England: Judge criticises estranged couple for legal bill of over £1m

A former Russian beauty queen has been awarded £3.3 million following a legal battle with her husband amid a judge’s criticism of the pair for running up a lawyers’ bill of over £1m.

Mr Justice Holman expressed concern about the legal fees generated by Ekaterina Fields and Richard Fields, an American lawyer, in their fight over assets believed to be worth about £6m.

After the assets had been taken into account, the judge said Mrs Fields would be left with 3.3m and Mr Fields, whose salary is over £1m a year, would be left with 2.6m.

He added that Mrs Fields, née Parfenova, should get a £1.2m lump sum in addition to £320,000 per year in maintenance payments. She sought £500,000 a year and a £2.6m lump sum

However, the money spent on lawyers could have been “better deployed” the judge said.

The pair were married for about ten years, had two children and resided in New York.

Mrs Fields had been married once before and was Mr Fields’ fifth wife.

Both said they hoped to marry again in the future.

The former beauty queen had asked for £50,000 per year for nannies, £75,000 a year for holidays for herself and her kids as well as £60,000 for hairdressing and beauty treatments.

It emerged in evidence that Mr Fields had already bought a £30,000 ring for his girlfriend, whom he wants as his sixth wife.

He said he was generous with his money and spent too much; that he did not save any of his £1.3m a year salary.

The children’s education will be paid for from the Parfenova Trust, established for them.

Mr Justice Holman ordered Mr Fields to pay £25,000 a year for each child and Mrs Fields £80,000 per year.

Mrs Fields, who was paid £500,000 by Mr Fields to leave her first husband, who himself gave her $1m in their divorce settlement, has denied that she is a gold digger.

She has said she cannot work due to chronic fatigue syndrome.