When she sang "Gimme More" on her new single, Britney Spears wasn't likely asking for more embarrassment, more defections, or the possibility that she could lose custody of her children.

But that's where things stand now for the pop star, whose would-be comeback attempt at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards was widely panned and has soured any momentum in advance of the Nov. 13 release of her new album.

Attorney Laura Wasser was first to jump ship, confirming to MTV News that she's no longer representing Spears, who has since found a new lawyer in Marci Levine. Shortly after Wasser resigned, the Firm, Spears' management company headed by former Kelly Clarkson manager Jeff Kwatinetz, quit as well.

"It saddens us to confirm media reports that we have terminated our professional relationship with Britney Spears," the company said in a statement. "We believe Britney is enormously talented and has made a terrific record, but current circumstances have prevented us from properly doing our job. We wish Britney the best."

The news comes amid a new batch of closed hearings in Spears' ongoing dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline over custody of their two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James. Spears and K-Fed currently split custody 50-50.

At the hearing Monday, Tony Barretto, one of the singer's ex-bodyguards, reportedly filed a declaration about "issues of nudity by Ms. Spears, drug use, and safety issues involving the children post-rehab," his attorney, Gloria Allred, told the Associated Press.

Barretto worked for Spears after she left rehab in March until May 17, when he claims he was fired for failing to pick up the singer's hat, an order he has said he failed to hear. Allred said Spears' attorney did not cross-examine Barretto and therefore his claims went "unrefuted and unchallenged."

The custody hearings have remained private and only one court document, the judge's order regarding the requests to seal documents, has been made public, according to a court clerk.

In that order, filed Monday, Commissioner Scott Gordon decided that "in the best interest of the children," who face "an immediate threat to [their] safety" as well as "unnecessary embarrassment and stigma," the records would be sealed and redacted of information about the addresses where the children live, their activities and care, and the mental and physical health issues of Spears, Federline, and the children.

The next hearing isn't scheduled until November 26.

In the meantime, there is another bizarre element to the story, with Entertainment Tonight reporting that contract hit has been put out on Federline's life, which the FBI's LA office said was "uncorroborated" and "could not be substantiated."

Spears married Federline in October 2004. She filed for divorce last November; it became official on July 30.