Divorce lawyer Jaws hires Steel Magnolia for his marriage split

Raymond Tooth, nicknamed "Jaws" for his fearsome reputation as a divorce lawyer, has hired a perhaps even more fearsome rival to handle the split from his own wife.

Mr Tooth confirmed today he has called in Fiona Shackleton, who acted for both Prince Charles and Sir Paul McCartney in their divorces, after separating from his second wife Debbie.

Mr Tooth, 68, said: "The divorce occurred two months ago and it was all very amicable and non-confrontational. Fiona is a very good friend and a great lawyer so that's why I decided to go with her."

Oxford-educated Mr Tooth, who has a penchant for cigars and racehorses, first divorced more than 30 years ago after a sixyear marriage that produced one child.

But in a rare interview with the Evening Standard in 2004, he told how he had fallen in love and was on the verge of remarrying a partner he had met while acting for her in her divorce. He was clear to point out the relationship only blossomed after the divorce had been finalised.

It would now appear that that marriage to Debbie Dove, an interior designer who shared his passion for racehorses, is over. The details of the financial settlement are unlikely to be made public.

Mr Tooth's clients include Sadie Frost, Patti Boyd (the former Mrs Eric Clapton), Cheryl Barrymore and the one-time Mrs Robert Sangster, Lady Renouf. He also advised Irina Abramovich on her divorce from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, potentially the most expensive divorce in legal history.

His decision to hire Ms Shackleton indicates the esteem in which she is now held in the small world of London's divorce lawyers. Both she and Mr Tooth are rated among the best in the business by the legal bible Chambers.

She herself has a reputation every bit as terrifying as her latest client. She is nicknamed "the Steel Magnolia", rising to prominence after being hired by Charles in his divorce from Diana.

Most recently she acted for McCartney, earning a drenching from his ex-wife Heather Mills at the end of a week's High Court proceedings. Ms Mills picked up just under £25 million for her four-year marriage but it is considered that Ms Shackleton secured for the ex-Beatle a good deal.