Reality TV superstar Kim Kardashian's long-running divorce battle with estranged husband Kris Humphries has been dealt a blow after his lawyer quit.

The socialite, who is pregnant with new partner Kanye West's child, is locked in a bitter court battle with the basketball star, who she wed in August 2011 before calling off the union 72 days later.

Kardashian recently revealed how she would "love" to be officially separated from Humphries, however, the proceedings may drag on longer than expected after his attorney quit the case.

Marshall Waller has requested to walk away from the job due to an "irremediable breakdown of the attorney-client relationship" with Humphries, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.com.

The sports star now has to find another California-based lawyer to move on with the divorce case.