The settlement was announced only a day after Ms Holmes had instructed attack-dog New York lawyers in a move the media billed as indicating she was prepared to fight hard over a custody and maintenance settlement for the couple’s only child, daughter Suri. There has also been wide speculation that Mr Cruise was keen to avoid court hearings that could shine a light on his membership of the controversial group Scientology, which describes itself as a religion, but which others allege is little more than a cult.

Counter attack

The Top Gun and Mission Impossible star also wheeled out an impressive counter attack. Marilyn Chinitz, Sheila Riesal and Dylan Mitchell of Blank Rome’s Manhattan office led the team acting for the recently-turned-50 Mr Cruise. The law firm is renowned as a leading US family law practice, having acted in many high profile divorces.
According to The Am Law Daily web site, Mr Cruise was also represented by Los Angeles lawyer Dennis Wasser, who previously acted in his divorces from actresses Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman, as well as Bert Fields, a named partner at fellow LA firm Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger.
Ms Holmes’ divorce team included Allan Mayefsky, who brings a fierce reputation in celebrity divorce law, and Michael Mosberg, both of New York’s Aronson Mayefsky & Sloan.  Ms Holmes was additionally represented by Jonathan Wolfe of New-Jersey based firm Skoloff & Wolfe.

Next chapter

In a statement to America’s People magazine, Mr Wolfe said ‘the case has been settled and the agreement has been signed. We are thrilled for Katie and her family and are excited to watch as she embarks on the next chapter of her life.’ He also thanked Mr Cruise’s lawyers ‘for their professionalism and diligence that helped bring about this speedy resolution.’
Although the details of the settlement have not been released, in a joint statement the two stars stated that ‘we are committed to working together as parents to accomplish what is in our daughter Suri’s best interests’, asking for privacy in this family matter.