Halle Berry's ex is determined to fight for their daughter to remain in the US.

The actress has three-year-old Nahla with her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry and the pair are currently locked in a bitter custody dispute.

Gabriel was accused of pushing a nanny while she was holding Nahla, but wasn't charged with assault.

Halle has requested that family court grant her with permission to move to France with Nahla and her rumoured fianc French actor Olivier Martinez.

The actress has shuffled up her legal team this week in an effort to sway the ruling in her favour.

"Halle was unhappy that the family law judge hasn't made a ruling about her request to move to France," an insider told Radar Online. "The judge has indicated that more time is needed and more information needs to be gathered before a ruling is made. This wasn't good enough for Halle, in Gabe's opinion, so she fired Neil Hersh, who is greatly respected, and hired Stephen Kolodny because he is known as a bulldozer."

Halle hopes that her new lawyer will help expedite a decision on the matter, which is expected to be resolved in about one year.

Although the actress has assembled a forceful legal team, Gabriel believes that her approach will eventually turn out in his favour.

"Neither Gabe nor his lawyer are scared or intimidated by [Halle's new lawyer] Stephen," the source continued. "Gabe thinks this will help his case, because he thinks it shows how desperate and impatient she is. He doesn't believe either that Halle is afraid for her safety, when was the last time you saw her taking Nahla to school with a bodyguard? He believes it's just another plot she is hatching to keep Gabriel out of Nahla's life."

Gabriel is reportedly intent on being the best father he can be to Nahla despite the tumultuous relationship he has with Halle.

"Gabe's attending his court ordered anger management sessions and parenting classes," the source said. "He isn't a bad guy, he is trying to be the best dad possible to Nahla. He feels that Nahla is the collateral damage in all of this, and that breaks his heart."