attorney, to work with her to achieve her goals of obtaining a judicial suspension of her former conservator, followed by the restoration of her fundamental rights and civil liberties, while continuing to protect her and more recently to release her from any pending litigation and the Byzantine covenant. Like I've always said, credit goes to Britney,” Rosengart says in a statement received The Hollywood Reporter.
Rosengart's work with Spears over the past three years extended beyond the conservative agency as he appeared to wear many hats as a trusted adviser and point of contact in a number of high-profile negotiations and situations. It is understood, however, that his role in her life has always been as a judge and such an arrangement would always have an end date.
Rosengart was instrumental in creating many deals and developments in Spears' life. These included a huge Simon & Schuster book deal for her best-selling memoir The Woman in Me, a prenuptial agreement and subsequent divorce with ex-husband Sam Asghari, a restraining order against ex-husband Jason Alexander (who tried to crash Asghari's marriage), and more. In May, after an incident at the Chateau Marmont that reportedly left her with an ankle injury, Spears credited Rosengart with helping her through the aftermath. “This man is great!!! He is like a father to me,” she posted. “I love and admire you Mr. Matthew!!!”
For his work, Spears has repeatedly and profusely praised Rosengart through multiple posts on Instagram (her primary source of public commentary) and The Woman in Me. Rosengart has also been hailed as a hero by the pop star's legions of fans, a group that doggedly pushed the #FreeBritney movement. While the attention, compliments and numerous accolades and awards may have come as a surprise to Rosengart, it wasn't entirely new. Rosengart once triumphed on Penn's behalf in a defamation case against Lee Daniels, and the Oscar-winning actor has since praised his lawyer as “a tough street fighter with a big brain and bigger principles.”
He said before THR that he relied on these principles in considering the case. “I always hated bullying, even growing up,” she said THR. “Bullying a woman is even more unacceptable and despicable. It bothered me both personally and professionally, and I felt I could help stop it, as a lawyer and in other words. That's a promise I made and it was really rewarding to be able to help.”
Spears' life began to change in June 2021 when, for the first time, the singer spoke to the court herself, by phone, during a hearing about the conservatorship. Spears spent more than 20 minutes unloading on Judge Brenda Penny in a fiery statement about living under the “abusive” restraints she's been under since 2008. “It's my wish and dream that this all ends,” said Spears, who asked during the during prepared remarks to be able to hire a lawyer of her choice rather than continuing with Conservative councilor-approved Samuel Ingham.
Within days, on July 10, 2021, Rosengart went to Spears' residence where, at a pool house, they met to discuss a plan that would see the trial attorney and former DOJ attorney take on the case. The court approved his appointment in July, and within four months Spears' wish was granted. On November 12, 2021, Judge Penny applied to end the 13-year deal in a landmark court ruling, bringing about a seismic shift for Spears that freed her from probation and opened up her life in a way that left her future open.
Last October, California Governor Matthew Rosengart signed Senate Bill 43 which updated the state's conservation laws for the first time in half a century. The bill was designed to provide individuals with protected rights while increasing transparency in the process.
When probation ended that day in November, Rosengart asked reporters outside the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. “What's Britney up to?” asked a reporter, to which Rosengart replied, “What's next for Britney — and this is the first time it's been said in about a decade — depends on one person: Britney.”
This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
