Heather Mills hires U.S. Attorney

Heather Mills has found a use for some of her divorce cash - and hired a high-powered US lawyer.

The one-legged charity campaigner, who has been awarded $48.6 million following her split from hubby Paul McCartney, has requested the services of Gloria Allred.

The attorney says she is "honored to represent Ms. Mills because she respects Ms. Mills' courage throughout her difficult and painful divorce".

Mills, 40, married McCartney in 2002, but the pair split after just four years, in April 2006.

The amputee had been after almost $250 million from the ex-Beatle, while he offered her a mere $31.6 million.

A divorce case judge eventually awarded Mills $33 million in cash, $15.6 million in assets and payments of $70,000 a year in child support.

Allred is no stranger to high profile 'celebrity' clients.

She represented Nicole Brown Simpson's family during the O.J. Simpson murder case, and Amber Frey - who was a witness in the criminal case against America's most hated man Scott Peterson.

She represented actress Hunter Tylo when producer Aaron Spelling fired her after she fell pregnant, and she was Melanie Brown's spokeswoman when the Spice Girl was fighting to prove Eddie Murphy was her baby's father.

But Allred is perhaps best known for her criticism of pop star Michael Jackson, and wrote to California's Child Protection Services asking them to investigate the safety of his children.