Joelle Rich, a lawyer who has recently been revealed as Johnny Depp’s girlfriend, has been keeping a low profile for months.
Rich was pictured at the Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia nearly every day of the trial’s seven-week duration, which ran from April 11 to June 1. This is despite the fact that Rich had no official role in the movie star’s successful defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard earlier this year.
The 37-year-old lawyer from London represents Depp, 59, in his 2020 UK libel case against the Sun. Despite the legal setback, the couple managed to stay together.
Innumerable images taken inside and outside the courtroom show that Rich, a partner at Schillings law company, would enter the building with the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star, sit behind him in the first row, wave to his admirers at the conclusion of the day, and even leave in the same car.
Photographers also captured Rich laughing and leaning in as Depp showed her something on his phone at one point.
Although the couple maintained a professional manner toward one another, a source revealed to Us Weekly that she was there for “personal” reasons, mostly to “support” her guy.
It’s unclear when their friendship turned into anything more amorous, and the actor’s representatives could not be reached for comment.
The insider told Us Weekly that throughout the early days of their courtship, the two would meet up “discreetly” in hotels.
The informant said, “Their chemistry is off the charts. They have a major disagreement. They are the genuine article.
Rich, a mother of two who is going through a divorce, was reportedly already wed when she met Depp.
Fans believed that Camille Vasquez, one of his US attorneys, and the “Edward Scissorhands” actor were covertly dating despite her visible presence during the highly publicised defamation trial.
She promptly put an end to the rumours, describing the claim as “sexist” and “unethical.”
She told People in June, “I care very deeply for my clients, and we have obviously gotten close. However, I am referring to the entire team, which of course includes Johnny, when I say “we.”
