REVEALED: Shohei Ohtani’s hotshot Hollywood lawyers have previously represented Prince Andrew, Russell Brand and a host of other scandalized celebs… as $700m Dodgers star’s gambling probe rumbles on

Shohei Ohtani has hired a powerful Hollywood law firm in the wake of Major League Baseball’s investigation into allegations against his longtime performer, Ippei Mizuhara.

The Dodgers fired Mizuhara earlier this month, and Ohtani accused his longtime friend and performer of lying to him and stealing money from him to pay off alleged gambling debts.

The scandal has overshadowed the buildup to Ohtani’s first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers after he signed a record $700 million contract.

He has denied any wrongdoing and last week a statement from Ohtani’s lawyers said: “We discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to authorities.”

The statement came from boutique firm Berk Brettler LLP, which was created when two of the entertainment industry’s most prominent and respected attorneys joined forces. They have worked for the likes of Prince Andrew, Russell Brand, Danny Masterson and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Andrew Brettler has earned a reputation as a leading civil litigator, while Blair Berk is considered one of the best criminal lawyers in Hollywood. Together they have represented some of the biggest names in entertainment and sports.

Berk worked for Julio Urías, the former Dodgers pitcher who was placed on administrative leave last year following his arrest for domestic violence. Urías avoided felony charges and is now a free agent.

He also worked with the likes of DiCaprio, Channing Tatum and Johnny Depp. Berk questioned Amber Heard as part of her high-profile abuse case.

Meanwhile, Brettler has helped entertainment stars, including actresses Lindsay Lohan and Sydney Sweeney.

Both have worked with Armie Hammer, the star of The Social Network who in 2021 was accused of rape and has faced accusations of having ‘cannibalistic fantasies’.

Brettler has also defended several controversial clients, including Masterson, the former television star who was recently sentenced to 30 years in prison for the rape of two women.

However, the lawyer rose to prominence when he was hired by Prince Andrew after Virginia Giuffre filed a civil sexual assault case against the royal, alleging that he sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17 years old.

“Everything we did was under a microscope,” Brettler told the Hollywood Report. “Every decision we made was questioned and debated three times.”

Prince Andrew settled the case in February 2022 for $12 million without admitting liability on the part of the royal, who has consistently and vehemently denied all charges against him.

Earlier this year, Brand hired the ‘pitbull’ lawyer, who reportedly charges up to $2,000 an hour, to fight sexual assault allegations in the United States.

Ohtani recently broke his silence about the scandal, saying he was “very saddened and shocked” by Mizuhara, adding (through an interpreter): “I never bet on baseball or any other sport and I never asked anyone to do so on my name and I never went through a betting house.

“In conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and telling lies,” Ohtani said.

‘I never bet on baseball or any other sport, nor did I ever ask anyone to do so on my behalf, and I never went to a bookmaker to bet on sports.

‘Until a couple of days ago, I didn’t even know this was happening. Just to review the result, in conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and telling lies.’