Johnny Depp’s glamorous attorney Camille Vasquez is throwing her support behind the actor beyond the courtroom after helping him secure a $15million verdict in his defamation trial against ex Amber Heard.
The 37-year-old lawyer spoke fondly of her famous client in New York City on Wednesday, shortly after appearing on the Today Show to discuss the high-profile case.
Dressed in a blush-colored dress, Vasquez happily posed for photos with fans and graciously responded to questions from DailyMail.com as she was escorted to her car outside of NBC studios.
Vasquez, who was accompanied by fellow trial attorney Ben Chew, confirmed she plans to see the Pirates of the Caribbean star again who has been in the UK touring with English rock musician Jeff Beck since closing arguments ended in late May.
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Camille Vasquez spoke fondly of her famous client Johnny Depp in New York City shortly after appearing on NBC’s Today show Wednesday
Dressed in a blush-colored dress, the 37-year-old attorney greeted supporters outside of the studio as she was escorted to her car
Vasquez became a star in her own right during the six-week trial that ultimately saw a jury award Depp $15million in damages in his defamation suit against ex Amber Heard
When asked if she was a fan of Depp’s music, Vasquez replied: ‘Yes. Yes, of course we are!’ before getting into a black SUV and taking off.
Earlier, the California native, who was brought on Depp’s legal team as an associate lawyer, beamed as she thanked supporters outside when they congratulated her on new promotion.
Vasquez became a star in her own right during the six-week trial with her impressive performance in the courtroom.
Depp’s team was led by Brown Rudnick partner Benjamin Chew and included nine other attorneys.
But Vasquez later emerged as a major player in the case with her fierce cross-examination of Amber Heard and her closing arguments to the jury during which she branded the actress the real abuser.
As the trial progressed, Depp’s fan lavished praise on the lawyer for her work defending the Pirates Of The Caribbean actor, tweeting out pictures of themselves wearing ‘I heart Camille Vasquez’ T-shirts and memes portraying her as the Nordic god of thunder and Marvel character Thor.
Brown Rudnick has since publicly acknowledged Vasquez’s stellar performance as well, announcing Tuesday that she has been promoted to a partner in the firm.
Depp, 58, has been seen performing at concerts in the UK with English rock musician Jeff Beck since closing arguments ended in late May
Vasquez happily posed for photos with fans and graciously responded to questions from DailyMail.com as she left the studios
The California native, who was brought on Depp’s legal team as an associate lawyer, beamed and thanked supporters after they congratulated her on new promotion
When asked if she was a fan of Depp’s music, Vasquez replied: ‘Yes. Yes, of course we are!’ before getting into a black SUV and taking off
‘We are pleased to announce that Camille Vasquez has been elevated to partner. She was a key member of the litigation team that won a jury verdict last week for actor Johnny Depp in his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard,’ the firm said in a statement.
Chairman William Baldiga noted that the law firm typically promotes partners when its fiscal year ends.
‘But Camille’s performance during the Johnny Depp trial proved to the world that she was ready to take this next step now. We are incredibly proud of her and look forward to what she will accomplish as our newest partner,’ Baldiga added.
In a statement responding to her promotion, Vasquez said: ‘I am delighted that Brown Rudnick has given me its full vote of confidence by having me join the partnership.’
The high-powered lawyer’s tender interactions with Depp in the courtroom had spurred rampant speculation that the relationship might run deeper than attorney-client – and Vasquez only fueled the rumors by chuckling coyly when asked.
All along, however, sources say she has been quietly dating Englishman Edward Owen, 38, a successful Cambridge-educated senior director at WeWork, where he is in charge of real estate for Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Vasquez and her boyfriend were spotted together last Thursday leaving a Ritz-Carlton hotel in Virginia, not far from the Fairfax County courthouse where she helped Depp secure a blockbuster verdict.
Camille Vasquez and Benjamin Chew appeared on TODAY, Good Morning America and then on the Law and Crime network – which covered the trial without interruption
Camille Vasquez on Good Morning America on Wednesday. She said he is ‘over the moon’ with the verdict despite Amber Heard’s claims that it was unfair
Depp and Vasquez appeared very close and at times affectionate during trial, spurring rumors of a romance
A source familiar with the matter confirmed the romantic link, and told DailyMail.com that the couple met in London in November, at an upscale gastropub The Cow.
Earlier on Wednesday, Vasquez and Chew gave their first televised interviews about the high-profile defamation case on Today, Good Morning America, and then on the Law and Crime network – which covered the six-week trial without interruption.
They told how happy Depp now was to have won and that he ‘hasn’t smiled like this in six years’ – when his problems with Heard began.
They also slammed Heard’s claim that she lost the trial because he is more powerful and popular than she is, saying it’s ‘utterly false’ that social media played a part and claiming the jury simply didn’t like her because she – unlike Johnny – ‘didn’t take accountability for anything.’
The pair then suggested that he might even waive the $8million judgement Amber was ordered to pay him. Her attorneys said she can’t afford it and yesterday revealed plans to file an appeal.
Asked whether or not they would waive the judgement, Depp’s attorneys said: ‘This was never about money for Mr. Depp. This was about restoring his reputation and he’s done that.
Despite Heard’s minor victory in court, it is likely she will have a tougher time recovering from the impact of the trial, which seems to have had a wider reach beyond her career
Over six weeks at the court in Fairfax, Virginia, Depp called 38 witnesses while Heard called 24. Depp and Heard met on the set of the 2011 movie The Rum Diary, turning up on the red carpet together for its London premiere in 2011
‘We have to be careful what we say but this was about Mr. Depp’s reputation but that was what it was about for him.’
‘My sense is that it had a lot to do with accountability. Johnny owned his issues, he was very candid about his alcohol and drug issues, he was candid about some unfortunate texts that he wrote, and I think it was a sharp contrast to Ms Heard, who didn’t seem… or at least the jury may have perceived that she didn’t take accountability for anything,’ said Chew.
Heard’s attorney Elaine Bredehoft said she has ‘excellent grounds’ to appeal
He added later: ‘There was a real contrast. Johnny took ownership of a lot of things…
‘She had an answer for everything and she wasn’t taking accountability for anything.
‘I think that made a difference.’
Vasquez added: ‘The key to victory was focusing on the facts and the evidence and Johnny’s opportunity to speak the truth for the first time. He was able to connect with the jury and the general public and tell what really happened.’
On Tuesday, Heard’s attorneys released a statement slamming Depp’s team’s ‘victory lap’ since the trial wrapped. She said they are collectively setting back women’s rights.
On Wednesday, Depp’s attorneys said that wasn’t the case and that the facts speak for themselves.
Vasquez has been quietly dating UK native Edward Owen (left and right), a successful Cambridge-educated senior director at WeWork, where he is in charge of real estate for Europe, the Middle East and Asia
The fluent Spanish speaker went to Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles from 2007 to 2010. Above, she is pictured left with her mother and sister
‘It’s disappointing. We’re only speaking about what happened in this case and the facts in this case were overwhelming positive for Johnny.
‘The verdict speaks for itself,’ Vasquez said on Good Morning America.
Heard’s lawyer previously claimed there was a mountain of evidence that would have supported their case that didn’t make it into the courtroom.
‘It was horrible. It was really, really lop sided. It’s like the Roman coliseum, how they viewed this whole case,’ Elaine Bredehof said in an appearance on TODAY last week.
On Tuesday, Johnny took to TikTok to thank fans for their unwavering support throughout the trial.
Heard then released a statement calling it inappropriate.
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