{"id":"court_ctb_1283_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":1283,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"UNKNOWN","filed_date":null,"title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION | -------------------------------------------","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"body_en":"# **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| ----------------------------------------------------------- | x      |                         |\n|-------------------------------------------------------------|--------|-------------------------|\n| In re:                                                      | :<br>: | Chapter 11              |\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al.,                                        | :<br>: | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) |\n| Debtors.1                                                   | :<br>: | Jointly Administered    |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------- | :<br>x |                         |\n\n# **STATEMENT OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE, GENEVER HOLDINGS CORPORATION, AND GENEVER HOLDINGS LLC REGARDING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EPIQ CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING, LLC AND XCLAIM INC.**\n\nLuc Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Individual Debtor\"), Genever Holdings Corporation (\"Genever (BVI)\"), and Genever Holdings LLC (\"Genever (US)\" and, together with Genever (BVI) and the Trustee, the \"Movants\") hereby submit this statement regarding the relationship between Epiq Corporate Restructuring, LLC (\"Epiq\") and Xclaim Inc. (\"Xclaim\"), a third-party claims trading website.\n\n1. At the January 3, 2022 hearing on Movants' application to retain Epiq as claims and noticing agent [Docket No. 1198] (the \"Epiq Retention Application\"), the Court requested clarification as to whether Epiq's proposed retention in these chapter 11 cases implicated the concerns recently addressed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases are Ho Wan Kwok (also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok, as well as numerous other aliases) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202) and Genever Holdings Corporation. The mailing address for the Trustee, Genever Holdings LLC, the Genever Holdings Corporation is Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok (solely for purposes of notices and communications).\n\nNew York regarding so-called synchronization agreements pursuant to which claims agents share publicly available claims data with operators of for-profit claims-trading websites (where such claims are posted for sale) in return for the claims agent receiving a fee. 2\n\n2. As disclosed in the declaration of Kate Mailloux attached as Exhibit C to the Epiq Retention Application, while Epiq previously was party to an agreement with Xclaim, Epiq terminated that agreement effective as of September 9, 2022.\n\n3. Epiq has also confirmed to Movants that (a) neither Epiq nor its affiliates are party to any agreements where it or they receive(s) consideration in exchange for transferring information derived from its role as a claims agent under 28 U.S.C. § 156(c) to non-client third parties and (b) neither Epiq nor its affiliates will enter into any such agreements for as long as they are retained as a claims agent under 28 U.S.C. § 156(c) in these chapter 11 cases.\n\n[*Remainder of page intentionally left blank.*]\n\n<sup>2</sup> *See e.g.*, *In re Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, Inc.*, 642 B.R. 487 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2022) (claims agent's agreement with Xclaim to synchronize proofs of claim with Xclaim website where such claims are posted for sale, in return for claims agent receiving a fee, violated 28 U.S.C. § 156(c)). Following the *Madison Square Boys & Girls Club* decision, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York commenced a miscellaneous proceeding to ascertain whether sanctions should be imposed on claim agents who have performed under synchronization agreements between claims agents and third-party operators of for-profit claims-trading website or similar entities. The court has not yet issued a decision on sanctions.\n\nWHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, the reasons set forth in the Epiq Retention\n\nApplication, and the reasons set forth at the January 3, 2023 hearing, Movants requests that the\n\nCourt enter an order granting the Epiq Retention Application, subject to the modifications\n\nrequested by the Court at the January 3, 2023 hearing. 3\n\nDated: January 4, 2024 New Haven, Connecticut\n\nBy: */s/ Patrick R. Linsey* By: */s/ Patrick R. Linsey* Douglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Douglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 821-2000 (203) 821-2000 dskalka@npmlaw.com dskalka@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n*Counsel for Genever Holdings LLC and Debtor and Debtor-in-Possession*\n\n### GENEVER HOLDINGS CORPORATION G. Alexander Bongartz, Esq.\n\nBy: */s/ Patrick R. Linsey* 200 Park Avenue Douglas S. Skalka (ct00616) New York, New York 10166 Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) (212) 318-6472 NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor *Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee* New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 821-2000 dskalka@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n*Counsel for Genever Holdings Corporation Debtor and Debtor-in-Possession*\n\n## GENEVER HOLDINGS LLC LUC A. DESPINS, CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE\n\n Luc A. Despins, Esq. PAUL HASTINGS LLP\n\n<sup>3</sup> Movants will submit to the courtroom deputy a revised proposed order granting the Epiq Retention Application incorporating the changes requested by the Court at the hearing.","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格区联邦破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\n-----------------------------------------------------------　x\n\n关于：　:\n:　第 11 章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，　:\n:　案号 22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。1　:\n:　合并审理\n\nx\n第 11 章受托人、GENEVER HOLDINGS CORPORATION 与 GENEVER HOLDINGS LLC 关于 EPIQ CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING, LLC 与 XCLAIM INC. 之间关系的陈述\n\nLuc Despins，以在 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）（下称「个人债务人」）第 11 章案件中获任命的第 11 章受托人（下称「受托人」）身份，连同 Genever Holdings Corporation（下称「Genever (BVI)」）及 Genever Holdings LLC（下称「Genever (US)」，并与 Genever (BVI) 和受托人合称「动议人」），特此就 Epiq Corporate Restructuring, LLC（下称「Epiq」）与第三方债权交易网站 Xclaim Inc.（下称「Xclaim」）之间的关系提交本陈述。\n\n1. 在 2022 年 1 月 3 日就动议人申请聘请 Epiq 担任债权及通知代理人 [Docket No. 1198]（下称「Epiq 聘请申请」）举行的听证会上，法院要求澄清：在这些第 11 章案件中提议聘请 Epiq 是否涉及 United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York（美国纽约南区联邦破产法院）近期所处理的关切问题，即有关所谓的同步协议，根据该类协议，债权代理人与营利性债权交易网站（此类债权在网站上挂牌出售）的运营方共享公开可得的债权数据，以换取债权代理人收取费用。2\n\n1 这些第 11 章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，亦称郭文贵、Miles Guo、Miles Kwok 以及其他诸多化名）（纳税人识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（纳税人识别号后四位：8202）及 Genever Holdings Corporation。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC、Genever Holdings Corporation 的邮寄地址为 Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok（仅用于通知与联络目的）。\n\n2. 正如附于 Epiq 聘请申请作为附件 C 的 Kate Mailloux 声明书中所披露，尽管 Epiq 此前曾是与 Xclaim 之间协议的一方，但 Epiq 已终止该协议，自 2022 年 9 月 9 日起生效。\n\n3. Epiq 亦已向动议人确认：(a) Epiq 及其关联方均未参与任何以向非客户第三方传输源自其根据 28 U.S.C. § 156(c) 担任债权代理人角色的信息为代价而换取报酬的协议；以及 (b) 在这些第 11 章案件中根据 28 U.S.C. § 156(c) 获聘担任债权代理人的期间内，Epiq 及其关联方均不会订立任何此类协议。\n\n[本页其余部分有意留白。]\n\n2 参见如 In re Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, Inc., 642 B.R. 487 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2022)（债权代理人与 Xclaim 签订协议，将债权证明与挂牌出售此类债权的 Xclaim 网站进行同步以换取债权代理人收取费用，违反了 28 U.S.C. § 156(c)）。在 Madison Square Boys & Girls Club 裁决之后，美国纽约南区联邦破产法院启动了一项杂项程序，以查明是否应对已履行债权代理人与营利性债权交易网站第三方运营方或类似实体之间同步协议的债权代理人实施制裁。法院尚未就制裁作出裁决。\n\n据此，基于上述理由、Epiq 聘请申请中阐述的理由，以及在 2023 年 1 月 3 日听证会上阐述的理由，动议人请求法院根据法院在 2023 年 1 月 3 日听证会上要求的修改，下达批准 Epiq 聘请申请的命令。3\n\n日期：2024 年 1 月 4 日 康涅狄格州纽黑文\n\n签署人：/s/ Patrick R. Linsey 签署人：/s/ Patrick R. Linsey Douglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Douglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 821-2000 (203) 821-2000 dskalka@npmlaw.com dskalka@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\nGenever Holdings LLC 及债务人兼自行管理债务人的法律顾问\nGENEVER HOLDINGS CORPORATION G. Alexander Bongartz 律师\n\n签署人：/s/ Patrick R. Linsey 200 Park Avenue Douglas S. Skalka (ct00616) New York, New York 10166 Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) (212) 318-6472 NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor 第 11 章受托人的法律顾问 New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 821-2000 dskalka@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\nGenever Holdings Corporation 债务人兼自行管理债务人的法律顾问\nGENEVER HOLDINGS LLC LUC A. DESPINS，第 11 章受托人\n\nLuc A. Despins 律师 PAUL HASTINGS LLP\n\n3 动议人将向法庭副书记官提交一份纳入法院在听证会上要求的修改的修订版拟定批准 Epiq 聘请申请命令。","key_entities":["Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Despins","Guo","Paul Hastings","Miles Guo","Luc Despins","Je"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":813,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:36:04"}