Johnny Depp wins legal battle with ex-lawyer, wants 'millions' back

A judge has ruled that because Johnny Depp's contract with his lawyer wasn't in writing it's not valid. Photo / Getty Images

Johnny Depp has had a tough time in the past few years as the actor had a messy divorce his wife Amber Heard and he has been in a legal tangle with his former business management firm.

But the Pirates Of The Caribbean star had a rare victory on Tuesday when it came to a lawsuit with his former lawyer Jake Bloom, according to Variety.

LA Superior Court judge Terry Green ruled that the movie star's contract with Bloom "should have been in writing" and because it wasn't, is not valid.

Bloom of Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal in Beverly Hills was looking for Depp to pay old bills, the Daily Mail reports.

Now the Rum Diary actor wants back some of the reported "tens of millions of dollars" in legal fees paid out to Bloom over the past 18 years.

The case is set for a trial on May 6.

In Hollywood, deals are often verbal and not contractual but that did not impress the judge.

It was added that Bloom - who was let go by Depp in 2017 - was paid based on a percentage of the actor's earnings.

The Rum Diary star tried to sue Bloom in October saying their fees were on a "contingency basis."

Under California law, that type of fee system must be in writing.

Bloom countersued, stating the actor "failed to fully pay his legal bills and had violated the unwritten agreement."

Judge Green then reminded the court that the law is the law - the fee arrangement must be in writing.

"There's not a special rule for entertainment people," Green said Tuesday.

"Why isn't it in writing? Why not have something that memorialises the agreement so we don't end up in court fighting like this?"

Bloom's attorney said this type of fee arrangement is "common" in Hollywood.

Green then explained that he is familiar with the way people do things in Hollywood but is also "aware that showbiz people think they live in a different universe, but they don't. They're not a different universe."

He added that the fee should not be a percentage of what Depp earns because no one could have predicted how little or much he would make.

Bloom's attorneys may seek to appeal the judge's ruling.