{"id":"court_ctb_1496_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":1496,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","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|                                                             | : |                         |\n| In re:                                                      | : | Chapter 11              |\n|                                                             | : |                         |\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al.,                                        | : | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) |\n|                                                             | : |                         |\n| Debtors.1                                                   | : | Jointly Administered    |\n|                                                             | : |                         |\n| ------------------------------------------------------<br>x |   |                         |\n\n# **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 PALLAS PARTNERS LLP AS SOLICITIORS IN UNITED KINGDOM**\n\nMr. Luc A. Despins, in his capacity as the Chapter 11 Trustee (the \"Chapter 11 Trustee\")\n\nappointed in the above-captioned chapter 11 case (the \"Chapter 11 Case\") of Ho Wan Kwok (the\n\n\"Debtor\"), pursuant to sections 327, 328, and 330 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the\n\n\"Bankruptcy Code\"), Rules 2014 and 2016 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (the\n\n\"Bankruptcy Rules\"), and Rules 2014-1 and 2016-1 of the Local Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure\n\n(the \"Local Bankruptcy Rules\") for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of\n\nConnecticut (the \"Court\"), respectfully requests (the \"Application\") that the Court authorize his\n\nemployment of Pallas LLP as solicitors in the United Kingdom. In support of this Application,\n\nthe Chapter 11 Trustee states the following:\n\n<span id=\"page-0-0\"></span> <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, and 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\n#### **RELIEF REQUESTED**\n\n1. By this Application, the Chapter 11 Trustee seeks entry of an order, substantially in the form of the proposed order filed herewith (the \"Proposed Order\"), authorizing and approving the retention and employment of Pallas Partners LLP (\"Pallas\") as the Chapter 11 Trustee's solicitor in the United Kingdom, effective as of January 26, 2023, to represent the Chapter 11 Trustee as solicitor in the estate's litigation against UBS AG (the \"UBS Action\").\n\n2. The Chapter 11 Trustee selected Pallas as his solicitor based on Pallas' familiarity with complex commercial litigation and financial disputes. Moreover, as the Chapter 11 Trustee previously disclosed, his bankruptcy counsel, Paul Hastings LLP represents certain UBS entities. For that reason, and out of an abundance of caution, the Chapter 11 Trustee previously advised this Court and the UK court that Paul Hastings LLP would not serve as counsel to the Chapter 11 Trustee in the UBS Action. And while the Chapter 11 Trustee has retained a UK barrister (*i.e.*, Mr. Paul Wright) in connection with the UBS Action, [2](#page-1-0) a barrister cannot act on his own, but must take his instructions from a solicitor. The Trustee has selected Pallas as the solicitor to fulfill that role.\n\n3. In support of this Application, the Chapter 11 Trustee submits the *Declaration of Natasha Harrison in Support of 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 Pallas Partners LLP as Solicitors* (the \"Harrison Declaration\"), attached as **Exhibit A**, which is incorporated herein by reference.\n\n<span id=\"page-1-0\"></span> <sup>2</sup> This Court approved the retention of Mr. Wright by order dated December 14, 2022 [Docket No. 1240].\n\n#### **JURISDICTION, VENUE, AND STATUTORY BASES**\n\n4. The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334 and the *Standing Order of Reference* from the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (as amended). This is a core proceeding within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 157(b).\n\n5. Venue in this District is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409.\n\n6. The statutory bases for the relief requested herein are sections 327(a), 328(a), and 330 of the Bankruptcy Code, and, to the extent applicable, Bankruptcy Rules 2014 and 2016, and Local Bankruptcy Rules 2014-1 and 2016-1.\n\n### **BACKGROUND**\n\n7. On February 15, 2022 (the \"Petition Date\"), the Debtor filed with the Court a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.\n\n8. On March 21, 2022, the United States Trustee appointed an Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the \"Committee\") in the Debtor's Chapter 11 Case.\n\n9. On June 15, 2022, the Court entered a memorandum of decision and order [Docket No. 465] (the \"Trustee Order\") directing the United States Trustee to appoint a chapter 11 trustee in the Chapter 11 Case. Pursuant to the Trustee Order, the United States Trustee selected Luc A. Despins as the Chapter 11 Trustee [Docket No. 514].\n\n10. On July 8, 2022, the Court entered an order granting the appointment of Luc A. Despins as the Chapter 11 Trustee in the Chapter 11 Case [Docket No. 523].\n\n#### **PALLAS' QUALIFICATIONS**\n\n11. Pallas is a law firm located at 1 King William Street, London, EC4N 7AF, UK. Pallas maintains offices in London, UK and New York, USA (Pallas Partners (US) LLP or \"Pallas US\"). Pallas was founded in 2022 and is an elite litigation and disputes firm focusing on\n\n3\n\ncommercial litigation, international arbitration and investigations. The firm currently employs 25 lawyers, who are assisted by four paralegals.\n\n12. Pallas has expertise in practice areas including financial restructuring and insolvency, corporate, and commercial litigation matters, as well as international arbitration and investigations. Pallas' broad financial restructuring and insolvency practice spans a range of legal services both in London and New York, including representation of chapter 11 trustees.\n\n#### **ANTICIPATED SERVICES**\n\n13. The Chapter 11 Trustee anticipates that Pallas will represent him in the United Kingdom with respect to all matters related to the UBS Action. Due to the specialized nature of a solicitor's role, and given that Paul Hastings LLP will not represent the Trustee with respect to the UBS Action, there will be no duplication of services arising from Pallas' retention.\n\n#### **COMPENSATION OF PALLAS**\n\n14. Pallas intends to apply to the Court for compensation for professional services rendered and for reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with this Chapter 11 Case pursuant to sections 330 and 331 of the Bankruptcy Code, Bankruptcy Rule 2016, Local Bankruptcy Rule 2016-1, and any other applicable rules and orders with respect to this Chapter 11 Case. Pallas will charge the Debtor for its legal services on an hourly basis at its regularly applicable hourly rates in connection with the services required in the UBS Action, except that Pallas has agreed to reduce Natasha Harrison's rate from \\$1,650 to \\$1,400.\n\n15. At present, the 2023 hourly rates of Pallas are \\$415 for paralegal work; between \\$730 and \\$980 for associates and counsel; and up to \\$1,650 for principals of the firm (except that Natasha Harrison's rate is reduced to \\$1,400). Pallas will also bill for out-of-pocket expenses\n\n4\n\nmade on behalf of the Debtor, including photocopying, postage and package deliveries, court fees, transcripts, witness fees, service fees, travel expenses, and computer-aided research.\n\n16. The Debtor submits that Pallas' hourly rates are reasonable, comparable to Pallas' hourly rates for other engagements, and within the range of rates charged by comparably skilled professionals who offer the same services. This is especially true under the circumstances here where the Debtor's estate currently has no assets to pay professional fees. As a result, Pallas is being retained, for all practical purposes, on a contingency basis—*i.e.*, its compensation will depend on whether assets are eventually brought into the Debtor's estate (which, in turn, will depend in part on the extent to which Pallas and the Trustee are successful in recovering assets for the benefit of the Debtor's estate and its creditors).\n\n#### **PALLAS IS DISINTERESTED**\n\n17. To the best of the Chapter 11 Trustee's knowledge in reliance upon the Harrison Declaration, and except as disclosed therein, Pallas does not have any relationships with the Debtor, its creditors, or any other party-in-interest, their respective attorneys and accountants, the United States Trustee, or any person employed in the Office of the United States Trustee.\n\n18. More specifically, upon the basis of the Harrison Declaration, and except as disclosed therein, the Chapter 11 Trustee believes that: (a) Pallas has no connection with the Debtor, his creditors, the U.S. Trustee, any person employed in the office of the U.S. Trustee, or any other party with an actual or potential interest in the Debtor or his respective attorneys or accountants; and (b) Pallas and its employees (i) are not a creditors, equity security holders, or insiders of the Debtor or his affiliates, (ii) have not been, within two years before the Petition Date, a director, officer, or employee of the Debtor or his affiliates, and (iii) has not had any interest materially adverse to the interests of the Debtor's estate or any class of creditors or\n\n5\n\nequity security holders by reason of any direct or indirect relationship to, connection with, or interest in the Debtor, or for any other reason. Therefore, the Chapter 11 Trustee believes that Pallas is a \"disinterested person\" within the meaning of section 101(14) of the Bankruptcy Code, as modified by section 1107(b).\n\n19. Based on the Harrison Declaration, the Chapter 11 Trustee believes that Pallas does not represent any adverse interest to unsecured creditors in connection with the Chapter 11 Case.\n\n#### **BASIS FOR RELIEF REQUESTED**\n\n20. The Chapter 11 Trustee requests to retain and employ Pallas as his solicitor in the United Kingdom with respect to the UBS Action pursuant to section 327(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, which provides that a trustee, subject to the approval of the Court, may employ professional persons \"that do not hold or represent an interest adverse to the estate, and that are disinterested persons, to represent or assist the trustee in carrying out the trustee's duties under this title.\"\n\n21. Under section 328(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, with bankruptcy court approval, a trustee may employ professional persons under section 327(a) of the Bankruptcy Code \"on any reasonable terms and conditions of employment, including on a retainer, on an hourly basis, on a fixed or percentage fee basis, or on a contingent fee basis.\" 11 U.S.C. § 328(a).\n\n22. Bankruptcy Rule 2014(a) provides that an application for retention include:\n\nspecific facts showing the necessity for the employment, the name of the [firm] to be employed, the reasons for the selection, the professional services to be rendered, any proposed arrangement for compensation, and, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, all of the [firm's] connections with the debtor, creditors, any other party in interest, their respective attorneys and accountants, the United States trustee.\n\n23. The Chapter 11 Trustee requires the services of a solicitor in the United Kingdom to exercise his responsibilities. Pallas will endeavor to avoid the duplication of efforts and provide services as efficiently as possible.\n\n24. Accordingly, the employment of Pallas as the Chapter 11 Trustee's solicitor, upon the terms set forth herein and in the Proposed Order, is reasonable and in the best interest of the Debtor's estate.\n\n25. The Chapter 11 Trustee submits that Pallas' rates are reasonable, comparable to rates for other engagements, and within the range of rates charged by comparably skilled professionals who offer the same services.\n\n26. Local Bankruptcy Rule 2014-1 provides that if \"an application to employ a professional is filed within thirty (30) days after the commencement of services provided by that professional, the application shall be deemed contemporaneously filed unless the Court orders otherwise.\" Accordingly, the Chapter 11 Trustee requests authority to retain and employ Pallas effective January 26, 2023, which was the date that Pallas began providing services to the Chapter 11 Trustee. [3](#page-6-0)\n\n### **NOTICE**\n\n27. Notice of this Application has been given to the United States Trustee, the Debtor, the Committee, and, by electronic filing utilizing the Court's electronic filing (\"CM/ECF\") system, to all appearing parties who utilize the CM/ECF system.\n\n## **NO PRIOR REQUEST**\n\n28. No previous application for the relief requested herein has been made to this or any other Court.\n\n<span id=\"page-6-0\"></span> <sup>3</sup> While this Application is being filed 35 days after commencement of services (*i.e.*, January 26, 2023), the Trustee respectfully requests that the Court approve Pallas' retention effective as of January 26, 2023.\n\n## **CONCLUSION**\n\nWHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, Luc A. Despins, the Chapter 11 Trustee,\n\nrequests that the Court enter an Order, substantially in the form of the Proposed Order filed\n\nherewith, granting the Application, and authorizing the Chapter 11 Trustee's employment of\n\nPallas as solicitors, and order such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.\n\nDated: March 2, 2023 Chapter 11 Trustee in Chapter 11 Case of Ho Wan Kwok\n\n> */s/ Luc A. Despins* Luc A. Despins","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格区破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\n------------------------------------------------------ x\n\n案件相关：: 第 11 章\n\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，: 案号 22-50073 (JAM)\n\n债务人。1 : 联合审理\n\nx\n\n根据《破产法典》第 327、328 和 330 条、《联邦破产程序规则》第 2014 和 2016 条以及《地方破产规则》第 2014-1 和 2016-1 条，第 11 章受托人请求作出裁定授权并批准聘请及雇用 PALLAS PARTNERS LLP 担任英国事务律师的申请书\n\nLuc A. Despins 先生以在上述标题所示 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）（下称“债务人”）第 11 章案件（下称“第 11 章案件”）中被指定的第 11 章受托人（下称“第 11 章受托人”）身份，依据《美国法典》第 11 编（下称“《破产法典》”）第 327、328 和 330 条、《联邦破产程序规则》（下称“《破产规则》”）第 2014 和 2016 条以及 United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格区破产法院）（下称“法院”）《地方破产程序规则》（下称“《地方破产规则》”）第 2014-1 和 2016-1 条，谨此请求（下称“本申请”）法院授权其雇用 Pallas LLP 担任英国事务律师。为支持本申请，第 11 章受托人陈述如下：\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 和 Miles Kwok，以及诸多其他化名）（纳税人识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（纳税人识别号后四位：8202）和 Genever Holdings Corporation。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC 和 Genever Holdings Corporation 的邮寄地址为 Paul Hastings LLP（普衡律师事务所）, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 转交 Ho Wan Kwok 破产财产受托人 Luc A. Despins（仅用于送达通知和通信目的）。\n\n请求的救济\n\n1. 通过本申请，第 11 章受托人请求作出基本符合随附提交的拟定裁定书（下称“拟定裁定”）形式的裁定，授权并批准自 2023 年 1 月 26 日起生效聘请和雇用 Pallas Partners LLP（下称“Pallas”）担任第 11 章受托人的英国事务律师，代表第 11 章受托人作为事务律师参与破产财产对 UBS AG（瑞士银行有限公司）提起的诉讼（下称“瑞银诉讼”）。\n\n2. 第 11 章受托人选择 Pallas 担任其事务律师是基于 Pallas 对复杂商事诉讼和金融争议的熟谙。此外，正如第 11 章受托人先前所披露，其破产法律顾问 Paul Hastings LLP 代表若干瑞银关联实体。出于该原因及极为谨慎起见，第 11 章受托人先前已告知本法院及英国法院，Paul Hastings LLP 将不会在瑞银诉讼中担任第 11 章受托人的律师。虽然第 11 章受托人已就瑞银诉讼聘请了一位英国出庭律师（即 Paul Wright 先生）[2]，但出庭律师无法独立开展工作，必须接受事务律师的指示。受托人已选择 Pallas 作为事务律师来履行该职责。\n\n3. 为支持本申请，第 11 章受托人提交了作为附件 A 附后的《Natasha Harrison 支持第 11 章受托人根据〈破产法典〉第 327、328 和 330 条、〈破产规则〉第 2014 和 2016 条以及〈地方破产规则〉第 2014-1 和 2016-1 条请求作出裁定授权并批准聘请及雇用 Pallas Partners LLP 担任事务律师之申请的声明》（下称“《Harrison 声明》”），该声明通过引用纳入本文。\n\n2 本法院于 2022 年 12 月 14 日作出裁定批准聘请 Wright 先生 [案卷号 1240]。\n\n管辖权、审判地和法定依据\n\n4. 法院根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 和 1334 以及 United States District Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格区联邦地区法院）的《移送常规裁定》（经修正）对本案具有管辖权。本案属于 28 U.S.C. § 157(b) 定义下的核心程序。\n\n5. 根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 和 1409，本审判区的审判地是适当的。\n\n6. 本文所请求救济的法定依据为《破产法典》第 327(a)、328(a) 和 330 条，以及在适用范围内的《破产规则》第 2014 和 2016 条及《地方破产规则》第 2014-1 和 2016-1 条。\n\n背景\n\n7. 2022 年 2 月 15 日（下称“申请日”），债务人向法院提交了根据《破产法典》第 11 章寻求救济的自愿申请书。\n\n8. 2022 年 3 月 21 日，United States Trustee（美国破产受托人）在债务人的第 11 章案件中指定了 Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors（无担保债权人官方委员会）（下称“委员会”）。\n\n9. 2022 年 6 月 15 日，法院作出了决定备忘录和裁定 [案卷号 465]（下称“《受托人裁定》”），指示美国受托人在该第 11 章案件中指定一名第 11 章受托人。依据《受托人裁定》，美国受托人选定 Luc A. Despins 担任第 11 章受托人 [案卷号 514]。\n\n10. 2022 年 7 月 8 日，法院作出裁定，准予指定 Luc A. Despins 为该第 11 章案件中的第 11 章受托人 [案卷号 523]。\n\nPALLAS 的资质\n\n11. Pallas 是一家位于 1 King William Street, London, EC4N 7AF, UK 的律师事务所。Pallas 在英国伦敦和美国纽约设有办公室（Pallas Partners (US) LLP 或称“Pallas US”）。Pallas 成立于 2022 年，是一家专注于商事诉讼、国际仲裁和调查的精英诉讼与争议律师事务所。该所目前拥有 25 名律师，由 4 名律师助理协助。\n\n12. Pallas 在包括金融重组与破产清算、公司以及商事诉讼事项，以及国际仲裁和调查等业务领域具有专业专长。Pallas 广泛的金融重组与破产清算业务涵盖伦敦和纽约两地的一系列法律服务，包括代表第 11 章受托人。\n\n预期服务\n\n13. 第 11 章受托人预计 Pallas 将在英国代表其处理与瑞银诉讼相关的所有事项。由于事务律师职责的专业性质，且鉴于 Paul Hastings LLP 不会就瑞银诉讼代表受托人，聘请 Pallas 不会产生重复服务。\n\nPALLAS 的报酬\n\n14. Pallas 拟根据《破产法典》第 330 和 331 条、《破产规则》第 2016 条、《地方破产规则》第 2016-1 条以及与该第 11 章案件相关的任何其他适用规则和裁定，向法院申请就其所提供的专业服务获得报酬以及报销因该第 11 章案件而发生的费用。Pallas 将按小时计费，以其通常适用的工时费率向债务人收取与瑞银诉讼所需服务相关的法律服务费用，但 Pallas 已同意将 Natasha Harrison 的费率从 1,650 美元降至 1,400 美元。\n\n15. 目前，Pallas 2023 年的工时费率为：律师助理工作每小时 415 美元；专职律师及顾问律师每小时 730 美元至 980 美元之间；该所合伙人/负责人最高每小时 1,650 美元（但 Natasha Harrison 的费率降至 1,400 美元）。Pallas 还将就代表债务人垫付的实报实销费用进行开账单，包括复印费、邮资和包裹投递费、诉讼费、笔录费、证人费、送达费、差旅费以及计算机辅助检索费。\n\n16. 债务人认为，Pallas 的工时费率是合理的，与 Pallas 在其他委托项目中的工时费率相当，并且属于提供相同服务的同等技能专业人士所收取的费率区间之内。在债务人破产财产目前没有资产可用于支付专业人员费用的情况下，尤其如此。因此，在所有实际意义上，Pallas 是在风险代理的基础上被聘请的——即其报酬将取决于最终是否有资产被追回至债务人破产财产中（这反过来将部分取决于 Pallas 和受托人为债务人破产财产及其债权人追回资产的成功程度）。\n\nPALLAS 具有无利害关系性\n\n17. 据第 11 章受托人基于《Harrison 声明》所知，除该声明所披露之外，Pallas 与债务人、其债权人或任何其他利害关系方、其各自的律师和会计师、美国破产受托人或美国破产受托人办公室雇用的任何人员均不存在任何关联关系。\n\n18. 更具体而言，基于《Harrison 声明》，且除该声明所披露之外，第 11 章受托人认为：(a) Pallas 与债务人、其债权人、美国受托人、美国受托人办公室雇用的任何人员，或在债务人中拥有实际或潜在利益的任何其他方或其各自的律师或会计师均无任何牵连；并且 (b) Pallas 及其雇员 (i) 不是债务人或其关联方的债权人、股权证券持有人或内部人，(ii) 在申请日前两年内未曾担任债务人或其关联方的董事、高级职员或雇员，并且 (iii) 没有因与债务人的任何直接或间接关系、牵连或在债务人中的权益，或出于任何其他原因，而拥有任何重大不利于债务人破产财产利益或任何类别债权人或股权证券持有人利益的利害关系。因此，第 11 章受托人认为 Pallas 属于经《破产法典》第 1107(b) 条修正的第 101(14) 条含义范围内的“无利害关系人”。\n\n19. 基于《Harrison 声明》，第 11 章受托人认为 Pallas 在本第 11 章案件中未代表任何与无担保债权人相冲突的不利利益。\n\n请求救济的依据\n\n20. 第 11 章受托人请求依据《破产法典》第 327(a) 条聘请并雇用 Pallas 作为其在英国就瑞银诉讼的事务律师，该条款规定受托人经法院批准，可以雇用“不持有或代表对破产财产不利的利益且属于无利害关系人的专业人员，以代表或协助受托人履行本编项下的受托人职责”。\n\n21. 根据《破产法典》第 328(a) 条，经破产法院批准，受托人可根据《破产法典》第 327(a) 条“按任何合理的雇用条款和条件，包括按预付聘请费、工时制、固定或比例费率制、或风险代理费率制”雇用专业人员。11 U.S.C. § 328(a)。\n\n22. 《破产规则》第 2014(a) 条规定，聘请申请应载明：\n\n说明该项雇用之必要性的具体事实、拟雇用的 [律师事务所] 名称、选任理由、拟提供的专业服务、任何拟定的报酬安排，以及据申请人所知，该 [律师事务所] 与债务人、债权人、任何其他利害关系方、其各自的律师和会计师、美国破产受托人之间的全部关联关系。\n\n23. 第 11 章受托人需要英国事务律师的服务来行使其职责。Pallas 将尽力避免重复劳动，并尽可能高效地提供服务。\n\n24. 因此，按照本文及拟定裁定所载条款雇用 Pallas 担任第 11 章受托人的事务律师是合理的，且符合债务人破产财产的最佳利益。\n\n25. 第 11 章受托人认为，Pallas 的费率是合理的，与其它委托事项的费率相当，并处于提供同类服务的同等技能专业人士收取的费率区间之内。\n\n26. 《地方破产规则》（Local Bankruptcy Rule）第 2014-1 条规定，如果“聘用专业人士的申请在该专业人士开始提供服务后的三十（30）日内提交，除非法院另有命令，该申请应被视为同时提交。”据此，第 11 章受托人请求获得授权，自 2023年1月26日（即 Pallas 开始向第 11 章受托人提供服务之日）起聘用并雇佣 Pallas。[3]\n\n通知\n\n27. 本申请的通知已送达美国受托人（United States Trustee）、债务人（Debtor）、委员会（Committee），并通过使用法院电子归档（“CM/ECF”）系统的电子归档方式送达所有使用 CM/ECF 系统的出庭当事人。\n\n此前无请求\n\n28. 此前未曾向本法院或任何其他法院提出过针对本申请所请求之救济的申请。\n\n3 尽管本申请是在开始提供服务（即 2023年1月26日）后 35 天提交的，受托人仍谨请法院批准自 2023年1月26日有效起聘用 Pallas。\n\n结论\n\n综上所述，基于前述理由，第 11 章受托人 Luc A. Despins（卢克·A·德斯平斯）\n\n请求法院作出一项裁定（其形式实质上与随本申请一同提交的拟定裁定相符），\n\n批准本申请，并授权第 11 章受托人聘用\n\nPallas 作为事务律师（solicitors），并责令给予法院认为公正和适当的其他及进一步救济。\n\n日期：2023年3月2日 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）第 11 章案件中的第 11 章受托人\n\n/s/ Luc A. Despins\nLuc A. Despins","key_entities":["Despins","Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Paul Hastings","CIPA","Guo","Miles Guo","Je"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":2198,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 13:11:46"}