Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, has launched his defense against allegations that he raped a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2000. Since he was named on Dec. 8 in the civil lawsuit — in which a Jane Doe alleged the two rappers raped her at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party — he’s denied the allegations in a stinging statement

As any deep pocket client of Alex Spiro will tell you, the high-profile trial attorney often executes a maximum impact strategy of very targeted attacks on the case against said client, as well as the planting of legal landmines to blow up the other side down the line.

Jay-Z's legal team says a woman told them attorney Tony Buzbee pressed her to include Sean "Diddy" Combs in her allegations. Buzbee denied the claim.