Prince Andrew will find it 'almost impossible' to overturn Giuffre settlement, top US lawyer tells LBC

5 February 2023, 12:19 | Updated: 5 February 2023, 15:45

A top US defence attorney has warned Prince Andrew that it would be “almost impossible” for him to overturn his settlement with Virginia Giuffre.
A top US defence attorney has warned Prince Andrew that it would be “almost impossible” for him to overturn his settlement with Virginia Giuffre. Picture: Alamy
Connor Hand

By Connor Hand

A top US defence attorney has warned Prince Andrew that it would be “almost impossible” for him to overturn his settlement with Virginia Giuffre.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Speculation has mounted in recent weeks that Prince Andrew has consulted lawyers Andrew Brettler and Blair Berk - who has previously represented clients including Kayne West, Mel Gibson and Leonardo Di Caprio - to consider whether it would be possible for him to renege on his $12m deal with Ms Giuffre. 

However, Bradley Simon, who specialises in civil litigation and worked as a federal prosecutor in New York, told LBC that those encouraging the Duke of York to explore legal avenues were “engaging in frivolity and nonsense”.

“I would say that it is wishful thinking on the Prince’s part and if he’s getting advice of that nature, I would say the advice is ill-advised… it’s almost impossible.

“This is a man who entered voluntarily into a settlement agreement, and he now seems to be having buyer’s remorse; unfortunately for him, the law does not provide for buyer’s remorse when it comes to voluntary settlement agreements.”

Read more: Queen 'wanted Prince Andrew to try charity work' so he could make comeback into public life

Read more: Prince Andrew urged to challenge £10m settlement with sex crime accuser Virginia Giuffre by lawyer she also sued

One of those encouraging Prince Andrew to assess his options is US lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who was also accused of sexual assault by Ms Giuffre before she conceded she had ‘made a mistake’ in identifying him.

A former professor of law at Harvard University, Dershowitz recently implored the Duke of York to “pursue every legal remedy”, citing “many, many good defences [Andrew] could have raised”. 

Yet Mr Simon poured cold water over Dershowitz’s suggestions, criticizing the lawyer for allowing his own experience to unduly influence his thinking: “Alan Dershowitz is not really giving impartial neutral advice because he was sued as well… A lot of [Dershowitz’s advice] is motivated by his own personal experience rather than a lawyer giving impartial advice to a client.”

Prior to Dershowitz’s comments, the family of disgraced socialite Ghislaine Maxwell published a photo which they believe undermines Ms Giuffre’s claims against Prince Andrew. 

Depicting the bathtub in which sexual activity between the Prince and a minor is alleged to have taken place, the image shows two individuals donning A4-sized masks of the Duke of York and Giuffre.

Maxwell’s family contends the photo demonstrates the tub in question is too small to allow for the type of sexual activity alleged by Giuffre; Ian Maxwell, brother of Ghislaine, has given the Duke permission to use the picture as part of any future defence. 

According to Simon, however, it would be unlikely to bolster the Duke’s case. 

“Regardless of whether pictures are showing up by publicity mongers makes no difference in the world. No judge is going to set aside that settlement. End of story.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

MP Rosie Duffield claimed she was 'single-handedly bullied' out of the Labour party by 'millionaire barrister' Sir Keir Starmer.

Former Labour MP claims she was 'bullied out of the party' by 'millionaire' Starmer amid 'anti-sleaze' row

Pope Francesco greets the faithful in St. Peter's Square.

Pope facing 'period of trial' as Pontif issues Sunday prayer from hospital

Former advisor to President Putin told LBC ‘Ukrainians will be thankful after we liberate them'.

Putin ally suggests Ukrainians should be 'thankful' nation is being 'bombed to bits'

A firefighter inspects a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Arrest warrants issued for four people as North Macedonia nightclub fire death toll rises to 59

Newcombe Road, Coventry.

One man dead and another left with 'potentially life-changing facial injuries' following Coventry double stabbing

Streeting suggests Labour discontent is ‘manufactured rebellion’ as he refuses to confirm disability benefits U-turn

Streeting suggests Labour discontent is ‘manufactured rebellion’ as he refuses to confirm disability benefits U-turn

Alice da Silva Aguiar was one of the three children killed.

Fundraiser for playground in memory of Southport victims Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King reaches £250,000

Foreign Office staff enjoyed the Nassau Yacht Club in Barbados, in January 2023, spending £920.

Civil servants splurge on Barbados yacht club trip with taxpayer-backed credit card

Met Police sued after reinstating 999 call handler who mock Sarah Everard and called rape victim a ‘slut’

Met Police sued after reinstating 999 call handler who 'mocked Sarah Everard' and called rape victim a ‘slut’

At least 50 dead after fire rips through nightclub in North Macedonia

At least 50 dead after fire rips through nightclub in North Macedonia

FILE - Britain's Prince Harry leaves after attending an Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

Bombshell US court ruling orders Prince Harry's visa application files be made public by Tuesday

This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts waving after the SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. Top row from left: Nick Hague, Alexander Gorbunov, Suni Williams, Alexei Ovchinin.

Over the moon: SpaceX capsule docks with ISS as stranded NASA astronauts welcome replacement crew

F1 Grand Prix Of Australia

Lando Norris wins a wet Australian Grand Prix despite last minute charge from Max Verstappen

Disabled people to be given right to try working without risk of losing benefits in welfare reforms.

Disabled people to be given 'right to try' work without risk of losing benefits

Britain's Prince William, Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), and Kate, the Princess of Wales, Patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), pose for a photo with Leif Thobroe

Royal split: William and Kate cheer on rival sides at Wales take on England in Six Nations clash

Wes Streeting MP - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care - in Downing Street 12th March 2025 - the day before NHS England was abolished.

Scrapping NHS England is ‘beginning, not the end’ says Streeting, vowing to cut hundreds of quangos