(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Britney Spears has racked up nearly $1 million in legal bills to pay for her ongoing defamation trial, according to reports.

The 30-year-old pop star hired a team of high-powered lawyers to defend her against allegations made by ex-manager Sam Lutfi, E! News reports.

Sam sued the Toxic singer and her parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, for breach of contract, libel, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress in 2009.

According to the network, the legal team defending the family includes: Leon Gladstone, Stephen Rohde, Joel Boxer and Bonita Moore, who typically charge $500 an hour, and $700 an hour in court.

Britney is also believed to have conservatorship attorneys Geraldine Wyle and Andrew Wallet, in addition to a lawyer specialising in appeals, on hand.

The team is estimated to cost the singer $50,000 a day.

That amounts to approximately $1 million during the 20 days the trial is expected to take.

The cost does not include pre-trial hours.

Lutfi is seeking 15 percent of Britney's estimated $800,000 earnings during the months he claims to have worked as her manager.

Britney is not expected to testify as she is under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie, and fianc, Jason Trawick.

The trail continues. (C) Cover Media