Harvey Weinstein has hired a new legal team to defend him at his May 7 trial on sexual assault and rape charges, taking on three new lawyers including one who represented his accuser Rose McGowan at her cocaine possession trial.

The disgraced film producer parted ways with his previous lawyer Benjamin Brafman on January 14, after the two strong-willed men found they were no longer able to work together. Mr Brafman had represented Weinstein, 66, since the first accusations of sexual misconduct were made in the autumn of 2017.

On Wednesday it was confirmed that Weinstein had hired three new people to replace Mr Brafman, who will officially set aside at a court hearing in New York on Friday.

The team is comprised of Jose Baez, Ron Sullivan and Pamela Mackey.

Mr Baez represented McGowan in her drug possession case, in which she pleaded no contest earlier this month.