{"id":"court_ctb_178_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":178,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"RESPONSE","filed_date":"2022-04-06","title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION | In re:       |         | : |","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"body_en":"## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| In re:       |         | : |\n|--------------|---------|---|\n| HO WAN KWOK, |         |   |\n|              |         | : |\n|              | Debtor. | : |\n|              |         |   |\n\n: CHAPTER 11\n\n: Case No. 22-50073(JAM)\n\n: April 6, 2022\n\n## **JOINDER OF CREDITORS RUI MA, WEICAN MENG AND ZHENG WU TO THE OFFICIAL COMMITTEE OF UNSECURED CREDITORS' LIMITED OBJECTION TO DEBTOR'S APPLICATION FOR ENTRY OF AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EMPLOYMENT AND RETENTION OF BROWN RUDNICK LLP AS COUNSEL FOR THE DEBTOR**\n\nCreditors Rui Ma, Weican Meng and Zheng Wu (\"**Creditors**\"), by and through their undersigned counsel, hereby submit this joinder to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors' (the \"**Committee**\") Limited Objection (the \"**Committee's Limited Objection**\") [ECF 164] to the Debtor's Application for Entry of an Order Authorizing the Employment and Retention of Brown Rudnick LLP (\"**Brown Rudnick**\") as Counsel for the Debtor (the \"**Application**\") [ECF 86], and respectfully state as follows:\n\n1. The Creditors join the Committee's Limited Objection to the Application. The Creditors share the Committee's concerns regarding the propriety and excessive retainer amount received by Brown Rudnick. It should be investigated whether a portion of either of the \\$500,000 retainer payments constitute a preference, or otherwise should be transferred to the estate. In addition, the Creditors question whether Brown Rudnick can cost-effectively represent the Debtor in this purportedly minimal asset case with rates far exceeding those of comparable counsel in this jurisdiction.\n\n2. The Creditors also note that they have reviewed the various disclosures made by Brown Rudnick in the Application and have concerns. For instance, while Brown Rudnick discloses it has previously represented Mr. Zheng Wu (or an affiliated entity) [ECF 86 at p.35 (Schedule 2)], no one has reached out to Mr. Wu to discuss the potential conflict or to seek a waiver, nor has Brown Rudnick explained to Mr. Wu why it is not a conflict for the firm to serve as Debtor's counsel. At minimum, such disclosure should have been made to the Debtor prior to Brown Rudnick's engagement. The Creditors are evaluating this matter and reserve all their rights.\n\n## **CONCLUSION**\n\n**WHEREFORE**, the Creditors request that the Court deny the Application unless it is modified as requested in the Committee's Objection, and until all potential conflicts are resolved, and grant such other and further relief as is just and proper.\n\nDated: April 6, 2022 */s/ Kristin B. Mayhew*  Kristin Mayhew **MCELROY, DEUTSCH, MULVANEY & CARPENTER, LLP** 30 Jelliff Lane Southport, CT 06890 (203) 319-4000 kmayhew@mdmc-law.com\n\n- and -\n\nCarollynn H.G. Callari (*pro hac vice*) David S. Forsh (*pro hac vice*) **CALLARI PARTNERS LLC** One Rockefeller Plaza, 10th Floor New York, NY 10020 (212) 202-3050 ccallari@callaripartners.com dforsh@callaripartners.com\n\n*Attorneys for Rui Ma, Weican Meng and Zheng Wu*\n\n## **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**\n\nI, Kristin B. Mayhew, hereby certify that a true and accurate copy of the foregoing Joinder of Creditors Rui Ma, Weican Meng and Zheng Wu to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors' Limited Objection to Debtor's Application for Entry of an Order Authorizing the Employment and Retention of Brown Rudnick LLP as Counsel for the Debtor was filed with the Court on April 6, 2022. Notice of this filing will be sent by e-mail to all parties by operation of the court's electronic filing system. Parties may access this filing through the court's CM/ECF System.\n\n> /s/ Kristin B. Mayhew Kristin B. Mayhew\n\nKBM/M1738/1001/1823665v1 04/06/22-HRT/BD","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关于：\n\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵），\n\n债务人。\n\n第 11 章\n\n案号：22-50073(JAM)\n\n2022年4月6日\n\n债权人 RUI MA（马锐）、WEICAN MENG（孟维参）与 ZHENG WU（吴征）就无担保债权人官方委员会对债务人申请作出授权聘用及留聘 BROWN RUDNICK LLP 作为债务人律师的命令所提有限异议的附议书\n\n债权人 Rui Ma（马锐）、Weican Meng（孟维参）与 Zheng Wu（吴征）（统称“债权人”）通过其下述签字律师，特此就 Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors（无担保债权人官方委员会，下称“委员会”）对债务人申请作出授权聘用及留聘 Brown Rudnick LLP（下称“Brown Rudnick”）作为债务人律师的命令的申请（下称“申请”）[ECF 86] 所提出的有限异议（下称“委员会的有限异议”）[ECF 164] 提交本附议书，并恭敬陈述如下：\n\n1. 债权人附议委员会对该申请提出的有限异议。债权人同样对 Brown Rudnick 所收取的聘用预付款的适当性及过高数额存有疑虑。应当调查两笔各 500,000 美元的预付款中是否有一部分构成优先清偿（preference），或以其他方式应当转入破产财产（estate）。此外，债权人对 Brown Rudnick 是否能够以高性价比在这一据称资产极少的案件中代表债务人表示质疑，其费率远超该司法管辖区内具有可比性律师的费率。\n\n2. 债权人还注意到，其已审阅了 Brown Rudnick 在申请中所作的各项披露，并抱有关切。例如，尽管 Brown Rudnick 披露其此前曾代表 Zheng Wu（吴征）先生（或其关联实体）[ECF 86 第 35 页（附表 2）]，但没有任何人联系吴先生以讨论潜在的利益冲突或寻求豁免，Brown Rudnick 也未向吴先生解释为何该律所担任债务人律师不构成冲突。至少，此类披露应当在 Brown Rudnick 受聘之前向债务人作出。债权人正在评估此事，并保留其所有权利。\n\n结论\n\n为此，债权人请求法院驳回该申请，除非按照委员会异议中的要求对其进行修改，且在所有潜在冲突得到解决之前不予批准，并给予正当且适当的其他及进一步救济。\n\n日期：2022年4月6日\n/s/ Kristin B. Mayhew\nKristin Mayhew\nMCELROY, DEUTSCH, MULVANEY & CARPENTER, LLP\n30 Jelliff Lane\nSouthport, CT 06890\n(203) 319-4000\nkmayhew@mdmc-law.com\n\n- 以及 -\n\nCarollynn H.G. Callari（特许出庭 / pro hac vice）\nDavid S. Forsh（特许出庭 / pro hac vice）\nCALLARI PARTNERS LLC\nOne Rockefeller Plaza, 10th Floor\nNew York, NY 10020\n(212) 202-3050\nccallari@callaripartners.com\ndforsh@callaripartners.com\n\nRui Ma（马锐）、Weican Meng（孟维参）与 Zheng Wu（吴征）的代理律师\n\n送达证明\n\n本人 Kristin B. Mayhew 特此证明，上述《债权人 Rui Ma（马锐）、Weican Meng（孟维参）与 Zheng Wu（吴征）就无担保债权人官方委员会对债务人申请作出授权聘用及留聘 Brown Rudnick LLP 作为债务人律师的命令所提有限异议的附议书》的真实准确副本已于 2022年4月6日 提交至法院。本文件的提交通知将通过法院电子归档系统的运行以电子邮件形式发送给所有各方。各方可通过法院的 CM/ECF 系统查阅本文件。\n\n/s/ Kristin B. Mayhew\nKristin B. Mayhew\n\nKBM/M1738/1001/1823665v1 04/06/22-HRT/BD","key_entities":["Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":86,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":164,"court":"CTB"}],"word_count":573,"status":"published","published_at":"2022-04-06 00:00:00","created_at":"2022-04-06","updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:22:45"}