{"id":"court_ctb_1270_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":1270,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":"2022-12-29","title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION In Re \\* Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) \\* HO WAN KW","summary_zh":"听证会庭审笔录 —— Ho Wan Kwok 破产案（郭文贵 / Guo Wengui / Miles Guo），CTB 22-50073 ECF #1270（2022-12-29立案）。文件记录了 2022 年 12 月 13 日举行的听证会实况，审理受托人申请以 3,000 英镑费用聘用英国出庭大律师 Paul Wright 代表财团参与英国相关法律程序的动议。","summary_en":"Hearing Transcript — In re Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), CTB 22-50073, ECF No. 1270 (filed 2022-12-29). The transcript records the December 13, 2022 hearing before Judge Julie A. Manning regarding the Chapter 11 Trustee's unopposed application to retain Paul Wright as UK barrister for a fixed fee of £3,000.","body_en":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION In Re \\* Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) \\* HO WAN KWOK, GENEVER HOLDINGS \\* Bridgeport, Connecticut CORPORATION and GENEVER \\* December 13, 2022 HOLDINGS, LLC, \\* \\* Debtor. \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* \\* TRANSCRIPT OF APPLICATION TO EMPLOY PAUL WRIGHT AS BARRISTER IN UNITED KINGDOM APPLICATION OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE FOR ENTRY OF ORDER, PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY CODE SECTIONS 327, 328, AND 330, BANKRUPTCY RULES 2014 AND 2016, AND LOCAL BANKRUPTCY RULES 2014-1 AND 2016-1, AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING RETENTION AND EMPLOYMENT OF PAUL WRIGHT AS BARRISTER IN UNITED KINGDOM BEFORE THE HONORABLE JULIE A. MANNING UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE APPEARANCES: For the Debtor, Mei Guo STEPHEN KINDSETH, ESQ. and HK USA: Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C. 10 Middle Street, 15th Floor Bridgeport, CT 06604 For the Chapter 11 Trustee: PATRICK LINSEY, ESQ. Neubert Pepe & Monteith, PC 195 Church Street New Haven, CT 06510 Chapter 11 Trustee: LUC A. DESPINS, ESQ. Paul Hastings LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, NY 10166 Proceedings recorded by electronic sound recording, transcript produced by transcription service. **Fiore Reporting and Transcription Service, Inc.**\n\n **4 Research Drive, Suite 402 Shelton, Connecticut 06484 (203)929-9992** APPEARANCES: (Cont'd.) For the Creditor, Pacific ANNECCA SMITH, ESQ. Alliance Asia Opportunity Robinson & Cole Fund L.P.: 28 Trumbull Street Hartford, CT 06103\n\nFor the U.S. Trustee: HOLLEY L. CLAIBORN, ESQ. Office of the United States Trustee The Giaimo Federal Building 150 Court Street, Room 302 New Haven, CT 06510\n\n2\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 3 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 3 (Proceedings commenced at 11:04 a.m.) THE COURTROOM DEPUTY: Case No. 22-50073, Ho Wan Kwok, Genever Holdings Corporation and Genever Holdings, LLC. THE COURT: Okay. Good morning. If we could have appearances for the record, starting with the Chapter 11 Trustee, please. MR. DESPINS: Good morning, Your Honor. Luc Despins, Chapter 11 Trustee. THE COURT: Good morning. MR. LINSEY: Good morning, Your Honor. Patrick Linsey for the Trustee. THE COURT: Good morning. MS. SMITH: Good morning, Your Honor. Annecca Smith, Robinson & Cole, for PAX. THE COURT: Good morning. MR. KINDSETH: Good morning, Your Honor. Stephen Kindseth, Zeisler & Zeisler, for the debtor as well as Ms. Mei Guo and HK USA. THE COURT: Good morning. All right. On the calendar today is the -- sorry, did I do something wrong? Oh, Attorney Claiborn. I'm sorry. MS. CLAIBORN: Good morning, Your Honor. Holley Claiborn appearing on Zoom on behalf of the United States\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 4 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 4 Trustee. THE COURT: Good morning. Sorry about that. I knew you were there, but for some reason I didn't take your appearance so I apologize. All right. So, Mr. Despins, this is your application to employ Paul Wright as a barrister in the United Kingdom. And we set this for a hearing. And I didn't see that any objection to your application was filed, or I should say in the affirmative there was no objection filed that I saw, correct? MR. DESPINS: That's correct, Your Honor. THE COURT: Okay. So how are we proceeding today? MR. DESPINS: Just, you know, a two-second presentation. THE COURT: Okay. Go right ahead. MR. DESPINS: So, Your Honor, this is the motion of the trustee to retain Mr. Wright as a barrister. I know you know this, but just for the record, you know, barristers in England are the ones who actually argue in court rather than solicitors, and we needed that because we filed a motion to have this proceeding recognized over there as a foreign proceeding which gives us all sorts of rights in terms of discovery and all that. And that was objected to by Ace Decade and Dawn State, so we now will have a contested hearing with Mr.\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 5 of 18\n\n|    | Ho Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022<br>5                         |\n|----|--------------------------------------------------------------|\n| 1  | Wright handling the contested hearing some time next week.   |\n| 2  | I forget the exact date.                                     |\n| 3  | And I wanted to say we went to a very junior                 |\n| 4  | barrister, not a King's Counsel, to save on fees.<br>And the |\n| 5  | fee he's agreed to accept here is 3,000 pounds, which is     |\n| 6  | very, very small considering the work that has to be done.   |\n| 7  | And, you know, as Your Honor said, there were no             |\n| 8  | objections filed so we would ask that Your Honor, if the     |\n| 9  | order is acceptable to Your Honor, that Your Honor would     |\n| 10 | approve this.                                                |\n| 11 | The way it's going to work, and we say that in the           |\n| 12 | application, is that Paul Hastings is going to pay his fees  |\n| 13 | and seek reimbursement from the estate, but he will file an  |\n| 14 | application in any event.                                    |\n| 15 | In a sense, we're backstopping his -- he's not               |\n| 16 | like us, taking this on a contingency.<br>He will be paid by |\n| 17 | us regardless of what happens, but he will file an           |\n| 18 | application with the Court in any event because essentially  |\n| 19 | he is getting compensated, well, we hope, by the estate      |\n| 20 | through Paul Hastings eventually.                            |\n| 21 | THE COURT:<br>Understood.                                    |\n| 22 | So I have reviewed the application.<br>I've reviewed         |\n| 23 | his declaration, of Mr. Wright, that's also attached to the  |\n| 24 | application.<br>The only thing I didn't focus on, and I'm    |\n| 25 | going to right now, is just the proposed order.<br>I mean, I |\n|    |                                                              |\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 6 of 18\n\n|    | Ho Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022<br>6                           |\n|----|----------------------------------------------------------------|\n| 1  | looked at it, but I need to look at it again.<br>I didn't know |\n| 2  | if there would be an objection so I didn't spend a lot of      |\n| 3  | time on the -- on the proposed order I have to say.<br>So let  |\n| 4  | me take another look at that.                                  |\n| 5  | (Pause.)                                                       |\n| 6  | THE COURT:<br>The only thing I noticed, and I don't            |\n| 7  | know if it's a typographical error, in the beginning of the    |\n| 8  | proposed order, it says upon the application of Chapter 11     |\n| 9  | Trustee in the above-captioned case for authority to retain    |\n| 10 | and employ Paul Wright as barrister in the United Kingdom      |\n| 11 | for the Chapter 11 Trustee effective as of July 31, 2022,      |\n| 12 | and then in the ordered paragraph it says effective as of      |\n| 13 | November 1.                                                    |\n| 14 | MR. DESPINS:<br>Yeah.<br>That is a typo, Your Honor.           |\n| 15 | You're right.                                                  |\n| 16 | THE COURT:<br>So it's November 1?                              |\n| 17 | MR. DESPINS:<br>Yes.<br>Yes.<br>Because with the 30-day        |\n| 18 | rule --                                                        |\n| 19 | THE COURT:<br>Okay.<br>That's fine.                            |\n| 20 | MR. DESPINS:<br>Yeah.                                          |\n| 21 | THE COURT:<br>That's absolutely fine.                          |\n| 22 | MR. DESPINS:<br>Yes.                                           |\n| 23 | THE COURT:<br>I just wanted to make sure.                      |\n| 24 | MR. DESPINS:<br>Yeah.<br>I'm sorry about that.                 |\n| 25 | THE COURT:<br>That's not a problem.<br>We can change           |\n|    |                                                                |\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 7 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 7 it. So I'm asking the courtroom deputy, do you see where it says July? THE COURTROOM DEPUTY: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. So we're going to change that to November 1st. THE COURTROOM DEPUTY: Yes. THE COURT: Okay? THE COURTROOM DEPUTY: Yes. THE COURT: Otherwise the proposed order looks fine to me. Does anyone else wish to be heard? MR. KINDSETH: Nothing, Your Honor. MR. DESPINS: And I wanted to, just for the completeness of the record, I said the purpose of the recognition in the U.K. allows us to get discovery, but it's more than that. Also it's related to UBS litigation. This is a portal for us to have access to information in that case from the lawyers in the U.K., which they're contesting, but that's one of the reasons I wanted to make sure that the record was clear about that. THE COURT: I even think his declaration might have said something about that. MR. DESPINS: Okay. THE COURT: I'd have to go back and look, but that\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 8 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 8 was my -- because it lists as parties that were, you know -- MR. DESPINS: Conflict, yeah. THE COURT: -- to provide to the Court, it lists UBS and -- MR. DESPINS: Yeah. THE COURT: In any event, I understand the reason that you're seeking to employ the barrister. I think it's reasonable. And you've supported it being necessary under the circumstances, the specific circumstances of this case. No one has filed any written objection to your application. There's no one participating in this hearing today that's objecting to your application. And, Attorney Claiborn, I think the U.S. Trustee's Office filed a statement of no objection, correct? MS. CLAIBORN: Yes, Your Honor. That statement is number 1219 on the docket. THE COURT: Okay. And the U.S. Trustee's Office, thank you, has filed a statement of no objection. For all those reasons, the application is granted and the proposed order with the minor change of the date noted on the record will enter. MR. DESPINS: Thank you, Your Honor. THE COURT: Okay. Thank you. MR. KINDSETH: Your Honor? THE COURT: Yes.\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 9 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 9 MR. KINDSETH: Would you consider a joint report in a related matter? THE COURT: I don't know. Should I? MR. KINDSETH: It would be appreciated. THE COURT: You know, I'm not trying to be -- just that there's nothing on the docket. I will consider it, yes. MR. KINDSETH: Thank you. And so this pertains to the presently scheduled prejudgment remedy hearing scheduled to commence on January 9th. There's a scheduling order in place. This concerns the Lady May and the \\$37 million escrow. My client's father passed away. THE COURT: I saw that. That's unfortunate. I'm sorry to hear that. MR. KINDSETH: Thank you very much. THE COURT: I think somebody put that in a pleading actually. MR. KINDSETH: Okay. And so -- THE COURT: That's the -- recently somebody said that. I don't know. MR. KINDSETH: I wasn't sure if Your Honor was aware. And so both my clients are observing a three-week mourning period as is traditionally observed and the trustee and his counsel have been very accommodating in that regard.\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 10 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 10 But with current deadlines and so forth it's made things extremely difficult, and we are in agreement to adjourn the January 9th prejudgment remedy hearing for approximately a month so that we can take the depositions in January and the mourning period can be observed. We're in agreement as to -- that there's a number of standstill components, and we're in agreement to continue them to a corresponding period, subject to my client's final approval on that issue, but I have every expectation that that will be attained. We're also contemplating doing the depositions the week of January 9th and the first part of January 16th. And so we're asking the Court, and we will be submitting a proposed order. So nothing needs to happen, you know, at this hearing, we're just advising the Court that we'd like to have the prejudgment hearing continued to what's contemplated to be February 7th, 8th and 10th. THE COURT: The 7th is not going to work. That's a day I can tell you is not going to work. Let me look at the 8th and 10th. Just give me a second, okay? MR. KINDSETH: Thank you, Your Honor. (Pause.) THE COURT: Yeah. I mean, I think the 8th could work, but I don't -- the 7th is not going to work. You can submit -- you know, when everybody -- if everyone is in\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 11 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 11 agreement, you submit whatever you want and I will absolutely attempt to accommodate you. But I can tell you right now I know February 7th does not work. Okay? MR. KINDSETH: Okay. THE COURT: The 8th probably works. The 9th is a Chapter 13 hearing day. MR. DESPINS: That's why we had excluded it. THE COURT: Right. The 10th is possible, I mean, and the next week is also possible. Okay? MR. KINDSETH: Thank you. THE COURT: But I just want to -- the 7th I already know does not work. But along -- it's not the same, but I was looking at, last night, upcoming hearings in the case and I know there are things scheduled for January 4th that are not the PJR hearing, the preliminary injunction, contempt, or any of that, but I think it has to do with the trustee seeking a bar date order, and also -- MR. DESPINS: Retention of a claims agent. THE COURT: -- the claims agent. And then there's an adversary where Bravo Luck is one of the defendants. I may have to reschedule those to the day before, Tuesday, the 3rd, if nobody has an objection to that. We'll probably have the courtroom deputy send out an email because I'm having a scheduling problem on January\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 12 of 18\n\n|    | Ho Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022<br>12                          |\n|----|----------------------------------------------------------------|\n| 1  | the 4th.<br>So I may have to reschedule those to Tuesday, the  |\n| 2  | 3rd, but it would be in the afternoon on the 3rd.<br>So I just |\n| 3  | want to tell you that so --                                    |\n| 4  | MR. KINDSETH:<br>Thank you, Your Honor.                        |\n| 5  | THE COURT:<br>-- it would probably be at 3:30 or               |\n| 6  | 4:00 o'clock on the afternoon of January 3rd.<br>But you'll    |\n| 7  | get an email from the courtroom deputy.<br>I just wanted to,   |\n| 8  | since you're now raising scheduling issues, I did see that I   |\n| 9  | -- there's a problem with the Wednesday, the 4th, date.        |\n| 10 | MR. KINDSETH:<br>Thank you.                                    |\n| 11 | THE COURT:<br>I didn't know there was a problem when           |\n| 12 | any of those things were scheduled, but I know that there's    |\n| 13 | a problem now.                                                 |\n| 14 | So it's -- it's highly unusual to change a hearing             |\n| 15 | to a day before that it's scheduled, but if everybody agrees   |\n| 16 | to it, I don't see that being a problem.                       |\n| 17 | And we would issue, if everyone agrees to it, new              |\n| 18 | notices of hearing or whatever so that it would be clear to    |\n| 19 | everyone involved that it's rescheduled to a day earlier       |\n| 20 | than it was originally scheduled.<br>Okay?                     |\n| 21 | So I'm just -- there's no need for you to respond.             |\n| 22 | I'm just giving you a heads up that you're likely going to     |\n| 23 | get the communication from the courtroom deputy about the      |\n| 24 | matters that are scheduled on the 4th of January.              |\n| 25 | MR. KINDSETH:<br>Thank you very much, Your Honor.              |\n|    |                                                                |\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 13 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 13 THE COURT: Okay? MR. DESPINS: Your Honor, since we're talking about scheduling -- THE COURT: Yes. MR. DESPINS: -- we filed a motion to retain Mr. Dexter White as an expert with respect to the Lady May. We didn't file a motion to expedite, but we were wondering whether it could be heard on the 3rd as well? We were going to ask for the 4th, but now that's going to be moved to the 3rd. THE COURT: The 4th won't work. Yeah. MR. DESPINS: So the 3rd. THE COURT: I mean, an expert to do what? Just so I have an understanding. MR. DESPINS: He's doing the review of the repairs. THE COURT: Okay. Would you have an opposition to that or you don't -- MR. KINDSETH: No. THE COURT: -- you can't answer that right now? MR. KINDSETH: He's actually on the Lady May right now on a sea trial. THE COURT: Okay. MR. KINDSETH: We have no issue. He did the inspection --\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 14 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 14 THE COURT: You have no issue if I schedule that for the -- MR. KINDSETH: No, not at all. THE COURT: Okay. Okay. MR. KINDSETH: Not at all. THE COURT: Then I think -- I think, you know, the earliest you'll be heard on the 3rd will be 3:30 because we have a whole bunch -- I mean, you know, those could all go away, but those are standing, regular hearings. I can set it for 3:30 or I can set it for 4:00. If I set it for 3:30, there'll be an understanding that you might not get heard until quarter of 4:00 or 4:00. So does that -- what do you -- I mean, I know not everyone is here, but I'm asking you does that make -- does that present any problem as far as you can -- as far as you can tell at the moment? MR. KINDSETH: No problem. MR. DESPINS: No problem, Your Honor. THE COURT: All right. So then we'll take care of that today or tomorrow. We'll send out -- well, first of all, I will just schedule the hearing on the expert motion, which I haven't looked at or anything yet, but, for the 3rd in the afternoon. And then I will send -- I'll have the courtroom deputy reach out to all the parties about the other matters\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 15 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 15 that are scheduled on the 4th and see if everyone has no opposition to those matters being rescheduled to the afternoon of the 3rd as well. MR. KINDSETH: Thank you. Since we're addressing scheduling, there's one other matter. We have filed a motion to use a portion of the repair reserve to pay crew salaries and other expenses since the Lady May is staying in place in Bridgeport for the foreseeable future. We've asked and the trustee's evaluating the request, and part of it depends upon the success of the sea trial today, but we would like to fund the crew and the insurance and everything and maintain the status quo. And we're proposing to do that from the repair reserve. And that was filed last week, and we've asked for an expedited hearing. I just am alerting to Your Honor. THE COURT: Okay. MR. KINDSETH: I know Your Honor's been tied up so to speak -- THE COURT: I would say that's an accurate assessment, yes. MR. KINDSETH: -- and I just am alerting you because, you know, my client is behind on paying the crew and other expenses, and we're hoping -- THE COURT: Have you talked to the trustee about\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 16 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 16 it? MR. KINDSETH: Yes, we have. Absolutely. And we've provided information. And the trustee -- part of it depends upon the success of the sea trial today. THE COURT: I see. MR. KINDSETH: But if I could get the hearing scheduled, I'm hopeful we'll have an agreement -- THE COURT: I don't think you're going to get a hearing scheduled before January 3rd though. MR. KINDSETH: Okay. THE COURT: I think that's the problem. MR. KINDSETH: Okay. THE COURT: But, if there's -- you filed a motion seeking to pay past amounts, is that correct, or future amounts? MR. KINDSETH: Partly past. THE COURT: Okay. MR. KINDSETH: Mostly a six month budget. THE COURT: Well, maybe you can reach an agreement on the past amounts, or you could try to. MR. KINDSETH: Okay. We'll work on it. THE COURT: Maybe you could reach an agreement on the past amounts and then we can deal with the future amounts. MR. KINDSETH: Fantastic. That would be -- we'll\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 17 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022 17 definitely work on that. THE COURT: Okay. All right. So I'll take a look at that, but I just -- as I was saying to all the parties that have been here in the other matters, there really -- the timing that the Court has between now and year end is horrible. And it's not because I'm going to Bermuda or anything, it's just it is what it is. MR. KINDSETH: Yeah. THE COURT: Okay? So that's where we are. MR. KINDSETH: Thank you very much, Your Honor. THE COURT: Okay. MR. KINDSETH: I appreciate -- THE COURT: All right. MR. KINDSETH: -- considering these reports. THE COURT: All right. Thank you. I appreciate you all making those reports. And you'll see some -- we'll move some of those things along and get things scheduled -- MR. KINDSETH: Thank you. THE COURT: -- as we just discussed on the record. Okay? Anything further today from anyone? MR. DESPINS: No. No, Your Honor. THE COURT: Okay. MR. KINDSETH: Nothing further.\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 18 of 18\n\n|    | Ho Wan Kwok - December 13, 2022<br>18                      |\n|----|------------------------------------------------------------|\n| 1  | THE COURT:<br>All right.<br>Then I think we have --        |\n| 2  | our next hearing is at noon, is that correct?              |\n| 3  | THE COURTROOM DEPUTY:<br>Yes.                              |\n| 4  | THE COURT:<br>All right.<br>So then court is in recess     |\n| 5  | until noon.                                                |\n| 6  | (Proceedings adjourned at 11:20 a.m.)                      |\n| 7  | I, CHRISTINE FIORE, Certified Electronic Court Reporter    |\n| 8  | and Transcriber, certify that the foregoing is a correct   |\n| 9  | transcript from the official electronic sound recording of |\n| 10 | the proceedings in the above-entitled matter.              |\n| 11 |                                                            |\n| 12 |                                                            |\n| 13 | December 28, 2022                                          |\n| 14 | Christine Fiore, CERT                                      |\n| 15 |                                                            |\n| 16 |                                                            |\n| 17 |                                                            |\n| 18 |                                                            |\n| 19 |                                                            |\n| 20 |                                                            |\n| 21 |                                                            |\n| 22 |                                                            |\n| 23 |                                                            |\n| 24 |                                                            |\n|    |                                                            |\n|    |                                                            |\n|    |                                                            |","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT（美国破产法院）\nDISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT（康涅狄格区）\nBRIDGEPORT DIVISION（布里奇波特分院）\n\n关于：* 案号：22-50073 (JAM) *\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）、GENEVER HOLDINGS * 康涅狄格州布里奇波特\nCORPORATION 及 GENEVER * 2022年12月13日\nHOLDINGS, LLC，*\n*\n债务人。*\n* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *\n\n关于聘请 PAUL WRIGHT 为英国大律师之申请的庭审记录\n第11章破产受托人依据《破产法典》第327、328及330条、《破产程序规则》第2014及2016条以及《本地破产规则》第2014-1及2016-1条，请求作出授权并批准聘请及雇用 PAUL WRIGHT 为英国大律师之命令的申请\n\n主审法官：\nHONORABLE JULIE A. MANNING（朱莉·A·曼宁阁下）\nUNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE（美国破产法官）\n\n出庭人员：\n代表债务人、Mei Guo（郭美）及 HK USA：\nSTEPHEN KINDSETH, ESQ.（斯蒂芬·金德赛斯律师）\nZeisler & Zeisler, P.C.\n10 Middle Street, 15th Floor\nBridgeport, CT 06604\n\n代表第11章破产受托人：\nPATRICK LINSEY, ESQ.（帕特里克·林赛律师）\nNeubert Pepe & Monteith, PC\n195 Church Street\nNew Haven, CT 06510\n\n第11章破产受托人：\nLUC A. DESPINS, ESQ.（卢克·A·德斯平斯律师）\nPaul Hastings LLP（普衡律师事务所）\n200 Park Avenue\nNew York, NY 10166\n\n诉讼程序由电子录音设备记录，庭审记录由转录服务机构制作。\nFiore Reporting and Transcription Service, Inc.\n4 Research Drive, Suite 402\nShelton, Connecticut 06484\n(203)929-9992\n\n出庭人员：（续）\n代表债权人 Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P.（太盟亚洲机会基金有限公司）：\nANNECCA SMITH, ESQ.（安内卡·史密斯律师）\nRobinson & Cole\n28 Trumbull Street\nHartford, CT 06103\n\n代表美国受托人：\nHOLLEY L. CLAIBORN, ESQ.（霍莉·L·克莱本律师）\nOffice of the United States Trustee（美国受托人办公室）\nThe Giaimo Federal Building\n150 Court Street, Room 302\nNew Haven, CT 06510\n\n案件号 22-50073 文件 1270 提交于 12/29/22 入卷于 12/29/22 12:05:00 第 3 页，共 18 页\n\nHo Wan Kwok - 2022年12月13日 3\n（庭审于上午11:04开始）\n法庭书记员：案号 22-50073，郭文贵、Genever Holdings Corporation 及 Genever Holdings, LLC。\n法庭：好的。早上好。请各位出庭人员按记录登记出庭，首先请第11章破产受托人开始。\n德斯平斯先生：早上好，法官阁下。卢克·德斯平斯，第11章破产受托人。\n法庭：早上好。\n林赛先生：早上好，法官阁下。帕特里克·林赛代表受托人出庭。\n法庭：早上好。\n史密斯女士：早上好，法官阁下。安内卡·史密斯，来自 Robinson & Cole，代表 PAX（太盟）。\n法庭：早上好。\n金德赛斯先生：早上好，法官阁下。斯蒂芬·金德赛斯，来自 Zeisler & Zeisler，代表债务人以及郭美女士和 HK USA。\n法庭：早上好。好的。今天日程表上的是——抱歉，我漏了什么吗？哦，克莱本律师。实在抱歉。\n克莱本女士：早上好，法官阁下。霍莉·克莱本通过 Zoom 代表美国\n\n案件号 22-50073 文件 1270 提交于 12/29/22 入卷于 12/29/22 12:05:00 第 4 页，共 18 页\n\nHo Wan Kwok - 2022年12月13日 4\n受托人出庭。\n法庭：早上好。抱歉。我知道您在，但不知出于什么原因我刚才没登记您的出庭，向您道歉。好的。那么，德斯平斯先生，这是您关于聘请 Paul Wright（保罗·赖特）为英国出庭大律师的申请。我们为此安排了听证会。我没有看到有针对您申请的任何异议被提交，或者明确地说，据我所见没有提交任何异议，对吗？\n德斯平斯先生：是的，法官阁下。\n法庭：好的。那我们今天怎么进行？\n德斯平斯先生：就两秒钟的简单陈述。\n法庭：好的。请讲。\n德斯平斯先生：好的，法官阁下，这是受托人聘请赖特先生担任出庭大律师的动议。我知道您了解这一点，但为了记录在案，在英国，真正在法庭上进行辩论的是出庭大律师（barrister）而非事务律师（solicitor），我们需要这一点是因为我们提交了一项动议，要求在英国将本程序承认为外国程序，这使我们在证据开示等方面享有各种权利。而 Ace Decade 和 Dawn State 对此提出了异议，因此我们现在将举行一场争议听证会，由赖特先生\n\n案件号 22-50073 文件 1270 提交于 12/29/22 入卷于 12/29/22 12:05:00 第 5 页，共 18 页\n\nHo Wan Kwok - 2022年12月13日\n1 赖特在下周某个时候处理该争议听证会。\n2 我记不清具体日期了。\n3 我想说明的是，为了节省费用，我们找的是一位非常资浅的\n4 大律师，而不是 King's Counsel（御用大律师）。而且\n5 他在此同意接受的费用是 3,000 英镑，\n6 考虑到需要完成的工作，这笔费用非常非常少。\n7 而且，正如法官阁下所说，没有任何\n8 异议被提交，因此如果拟议裁定\n9 对阁下来说是可以接受的，我们请求法官阁下\n10 批准此项申请。\n11 具体的运作方式，我们在申请中也作了说明，\n12 是由普衡律师事务所先行支付他的费用，\n13 并向破产财产寻求报销，但他无论如何都会提交一份\n14 申请。\n15 从某种意义上说，我们是在为他提供兜底——他\n16 不像我们这样实行风险代理。无论发生什么，\n17 他都会收到我们支付的款项，但他无论如何都会向\n18 法庭提交一份申请，因为实质上\n19 他的报酬最终——我们希望——是通过普衡律师事务所\n20 由破产财产支付的。\n21 法庭：\n明白。\n22 我已经审查了申请。我也审查了\n23 赖特先生的声明书，该声明书也附在\n24 申请之后。我唯一没有特别关注的，也是我\n25 现在正要看的是拟议裁定。我的意思是，我\n\n案件号 22-50073 文件 1270 提交于 12/29/22 入卷于 12/29/22 12:05:00 第 6 页，共 18 页\n\nHo Wan Kwok - 2022年12月13日\n1 看过了，但我需要再看一遍。我之前不知道\n2 是否会有异议，所以我不得不说我没有在拟议裁定上\n3 花太多时间。那么让\n4 我再看一下。\n5 （暂停。）\n6 法庭：\n我注意到的唯一一点，我不知道\n7 是不是笔误，在拟议裁定的开头，\n8 上面写着依据上述标题案件中第11章\n9 受托人的申请，请求授权自2022年7月31日起\n10 为第11章受托人聘请及雇用保罗·赖特为英国大律师，\n11\n12 然后在命令段落中写的是自\n13 11月1日起生效。\n14 德斯平斯先生：\n是的。那是个笔误，法官阁下。\n15 您是对的。\n16 法庭：\n所以是11月1日？\n17 德斯平斯先生：\n是的。是的。因为根据30天\n18 规则——\n19 法庭：\n好的。没问题。\n20 德斯平斯先生：\n是的。\n21 法庭：\n完全没问题。\n22 德斯平斯先生：\n是的。\n23 法庭：\n我只是想确认一下。\n24 德斯平斯先生：\n是的。对此很抱歉。\n25 法庭：\n没关系。我们可以修改\n\n案件号 22-50073 文件 1270 提交于 12/29/22 入卷于 12/29/22 12:05:00 第 7 页，共 18 页\n\nHo Wan Kwok - 2022年12月13日 7\n它。所以我问一下法庭书记员，你看到写着7月的地方了吗？\n法庭书记员：看到了。\n法庭：好的。那我们把它改成11月1日。\n法庭书记员：好的。\n法庭：可以吗？\n法庭书记员：好的。\n法庭：除此之外，拟议裁定在我看来没有问题。还有其他人要发言吗？\n金德赛斯先生：没有了，法官阁下。\n德斯平斯先生：另外我想说明的是，仅为了记录的完整性，我刚才提到在英国获得承认的目的是为了让我们获得证据开示，但不仅限于此。这还与 UBS（瑞银）诉讼有关。这是我们从英国律师那里获取该案信息的一个入口，而他们对此持有异议，但这也是我想确保记录明确说明的原因之一。\n法庭：我甚至觉得他的声明书里可能提到了这点。\n德斯平斯先生：好的。\n法庭：我得回头去核对一下，但那\n\n案件号 22-50073 文件 1270 提交于 12/29/22 入卷于 12/29/22 12:05:00 第 8 页，共 18 页\n\nHo Wan Kwok - 2022年12月13日 8\n是我的——因为里面列出的当事方包括，你知道——\n德斯平斯先生：利益冲突，是的。\n法庭：——向法庭提供的名单中，列出了瑞银以及——\n德斯平斯先生：是的。\n法庭：无论如何，我理解你们寻求聘请该大律师的原因。我认为这是合理的。并且你们已经证明了在当前情况下、在本案的具体情况下这是必要的。没有任何人对你们的申请提交任何书面异议。今天参加听证会的人中也没有人对你们的申请提出异议。此外，克莱本律师，我认为美国受托人办公室提交了一份无异议声明，对吗？\n克莱本女士：是的，法官阁下。该声明是案件案卷中的第 1219 号文件。\n法庭：好的。感谢美国受托人办公室提交了无异议声明。基于所有这些理由，申请获得准予，包含记录中所载日期微调的拟议裁定将予签署下达。\n德斯平斯先生：谢谢您，法官阁下。\n法庭：好的。谢谢。\n金德赛斯先生：法官阁下？\n法庭：请讲。\n\n案件号 22-50073 文件 1270 提交于 12/29/22 入卷于 12/29/22 12:05:00 第 9 页，共 18 页\n\nHo Wan Kwok - 2022年12月13日 9\n金德赛斯先生：您是否愿意考虑听取一项相关事项的联合报告？\n法庭：我不知道。我应该听吗？\n金德赛斯先生：如果能听取将不胜感激。\n法庭：您知道的，我不是故意要——只是案卷上没有任何相关内容。我会考虑的，请讲。\n金德赛斯先生：谢谢。这涉及目前定于1月9日开始的判决前救济听证会。目前有一份排期命令在执行。这关系到 Lady May（梅号游艇）和 3700 万美元的托管资金。我当事人的父亲去世了。\n法庭：我看到了。这很令人遗憾。听到这个消息我很难过。\n金德赛斯先生：非常感谢您。\n法庭：我想其实有人在诉答文书中提到过这件事。\n金德赛斯先生：好的。所以——\n法庭：就是——最近有人说了这件事。我不确定。\n金德赛斯先生：我不确定法官阁下是否知情。因此我的两位当事人都在按照传统习俗守孝三周，受托人及其律师在这方面非常体谅配合。\n\n案件号 22-50073 文件 1270 提交于 12/29/22 入卷于 12/29/22 12:05:00 第 10 页，共 18 页\n\nHo Wan Kwok - 2022年12月13日 10\n但鉴于当前的各项截止期限等等，事情变得极其困难，我们达成一致，同意将1月9日的判决前救济听证会推迟大约一个月，以便我们能在1月份进行宣誓录供，并得以守孝。我们一致同意——其中包含若干中止暂缓条款，我们同意将它们顺延相应的一段期间，这尚需我的当事人就该问题作出最终批准，但我完全预期会获得批准。我们还考虑在1月9日那一周和1月16日的前半段进行宣誓录供。因此我们请求法庭，并且我们将提交一份拟议裁定。所以，在今天的听证会上不需要作出任何决定，我们只是告知法庭，我们希望将判决前听证会顺延至预计的2月7日、8日和10日。\n法庭：7号不行。那天我可以明确告诉你不行。让我看一下8号和10号。请稍等我一下，好吗？\n金德赛斯先生：谢谢您，法官阁下。\n（暂停。）\n法庭：好的。我的意思是，我认为8号可以，但我——7号不行。你们可以提交——当大家都——如果大家都一致同意\n\n案件号 22-50073 文件 1270 提交于 12/29/22 入卷于 12/29/22 12:05:00 第 11 页，共 18 页\n\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵） - 2022年12月13日 11 协议，你们提交任何你们想要的，我绝对会尽量配合你们。但我现在就可以告诉你们，我知道2月7日不行。好吗？ KINDSETH 律师：好的。 法庭：8号大概可以。9号是第13章（Chapter 13）听证日。 DESPINS 律师：这就是我们排除它的原因。 法庭：对。10号有可能，我的意思是，下一周也有可能。好吗？ KINDSETH 律师：谢谢您。 法庭：但我只是想——7号我已经知道不行了。但是顺便——虽然不是一回事，但我昨晚在看本案即将进行的听证，我知道1月4日安排了一些事情，那些不是 PJR 听证、初步禁令、藐视法庭或诸如此类的，但我认为这与受托人寻求债权申报截止日裁定（bar date order）有关，而且还有—— DESPINS 律师：聘用理赔代理人（claims agent）。 法庭：——理赔代理人。然后还有一个将 Bravo Luck 列为被告之一的对抗性诉讼（adversary proceeding）。如果没有人反对的话，我可能不得不将那些重新安排在前一天，即3日星期二。我们可能会让法庭副书记官发出电子邮件，因为我在1月\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 12 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵） - 2022年12月13日\n1 4号有日程冲突。\n所以我可能不得不将那些重新安排在3日星期二，\n2 但会是在3日的下午。\n所以我只是\n3 想告诉你们这一点，以便——\n4 KINDSETH 律师：\n谢谢您，法官阁下。\n5 法庭：\n——大概会是在1月3日下午的3:30或\n6 4:00整。\n但你们\n7 会收到法庭副书记官发来的电子邮件。\n我只是想，\n8 既然你们现在提出了排期问题，我确实看到我\n9 ——在周三即4号这个日期上有冲突。\n10 KINDSETH 律师：\n谢谢您。\n11 法庭：\n在安排这些事项中的任何一项时，我当时并不知道有冲突，\n12 但我现在知道\n13 有冲突了。\n14 因此——将听证提前到\n15 原定日期的前一天是非常罕见的，但如果大家都同意，\n16 我看不出这有什么问题。\n17 而且如果大家都同意，我们将发出新的\n18 听证通知或诸如此类的文件，以便\n19 相关各方都能清楚知道它被重新安排到了比原定时间\n20 提前一天。\n好吗？\n21 所以我只是——你们不需要回应。\n22 我只是提前通知你们，你们很可能会\n23 收到法庭副书记官关于安排在1月4日\n24 事项的通知。\n25 KINDSETH 律师：\n非常感谢您，法官阁下。\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 13 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵） - 2022年12月13日 13 法庭：好吗？ DESPINS 律师：法官阁下，既然我们在讨论排期—— 法庭：请讲。 DESPINS 律师：——我们提交了一份动议，请求就 Lady May 号游艇聘请 Dexter White 先生担任专家。我们没有提交加快动议，但我们想知道是否也可以在3日审理？我们原本打算要求在4日，但现在要改到3日了。 法庭：4日不行。是的。 DESPINS 律师：所以是3日。 法庭：我的意思是，请专家做什么？我只是想了解一下。 DESPINS 律师：他正在对维修情况进行审查。 法庭：好的。你们对此有反对意见吗，还是你们没有—— KINDSETH 律师：没有。 法庭：——你们现在无法回答？ KINDSETH 律师：他现在其实就在 Lady May 号上进行海试。 法庭：好的。 KINDSETH 律师：我们没有异议。他做了检查——\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 14 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵） - 2022年12月13日 14 法庭：如果我把它安排在——你们没有异议？ KINDSETH 律师：没有，完全没有。 法庭：好的。好的。 KINDSETH 律师：完全没有。 法庭：那么我想——我想，你们知道，3日最早能审理你们的时间将是3:30，因为我们有一大堆——我的意思是，你们知道，那些可能都会取消，但那些是固定的例行听证。我可以定在3:30，也可以定在4:00。如果我定在3:30，大家要明白你们可能要到3:45或4:00才会被审理。那么这样——你们觉得——我的意思是，我知道不是所有人都在场，但我是在问你们，就你们目前所能——据你们目前所知，这是否会造成任何问题？ KINDSETH 律师：没问题。 DESPINS 律师：没问题，法官阁下。 法庭：好的。那么我们今天或明天就处理这事。我们会发出——嗯，首先，我直接把关于聘请专家动议的听证安排在3日下午，虽然我还没有看该动议或任何内容。然后我会发——我会让法庭副书记官就其他事项联系所有当事人\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 15 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵） - 2022年12月13日 15 那些原定于4日进行的事项，看看大家是否都不反对将这些事项也重新安排到3日下午。 KINDSETH 律师：谢谢您。既然我们正在讨论排期，还有一件事。我们提交了一份动议，请求动用一部分维修准备金来支付船员工资和其他费用，因为在可预见的未来 Lady May 号都将留在布里奇波特（Bridgeport）不动。我们已经提出请求，受托人正在评估该请求，部分取决于今天海试的成功与否，但我们希望为船员、保险和各项开支提供资金，以维持现状。我们提议从维修准备金中支付这笔费用。该动议是上周提交的，我们已经请求进行快速听证。我只是向法官阁下提请注意。 法庭：好的。 KINDSETH 律师：我知道法官阁下可以说是分身乏术—— 法庭：我认为这是一个准确的评估，是的。 KINDSETH 律师：——我只是提请您注意，因为，您知道，我的当事人在支付船员和其他费用方面已经逾期，我们希望—— 法庭：你和受托人谈过了吗关于\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 16 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵） - 2022年12月13日 16 这件事？ KINDSETH 律师：是的，谈过了。绝对谈过了。而且我们提供了相关信息。受托人——部分取决于今天海试的成功与否。 法庭：我明白了。 KINDSETH 律师：但如果我能把听证排上，我有希望我们能达成协议—— 法庭：不过我认为你们在1月3日之前是排不上听证的。 KINDSETH 律师：好的。 法庭：我认为这就是问题所在。 KINDSETH 律师：好的。 法庭：但是，如果有——你们提交的动议是请求支付过去的款项，是这样吗，还是未来的款项？ KINDSETH 律师：部分是过去的。 法庭：好的。 KINDSETH 律师：主要是六个月的预算。 法庭：嗯，也许你们可以就过去的款项达成协议，或者你们可以尝试去达成。 KINDSETH 律师：好的。我们会推进这事。 法庭：也许你们可以就过去的款项达成协议，然后我们可以处理未来的款项。 KINDSETH 律师：太好了。那就太——我们\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 17 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵） - 2022年12月13日 17 一定会推进这事。 法庭：好的。行。那么我会看一下那个动议，但我只是——正如我对出席其他事项的所有当事人所说的那样，从现在到年底法庭的时间安排真的非常糟糕。这并不是因为我要去百慕大（Bermuda）或度假之类的，只是实际情况就是如此。 KINDSETH 律师：是的。 法庭：好吗？所以情况就是这样。 KINDSETH 律师：非常感谢您，法官阁下。 法庭：好的。 KINDSETH 律师：感谢您—— 法庭：好的。 KINDSETH 律师：——考虑这些汇报。 法庭：好的。谢谢你们。感谢大家做出这些汇报。你们会看到一些——我们会推进其中的一些事项，并安排好日程—— KINDSETH 律师：谢谢您。 法庭：——正如我们刚才在庭审记录中所讨论的那样。好吗？今天任何人还有其他事项吗？ DESPINS 律师：没有。没有了，法官阁下。 法庭：好的。 KINDSETH 律师：没有其他事项了。\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 1270 Filed 12/29/22 Entered 12/29/22 12:05:00 Page 18 of 18\n\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵） - 2022年12月13日\n1 法庭：\n好的。\n那么我想我们——\n2 我们的下一场听证是在中午，对吗？\n3 法庭副书记官：\n是的。\n4 法庭：\n好的。\n那么现在休庭\n5 至中午。\n6 （庭审于上午11:20休庭）\n7 本人，CHRISTINE FIORE，注册电子法庭速记员\n8 兼转录员，特此证明上述内容为上述标题案件事项诉讼程序的\n9 官方电子录音的\n10 正确誊本。\n\n13 2022年12月28日\n14 Christine Fiore，CERT（认证资质）","key_entities":["Despins","Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Je","Paul Hastings","Guo","Luc Despins","CIPA"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":3971,"status":"published","published_at":"2022-12-29 00:00:00","created_at":"2022-12-29","updated_at":"2026-08-23 13:47:44"}