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 Media speculation that Clooney had gone back on his vow never
to remarry grew at the weekend after his girlfriend, human
rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, was spotted wearing a large ring
on her wedding finger at a Los Angeles restaurant.
The couple have said nothing and Clooney's representative
declined to comment on the actor's personal life, but on Monday
Alamuddin's law firm released a statement.
"The barristers and staff of Doughty Street Chambers offer their
best wishes and congratulations to Ms Amal Alamuddin, a member
of Chambers, and Mr George Clooney on their engagement to be
married," the firm said.
Clooney, 52, and Alamuddin, 36, have been dating since last
October, according to media reports.
Clooney, a two-time Oscar winner and human rights activist, has
been married once, but since his 1993 divorce from Talia Balsam
has remained one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors.
Apart from his acting, Clooney has also recently worked as an
advocate for refugees in Darfur in Sudan.
"BRIGHT LIGHT"
The London law firm said it had recruited Alamuddin in 2010 to
complete her training as a barrister in England and she later
became a full member, joining its international law team.
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She was educated at St Hugh's College, Oxford University, and New
York University School of Law and speaks Arabic and French fluently,
according to the law firm's website.
Alamuddin has advised United Nations former secretary-general Kofi
Annan on Syria, represented Ukraine's ex-prime minister Yulia
Tymoshenko in challenging her detention before the European Court of
Human Rights and has also represented WikiLeaks founder Julian
Assange in extradition proceedings.
Alamuddin drew publicity last year when she was named as topping an
online "hot list" of attractive female barristers in Britain.
Barrister Geoffrey Robertson, who took Alamuddin on at Doughty
Street chambers and worked with her on the Tymoshenko and Assange
cases, described her as a "brilliant and passionate defender of
human rights" who was respected by her colleagues.
The chief executive of her law firm, Robin Jackson, added his
personal congratulations.
"She brings a bright light to everything she is involved in, and I
am so delighted at her happy news," he said.
(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith; editing by Gareth Jones)
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