Lara Trafelet is seeking half of the couple’s estimated $200 million estate. The Trafelets own a $7.4 million Park Avenue apartment, a $4.8 million colonial style home on Long Island, and other properties. There is also a $150 million trust that is part of the disputed assets in the divorce. The trust contains 40% of Remy’s business interests, marital property, and assets that appreciated during the marriage. The Trafelets were married in 2000. The couple have three children. Trafelet, 48, made his fortune managing the hedge fund Trafelet & Company, which was worth $5.8 billion at its peak in 2006. The 2008 financial crisis decimated the value of Trafelet & Company. After the global financial crisis the fund was worth half its previous value. Laurie McPherson is 49-year-old Lara Trafelet’s attorney. She said: The judge awarded the additional $3.5 million after Lara Trafelet expressed concern over the high cost involved of unravelling her husband’s web of companies, properties, and trusts. If the money runs out during the court proceedings, Lara can ask the court for more money. The high stakes in the scorched earth litigation method her husband is taking warrants the increase so that she can compete at the same level legally. It is likely that Lara Trafelet will spend more in legal fees than her husband because he has created a financial web of hedge funds, companies, real estate, LLCs, partnerships, licensing agreements, etc.
