Actor and activist George Clooney.
A London law firm confirmed the worst-kept secret in show business on Monday by sending congratulations to one of its lawyers and Hollywood leading man George Clooney on their engagement.
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 Alamuddin's law firm released a statement on Monday.
"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 October, according to media reports.
Eligible bachelor
Clooney, a two-time Oscar winner and human rights activist, has been married once, but has remained one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors since his 1993 divorce from Talia Balsam.
Apart from acting, Clooney has recently worked as an advocate for refugees in Darfur in Sudan.
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.
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 and represented Ukraine's ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko in challenging her detention before the European Court of Human Rights as well as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in extradition proceedings.
'Hot list'
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. – Reuters