{"id":"court_ctb_4298_2","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":4298,"sub_number":2,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":"2025-04-04","title":"EXHIBIT B Settlement Agreement","summary_zh":"和解协议附件 —— Ho Wan Kwok 破产案（郭文贵 / Guo Wengui / Miles Guo），CTB 22-50073 ECF #4298-2（2025-04-04立案）。该文件为破产受托人 Luc A. Despins 与律师事务所 Brown Rudnick LLP 达成的和解协议，约定 Brown Rudnick 支付700万美元并转交信托账户中留存的94.8万美元预付款（合计794.8万美元），以全面解决受托人对其此前代理郭文贵破产事宜提出的各项索赔。","summary_en":"Settlement Agreement (Exhibit B) — In re Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), CTB 22-50073 ECF #4298-2 (filed 2025-04-04). Exhibit B contains the settlement agreement between Chapter 11 Trustee Luc A. Despins and law firm Brown Rudnick LLP, under which Brown Rudnick agrees to pay $7,000,000 plus $948,000 held in trust (totaling $7,948,000) to resolve estate claims arising from its prior bankruptcy representation of Kwok.","body_en":"# **EXHIBIT B**\n\n**Settlement Agreement**\n\n#### **SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT**\n\nThis Settlement Agreement (the \"Agreement\"), is entered into as of this 4 th day of April, 2025, by and between: (a) LUC A. DESPINS in his capacity as chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\" or \"Kwok\"); and (b) BROWN RUDNICK LLP (\"BRL,\" and together with the Trustee, the \"Parties\"). The Parties hereby agree as follows:\n\n#### **RECITALS**\n\nWHEREAS, on February 15, 2022 (the \"Petition Date\"), the Debtor filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut (the \"Court\") a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, which case is administered under Case No. 22-50073 (the \"Bankruptcy Case\");\n\nWHEREAS, the filing of the Bankruptcy Case created an estate pursuant to section 541 of the Bankruptcy Code (the \"Bankruptcy Estate\" or \"Estate\");\n\nWHEREAS, on June 15, 2022, the Court entered a memorandum of decision and order (the \"Trustee Order\") directing the United States Trustee to appoint a chapter 11 trustee in the Debtor's chapter 11 case;\n\nWHEREAS, pursuant to the Trustee Order, the United States Trustee selected Luc A. Despins as the Trustee, and on July 8, 2022, the Court entered an order granting the appointment of Luc A. Despins as the Trustee in the Bankruptcy Case and charging the Trustee with the duties and obligations described therein;\n\nWHEREAS, both before and after the Petition Date, BRL represented Kwok in matters related to the Bankruptcy Case, which representation BRL represents commenced on or about February 11, 2022, ended on or about August 1, 2022, and shall be referred to as the \"Bankruptcy Representation,\" which term expressly excludes the Criminal Defense Representation (as defined herein);\n\nWHEREAS, following the Bankruptcy Representation, BRL was engaged to advise and provide legal services in connection with the United States Government's criminal investigation and prosecution of the Debtor, which engagement BRL represents commenced on or about March 16, 2023, and ended on or about July 12, 2023 (the \"Criminal Defense Representation\"), and which the Parties have expressly excluded from the settlement and releases provided herein;\n\nWHEREAS, the Trustee has asserted that the Bankruptcy Estate holds certain claims against BRL arising out of the Bankruptcy Representation and BRL unequivocally denies such claims;\n\nWHEREAS, the Parties have entered into tolling agreements concerning any claims the Bankruptcy Estate holds against BRL and vice-versa;\n\nWHEREAS, in order to avoid the expense, burden and inconvenience of litigation, the Trustee and BRL reached a settlement that resolves the Released Claims (defined below), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and\n\nWHEREAS, the Parties desire and intend to effect a final settlement and resolution of the Released Claims pursuant to the terms herein.\n\n# **TERMS OF AGREEMENT**\n\nNOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, which along with the Exhibit attached hereto are incorporated into this Agreement, and of the mutual agreements, covenants and releases set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy and receipt of which the Parties hereby acknowledge, the Parties agree as follows:\n\n**1. Settlement Amount.** In consideration of the releases contained herein and other valuable consideration provided by this Agreement, and in complete satisfaction of the BRL Released Claims, BRL agrees to pay to the Trustee the sum of \\$7,000,000, plus the \\$948,000 that BRL currently holds in trust as the remainder of the retainer it received to represent Kwok in the Bankruptcy Case, for a total of \\$7,948,000 (the \"Settlement Amount\"). As part of this Agreement to resolve the Released Claims against BRL, BRL waives and further agrees not to file an application for any fees for services rendered or for any reimbursement of expenses incurred by BRL in connection with the Bankruptcy Representation.\n\n**2. Effectiveness of this Agreement.** This Agreement is subject to approval by the Court in the Bankruptcy Case. This Agreement shall be effective (the \"Effective Date\") when an order that is consistent with Paragraph 3 hereof (the \"Order\") is entered by the Court in the Bankruptcy Case and becomes final. For the avoidance of doubt, the Effective Date shall be no earlier than the later of the occurrence of (i) entry of the Order and the passage of thirty-five days from entry of the Order during which time no appeal of the Order has been filed and no motion within Rule 8002(b) is filed or other event (e.g., the grant of a stay by a court of competent jurisdiction) that extends the time to appeal, and (ii) if any appeal has been filed or motion within Rule 8002(b) is filed or other event occurs (e.g., the grant of a stay by a court of competent jurisdiction) that extends the time to file an appeal, any such appeal is finally and fully resolved or no such appeal is filed by the applicable deadline to file. This Agreement shall be submitted to the Honorable James J. Tancredi, as Mediator (the \"Mediator\") under the Pre-Litigation Mediation Order1 , together with the Parties' joint request that the Mediator issue a Pre-Litigation Settlement Report recommending that the Court approve the terms of this Agreement.\n\n> a. Pursuant to paragraph 2.v. of the Pre-Litigation Mediation Order, and except as provided in Paragraph 2.b. below, within thirty (30) days of the issuance of a Pre-Litigation Settlement Report (as defined in the Pre-Litigation Mediation\n\n1 The \"Pre-Litigation Mediation Order\" is the *Order Amending Order Directing Parties to Mediation, Appointing the Honorable James H. Tancredi as Mediator, and Amending Order Approving Procedures Applicable to Avoidance Claim Adversary Proceedingsto Facilitate Consensual Pre-Litigation Mediation and Pre-Appearance Mediation* (Case No. 22-50073, Docket No. 3465).\n\n29\n\nOrder), the Trustee shall file a motion under Rule 9019 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure seeking the Court's approval of this Agreement and attaching the Pre-Litigation/Pre-Appearance Settlement Report as an exhibit (such\n\nmotion, together with its exhibits, the \"9019 Motion\"), which motion may be filed by the Trustee as part of an omnibus motion seeking approval of additional settlement agreements.\n\nb. The Pre-Litigation/Pre-Appearance Settlement Report shall be emailed to BRL's counsel by the Trustee on the same day as it is received by the Trustee, and the Parties agree that the 9019 Motion shall be filed by the Trustee no earlier than ten (10) business days after delivery to BRL's counsel of the Pre-Litigation/Pre-Appearance Settlement Report (unless earlier authorized by BRL) in the form attached to this Agreement as **Exhibit A** (except that the Trustee may add or change the date of the document prior to filing it to conform to the filing date and may otherwise change the document in any manner agreed by the Parties in writing, which may be memorialized by an email between the Parties' counsel).\n\n**3. Form of Order.** The Order granting the 9019 Motion shall (a) approve all of the provisions of this Agreement without limitation or addition, (b) contain a finding that the Trustee holds, and has the right to settle and release, the BRL Released Claims, and (c) not be subject to any stay including, without limitation, the stay of Bankruptcy Rule 6004(h).\n\n**4. Time to Pay the Settlement Amount***.* Within five (5) business days following the Effective Date, BRL shall cause to be paid to the Trustee the Settlement Amount in immediately available funds. BRL shall cause the Settlement Amount to be paid by initiating a wire transfer (or wire transfers) The entire Settlement Amount will be paid to the Trustee. Any such transfer(s) shall be made to an account designated by the Trustee pursuant to wire instructions that counsel for the Trustee has provided to counsel for BRL, receipt of which instructions BRL confirms.\n\nThe Trustee acknowledges and agrees that BRL and its insurer(s) will have absolutely no role in or responsibility for allocating or disbursing any portion of the Settlement Amount after the wire transfer(s) constituting the full Settlement Amount has been transferred to the Trustee or in ensuring that the Trustee disburses any sum of money to any person, account, or entity. It is expressly understood by the Parties that BRL's payment obligation shall be completely satisfied immediately upon the transfer of the Settlement Amount pursuant to the wire instructions which the Trustee has provided BRL by email through the Parties' counsel, resulting in full payment of the Settlement Amount (the \"Settlement Payment\"), and BRL is not and will not be responsible in any way for any taxes, offsets or any other deductions or otherwise.\n\n**5. Failure to Timely Pay Settlement Amount**. If BRL fails to pay the Settlement Amount to the Trustee pursuant to Paragraph 4 of this Agreement, then BRL agrees and authorizes the Trustee, in its sole discretion, to terminate this Agreement effective immediately by written notice to BRL of termination of the Agreement. Upon any termination of this Settlement Agreement, the Trustee may elect and pursue any remedy available to it, including without limitation: (i) commencing an adversary proceeding to pursue the BRL Released Claims; and (ii) enforcing this Agreement to the fullest extent of the law.\n\n#### **6. Mutual Releases**.\n\n**a.** \"BRL Released Claims\" means any and all manner of claims, counterclaims, complaints, disputes, demands, rights, actions, potential actions, causes of action, proofs of claim, liabilities, duties, obligations, damages, losses, diminutions in value, obligations, judgments, decrees, requests for attorneys' fees or costs, matters, issues, suits, proceedings, and controversies of any kind or nature whatsoever that are owned, held, or capable of being asserted by or on behalf of the Bankruptcy Estate, or any other person or entity asserting currently or in the future by, under, through, or on behalf of the Bankruptcy Estate, and each of their respective successors or assigns, whether known or unknown, in law, at equity or otherwise, asserted or unasserted, contingent or absolute, liquidated or not liquidated, accrued or unaccrued, suspected or unsuspected, disclosed or undisclosed, claimed or unclaimed, apparent or not apparent, foreseen or unforeseen, matured or not matured, secured or unsecured, which now exist, or heretofore or previously existed, seeking relief in the form of damages (actual and punitive), imposition of a constructive trust, turnover of property, restitution, and declaratory relief with respect thereto or otherwise (collectively, \"Claims\") against the BRL Releasees (defined below), whether or not any such Claims were asserted on or before the Effective Date, including, but not limited to, any Claims arising under federal, state or foreign law, common law, bankruptcy law, statute, equity, rule or regulation, or agreement, whether individual, class, direct, derivative, representative, on behalf of others, legal, equitable, regulatory, governmental or of any other type or in any other capacity, and including actions that arise out of or are based on tort, breach of contract, fraudulent conveyances and transfers, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty of loyalty or obedience, legal malpractice, recovery of attorneys' fees, turnover of property and avoidance or recovery actions of the Bankruptcy Estate, any other Claims under the Bankruptcy Code, and actions that may be commenced by a representative of the Estate under section 362 or chapter 5 of the Bankruptcy Code, *provided, however*, the BRL Released Claims shall not include any Criminal Defense Carve-Out Claims (defined below). Subject to the Criminal Defense Carve-Out (defined below), BRL Released Claims shall include any Claims against the BRL Releasees (defined below)that existed as of the Effective Date and that may be exclusively asserted by or on behalf of the Bankruptcy Estate (including by the Trustee and/or any governmental entity) under applicable law. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent the Trustee or Estate now owns or holds an interest or control of Claims that were previously held and/or controlled by any other person or entity against the BRL Releasees (defined below), such as, for example only, Claims previously held by investors and/or creditors of Kwok or the Estate, any such Claims are included in this definition of BRL Released Claims unless subject to the Criminal Defense Carve-Out (defined below).\n\n29\n\n- **b.** \"Estate and Trustee Released Claims\" means any and all Claims against the Estate and Trustee Releasees (defined below), whether or not any such Claims\n- were asserted on or before the Effective Date, including, but not limited to, any Claims arising under federal, state or foreign law, common law, bankruptcy law, statute, equity, rule or regulation, or agreement, whether individual, class, direct, derivative, representative, on behalf of others, legal, equitable, regulatory, governmental or of any other type or in any other capacity, and including any requests for compensation and/or reimbursement of expenses, and/or any other Claims under the Bankruptcy Code, *provided, however*, the Estate and Trustee Released Claims shall not include any Criminal Defense Carve-Out Claims (defined below).\n- **c.** \"Criminal Defense Carve-Out Claims\" means any and all Claims against the BRL Releasees (defined below), or the Estate and Trustee Releasees (defined below), relating to the Criminal Defense Representation, including, without limitation, any avoidance or recovery actions arising from transfers relating to the Criminal Defense Representation; and \"Criminal Defense Carve-Out\" means the exclusion of Criminal Defense Carve-Out Claims from the BRL Released Claims and the Estate and Trustee Released Claims (collectively, the \"Released Claims\"). Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement, BRL and the Trustee and Estate retain all defenses to Criminal Defense Carve-Out Claims, and BRL will retain all rights to assert a claim against the Estate to the extent of any recovery by the Estate under 11 U.S.C. § 550 in connection with the Criminal Defense Carve-Out Claims.\n- **d.** \"Estate and Trustee Releasees\" means, (i) the Bankruptcy Estate; (ii) the Trustee; and (iii) in their respective capacities as such, any and all of the Trustee's attorneys, accountants, advisors, representatives or agents.\n- **e.** \"BRL Releasees\" means, (i) BRL; and (ii) in their respective capacities as such, any and all of BRL's current and former partners, associates, employees, attorneys (including, but not limited to, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and its current and former partners, associates, and employees), insurers, co-insurers, reinsurers, accountants, advisors, representatives or agents.\n- **f. Estate and Trustee Releases**. Upon the Effective Date and subject to the Trustee's receipt of the payment of the Settlement Payment, for and in consideration of the agreements herein, and other consideration, the Trustee, for himself, and on behalf of the Bankruptcy Estate, does hereby unconditionally, absolutely and irrevocably release and discharge the BRL Releasees of all BRL Released Claims, it being the intention of the Trustee to reserve nothing whatsoever of the BRL Released Claims hereunder and to assure the BRL Releasees peace and freedom from each and every of the BRL Released Claims of whatever character and description; *provided, however*, that nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed or construed to be a release, waiver\n\nor discharge of the terms and conditions of this Agreement or of any Criminal Defense Carve-Out Claims.\n\n- **g. BRL Releases**. Upon the Effective Date, for and in consideration of the agreements herein, and other consideration, BRL does hereby unconditionally, absolutely, and irrevocably release and discharge the Estate and Trustee Releasees of all Estate and Trustee Released Claims, it being BRL's intention to reserve nothing whatsoever of the Estate and Trustee Released Claims and to assure the Estate and Trustee Releasees peace and freedom from each and every of the Estate and Trustee Released Claims of whatever character and description; *provided, however*, that nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed or construed to be a release, waiver or discharge of the terms and conditions of this Agreement or of any Criminal Defense Carve-Out Claims.\n- **h. No Third-Party Releases**. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement or in the Order shall, or shall be construed to, effectuate a thirdparty release of any claim exclusively held or owned by a non-Party to this Agreement. To the extent such non-Parties may have such claims against the Trustee, the Bankruptcy Estate, the Estate Releasees, BRL, the BRL Releasees, or Kwok, and standing to bring such claims, such claims and such standing are not impacted in any way by this Agreement or the Order.\n\n**7. Covenant Not to Sue/Scope of Releases/Confidentiality of Released Claims**. The Parties covenant and agree that they will not make, assert, or maintain any claim, demand, action, or cause of action against each other that is released herein other than to enforce the provisions of this Agreement. In any proceedings commenced in connection with Criminal Defense Carve-Out Claims, the Parties shall not refer to or describe BRL's conduct allegedly giving rise to the Released Claims (the \"Released Matters\") other than to refer to the fact of the Bankruptcy Representation during these dates, or the filing by BRL of a document on the public docket, and nothing else.\n\n**8. Fees and Costs of Litigation**. Each Party will bear its own attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses, including those incurred in connection with: (a) investigating, litigating, prosecuting, or defending all claims and defenses that were or could have been raised in connection with the Released Claims; and (b) the negotiation and execution of this Agreement. However, in the event of a breach of this Agreement, the prevailing Party or Parties in an action to enforce this Agreement shall be entitled to recover, in addition to any other relief awarded, reasonable and necessary costs and attorneys' fees incurred in the successful prosecution or defense of that action.\n\n**9. No Admission of Parties**. This Agreement does not constitute an admission by the Parties of any wrongful action or violation of any federal or state statutory or common law rights, or any other possible or claimed violation of law or rights. The Parties have entered into this Agreement solely for the purpose of compromise and amicable settlement, and the settlement should not be construed as an admission of liability by anyone. Each Party vehemently denies any and all claims by the other Party.\n\n**10. Understanding of Parties**. The Parties represent and warrant that they have read and understand the terms of this Agreement with the assistance of counsel.\n\n# **11. Representations and Warranties**.\n\n- **a.** BRL represents and warrants that:\n\t- i. It has the exclusive right to prosecute, compromise, and release the Estate and Trustee Released Claims;\n\t- ii. The Bankruptcy Representation commenced on or about February 11, 2022, and ended on or about August 1, 2022;\n\t- iii. The Criminal Defense Representation commenced on or about March 16, 2023 and ended on or about July 12, 2023; and\n\t- iv. At no point did BRL advise Kwok with respect to hiding or secreting assets from the Trustee, the Estate, or creditors of Kwok or the Estate.\n- **b.** The Trustee represents and warrants that to the best of the Trustee's knowledge no Claim or Claims against the BRL Releasees that are or would otherwise be BRL Released Claims have been sold, transferred, assigned, conferred or otherwise conveyed to any third party.\n- **c.** The Parties hereto represent and warrant that:\n\t- i. each Party is authorized to make the representations and agreements herein set forth by or on behalf of each such Party;\n\t- ii. each individual signing on behalf of a Party or Parties has the full power, authority, and capacity to sign and enter into this Agreement on behalf of the Party on whose behalf he or she has signed;\n\t- iii. none of the Released Claims has been, or will be prior to the Effective Date, sold, assigned, consigned, conveyed, or otherwise transferred or subrogated;\n\t- iv. each Party has not previously assigned, sold, transferred, conveyed, hypothecated, pledged, or otherwise disposed of any rights, claims, or remedies, or any portion thereof or any interest therein that is being released by this Agreement; and\n\t- v. each Party will not assign, sell, convey, transfer, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of any rights, claims, or remedies or any portion thereof or any interest therein that are being released by this Agreement. Any assignment, sale, transfer, conveyance, hypothecation, pledge or other disposition in violation of this provision shall be void ab initio and of no force and effect.\n\n**d.** The representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement shall survive and shall continue following the execution and delivery hereof.\n\n**12. Binding on Successors**. The obligations and terms of this Agreement are binding upon each of the Parties and their respective successors-in-interest, assigns, legal representatives, insurers and all other persons or entities who may take any interest through the Parties in the matters herein released (including but not limited to the Estate and Trustee Releasees and the BRL Releasees). The foregoing persons and entities, including but not limited to the Estate and Trustee Releasees and the BRL Releasees, are third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement and are bound by and may enforce the Agreement.\n\n**13. Use of This Agreement**. This Agreement may be pleaded as a full and complete defense to any action, suit, or other proceeding that may be instituted, prosecuted, or attempted for, upon, or in respect of any of the Released Claims. The Parties agree that any such proceeding would cause irreparable injury to the Party against whom it is brought and that any court of competent jurisdiction may enter an injunction restraining prosecution thereof. The Parties further agree that this Agreement may be pleaded as necessary for purposes of enforcing this Agreement. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to negate or impair the Parties' right to enforce this Agreement, including but not limited to enforcing the Settlement Payment.\n\n**14. Cooperation/Facilitation**: It is expressly agreed that, as an integral component of, and as material consideration for, this Agreement, the Trustee shall not oppose a subsequent motion or request consistent with this Agreement for, and/or a court's entry of, any order (a) enforcing the releases in this Agreement and/or (b) barring claims or matters against BRL to the extent released by this Agreement.\n\n**15. Consent to Jurisdiction**. The Parties hereby irrevocably consent to the limited jurisdiction of the Court with respect to any action to enforce the terms and provisions of this Agreement and expressly waive any right to commence any such action in any other forum. The Parties agree that nothing in this Agreement, including but not limited to this Paragraph, shall constitute or be construed as a waiver of any kind whatsoever of any potential objection by BRL to the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court over any potential adversary proceeding or any other matter except as expressly set forth in this paragraph.\n\n**16. Entire Agreement**. This Agreement reflects the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. All prior agreements, promises, and understandings, whether written or oral, express or implied, are expressly superseded hereby and are of no further force or effect with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. This is a fully integrated agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Tolling Agreement shall remain in full force and effect pursuant to its terms.\n\n**17. Modifications to Agreement**. It is expressly understood and agreed that this Agreement may not be altered, amended, modified, or otherwise changed in any respect except by a writing executed by all Parties.\n\n**18. Waiver Concerning Agreement**. The failure of the Parties to insist, in any one or more instances, upon the strict performance of any of the provisions of this Agreement, or to exercise any option contained in this Agreement, shall not be construed as a waiver, or a relinquishment for the future of such provision or option, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and effect.\n\n**19. Settlement Discussions and Confidentiality**. This Agreement is part of a mediated settlement of matters that would otherwise be the subject of litigation among the Parties. Pursuant to Rule 408 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, any applicable state rules of evidence or mediation privilege, and any other applicable law, foreign or domestic, all negotiations relating to this Agreement shall not be discoverable or admissible into evidence in any proceeding other than a proceeding to enforce its terms.\n\n**20. Governing Law**. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of laws procedures.\n\n**21. Counterparts**. This Agreement may be executed in a number of identical counterparts, and each of such counterparts is to be deemed an original for all purposes, but all counterparts shall collectively constitute one agreement. Signatures by electronic means shall be deemed original signatures for all purposes.\n\n**22. Notices**. All notices or information required by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered by a nationally recognized overnight courier service to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice, provided that a notice of change of address(es) shall be effective only from the date of its receipt by the other Party). The Parties agree that they will contemporaneously e-mail to counsel for the opposing Party (at the respective address set forth below), a courtesy copy of any notices or communications sent concerning this Agreement:\n\n| If to the Trustee: | Patrick R. Linsey
NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C.
195 Church Street, 13th Floor
New Haven, Connecticut 06510
(203) 781-2847
plinsey@npmlaw.com | |\n|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--|\n| | Luc A. Despins
PAUL HASTINGS LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
(212) 318-6000
lucdespins@paulhastings.com | |\n\n29\n\n**If to BRL:** Joel S. Miliband BROWN RUDNICK LLP 2211 Michelson Drive, 7th Floor Irvine, CA 92612 jmiliband@brownrudnick.com\n\n> With a copy to: Kevin S. Rosen Michael Dore GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER, LLP 333 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90071 krosen@gibsondunn.com mdore@gibsondunn.com\n\n**23. Interpretation; Rules of Construction; Representation by Counsel**. The Parties agree that they have been represented by legal counsel during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any law, regulation, holding, or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document shall be construed against the party drafting such agreement or document. In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires: (a) whenever the words \"include,\" \"includes,\" or \"including\" are used, they are deemed to be followed by the words \"without limitation\"; (b) the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms; (c) the use of \"or\" or \"nor\" is not intended to be exclusive or limited unless expressly indicated otherwise; and (d) words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa and words importing gender include all genders.\n\n**24. Good Faith of Parties, No Duress or Undue Influence**. The Parties expressly represent and warrant that this Agreement is given in good faith. Each of the Parties acknowledges and represents that it enters into this Agreement without any duress—economic or otherwise—or undue influence or pressure imposed upon them by any other of the Parties or any other person and that each of the Parties enters into this Agreement as its own free act and deed after having had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel and any other persons with whom it might choose to consult. Each of the Parties further represents that it has done its own due diligence as a basis for deciding to enter into this Agreement, and it is not relying on statements, inducements, actions, or omissions of any other Party, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.\n\n**25. No Third-Party Beneficiaries Unless Expressly Stated in Agreement**. Unless expressly stated in this Agreement (such as, for example only, Paragraph 12), this Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of the Parties and no other person or entity shall be a third-party beneficiary. For the avoidance of doubt, all persons and entities released pursuant to the terms of this Agreement are third-party beneficiaries of such release.\n\n**26. Severability**. The Parties agree not to challenge this Agreement, nor any provision thereof, as illegal, invalid, or unenforceable. With the exception of releases contained herein, if any portion, provision, or part of this Agreement is held, determined or adjudicated to be invalid, unenforceable, or void for any reason whatsoever, each such portion, provision, or part shall be severed from the remaining portions, provisions, or parts of this Agreement and shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such remaining portions, provisions, or parts of this Agreement. The Parties expressly agree that the terms of this Agreement shall be construed in a manner designed to make it valid and enforceable to the fullest extent possible.\n\n**27. Effect of Headings**. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning, intention, construction or effect of this Agreement or any such paragraph.\n\n# [**REMAINDER OF PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGE(S) TO FOLLOW**]\n\n29\n\n**LUC A. DESPINS**, in his capacity as chapter 11 trustee appointed in the chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok\n\nBy: \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_ Name: Luc A. Despins Title: Chapter 11 Trustee */s/ Luc A. Despins*\n\n# **BROWN RUDNICK LLP**\n\nBy: \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nName: Joel S. Miliband Title: Partner and General Counsel\n\n### **EXHIBIT A**\n\n### **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| --------------------------------------------------------------- | x | |\n|-----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|--|\n| In re: | :
:
Chapter 11 | |\n| HO WAN KWOK, | :
:
Case No. 22-50073 (JAM)
: | |\n| Debtor. | :
: | |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------- | x | |\n\n### **MOTION OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE, PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY RULE 9019, REGARDING SETTLEMENT WITH BROWN RUDNICK LLP**\n\nLuc A. Despins, in his capacity as the Chapter 11 Trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the Chapter 11 case (the \"Chapter 11 Case\") of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\"), hereby submits this motion (the \"Motion\"), pursuant to Rule 9019(a) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (the \"Bankruptcy Rules\"), Rule 9019-1(a) of the Local Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure for the United States Bankruptcy Court District of Connecticut (the \"Local Rules\"), and the Court's Procedures Order and Pre-Litigation Mediation Order (as defined herein), 1 for entry of an order, substantially in the form attached hereto as **Exhibit A** (the \"Proposed Order\"), approving the terms of the settlement agreement (the \"Settlement Agreement\") reached between (a) the Trustee and (b) Brown Rudnick LLP (\"Brown Rudnick\" and, together with the Trustee, the \"Parties\"). In support of this Motion, the Trustee respectfully states the following:\n\n#### **PRELIMINARY STATEMENT**\n\n1. The Trustee has reached an agreement to resolve Claims of the Estate against Brown Rudnick. The proposed Settlement Agreement is the product of good-faith, arm's-length\n\n1 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Procedures Order and the Pre-Litigation Mediation Order, as applicable, or as set forth herein.\n\n### Case 22-50073 Doc 4298-2 Filed 04/04/25 Entered 04/04/25 20:13:28 Page 16 of 29\n\nnegotiations conducted in Consensual Pre-Litigation/Pre-Appearance Mediation pursuant to the Pre-Litigation Mediation Order. Judge Tancredi has issued his Mediator's Report stating his recommendation \"that the Court find that the economics of the settlement agreement are fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of the Chapter 11 estate as measured by the standards of *In re Iridium Operating LLC*, 478 F.3d 452, 462 (2d Cir. 2007).\"\n\n2. Through the proposed settlement, the Estate will obtain nearly \\$8 million for the benefit of creditors, without the cost and uncertainty of litigation, and Brown Rudnick will waive any claim for legal fees and expenses in connection with its representation of the Debtor in this Chapter 11 Case. The Trustee, who has extensively investigated the Claims, believes that this resolution will create value for creditors and is clearly in the Estate's best interests as measured by the standards of *Iridium.* Accordingly, the Motion should be granted.\n\n#### **JURISDICTION AND VENUE**\n\n3. This Court has jurisdiction to consider the Motion 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. This is a core proceeding within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 157(b).\n\n4. Venue in this District is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409.\n\n5. The bases for the relief requested herein are Bankruptcy Rule 9019(a) and Local Rule 9019-1(a).\n\n#### **BACKGROUND**\n\n6. In or around early February 2022, the Debtor engaged Brown Rudnick in connection with a potential bankruptcy filing, commencing its representation of the Debtor in matters related to the Chapter 11 Case. Brown Rudnick was paid a retainer of \\$1,000,000.00 to\n\n2\n\n#### Case 22-50073 Doc 4298-2 Filed 04/04/25 Entered 04/04/25 20:13:28 Page 17 of 29\n\nsecure its fees in its representation of the Debtor in matters related to the Chapter 11 Case, of which Brown Rudnick presently retains \\$948,000.00 (the \"Retainer\").\n\n7. On February 15, 2022 (the \"Petition Date\"), the Debtor filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut (the \"Court\") a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, thus commencing the Chapter 11 Case. Brown Rudnick represented the Debtor in connection with this bankruptcy filing and served as the Debtor's bankruptcy counsel until the termination of its representation of the Debtor in the Chapter 11 Case.\n\n8. On March 21, 2022, the United States Trustee appointed an official committee of unsecured creditors (\"Committee\") in this Chapter 11 Case. No examiner has been appointed in the Chapter 11 Case.\n\n9. On April 29, 2022, the Court entered its *Order Authorizing Retention and Employment of Brown Rudnick LLP as Counsel to Debtor and Debtor in Possession* [Docket No. 293].\n\n10. On June 15, 2022, the Court entered a memorandum of decision and order (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 Trustee, and on July 8, 2022, the Court entered an order granting the appointment of Luc A. Despins as the Trustee in the Chapter 11 Case.\n\n11. On July 11, 2024, substitute counsel appeared for the Debtor in this Chapter 11 Case [Docket No. 543]. On July 13, 2024, Brown Rudnick moved for permission to withdraw as counsel to the Debtor in this Chapter 11 Case [Docket No. 543], which motion the Court granted on August 2, 2022 [Docket No. 666]. Brown Rudnick reserved the right to seek allowance and payment of fees and expenses.\n\n12. The Trustee believes that the Debtor's chapter 11 estate (the \"Estate\") holds claims against Brown Rudnick arising out of Brown Rudnick's representation of the Debtor in the Chapter 11 Case (the \"Claims\"). Brown Rudnick unequivocally denies the Claims.\n\n13. The Trustee is prepared to further discuss the rationale for the proposed settlement and respond to any questions that the Court may have at a hearing on this Motion.\n\n#### **SETTLEMENT**\n\n14. On May 2, 2024, the Court entered the *Order Directing Parties to Mediation, Appointing the Honorable James J. Tancredi as Mediator, and Amending Order Approving Procedures Applicable to Avoidance Claim Adversary Proceedings* [Docket No. 3163] (the \"Procedures Order\").\n\n15. On August 28, 2024, the Court entered the *Order Amending Order Directing Parties to Mediation, Appointing the Honorable James J. Tancredi as Mediator, and Amending Order Approving Procedures Applicable to Avoidance Claim Adversary Proceedings to Facilitate Consensual Pre-Litigation and Pre-Appearance mediation* [Docket No. 3465] (the \"Pre-Litigation Mediation Order\").\n\n16. During the summer of 2024, the Trustee contacted Brown Rudnick to discuss his views with respect to the Claims and to determine whether a consensual resolution was possible, and the Parties undertook to negotiate a resolution.\n\n17. The Parties, through counsel, have engaged in good-faith, arm's-length discussions with respect to the Claims. As a result of these discussions, and after multiple rounds of proposals and counterproposals, the Parties reached the Settlement Agreement attached hereto as **Exhibit B**.\n\n- 18. The salient provisions of the Settlement Agreement include the following: 2\n\t- a. Brown Rudnick shall (i) pay the Estate \\$7,000,000 plus the Retainer for a total of \\$7,948,000 (the \"Settlement Amount\");\n\t- b. Brown Rudnick agrees not to file an application for any fees for services rendered or for any reimbursement of expenses incurred in its representation of the Debtor in this Chapter 11 Case; and\n\t- c. The Parties are exchanging mutual releases the scope of which issubject to a carveout of certain subject matter apart from Brown Rudnick's representation of the Debtor in the Chapter 11 Case.\n- 19. On January 30, 2025, the Parties submitted the Claims to Pre-Litigation/Pre-Appearance Mediation before Judge Tancredi (the \"Mediation\"). Pursuant to the Pre-Litigation Mediation Order, Judge Tancredi has reviewed the proposed settlement.\n- 20. In his *Pre-Litigation/Pre-Appearance Settlement Report* (the \"Mediator's Report\"), attached hereto as **Exhibit 3**, Judge Tancredi endorsed the economics of the proposed settlement as \"fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of the Chapter 11 estate as measured by the standards of\" *In re Iridium Operating LLC*, 478 F.3d 452, 462 (2d Cir. 2007) (\"*Iridium*\"). Judge Tancredi otherwise made no comment as to the Settlement Agreement's terms \"in light of the complexities of Brown Rudick's alleged relationship with the Debtor and his affiliates,\" deferring to this Court's evaluation. The Parties thank Judge Tancredi for his service.\n\n### **RELIEF REQUESTED**\n\n21. By this Motion, the Trustee seeks entry of an order pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019(a) approving the Settlement Agreement in its entirety and authorizing the Parties to enter into and implement the Settlement Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof.\n\n2 To the extent of any inconsistencies between the summary description of the Settlement Agreement in this Motion and the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the terms of the Settlement Agreement shall control.\n\n#### **BASIS FOR THE RELIEF REQUESTED**\n\n#### **I. Standard for Approving the Settlement Agreement**\n\n22. To approve a compromise and settlement under Bankruptcy Rule 9019, a bankruptcy court should find that the compromise and settlement is fair and equitable, reasonable, and in the best interests of the debtor's estate. *See, e.g.*, *In re Ionosphere Clubs, Inc.,* 156 B.R. 414, 426 (S.D.N.Y. 1993.), *aff'd*, 17 F.3d 600 (2d Cir. 1994) (citations omitted); *In re Enron Corp.,* No. 02 Civ. 8489(AKH), 2003 WL 230838, at \\*2 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Jan. 31, 2003). The decision to approve a particular settlement lies within the sound discretion of the bankruptcy court. *See Nellis v. Shugrue*, 165 B.R. 115, 122-23 (S.D.N.Y. 1994).\n\n23. Importantly, the \"settlement need not be the best that the debtor could have obtained.\" *In re Adelphia Commc'ns Corp.*, 327 B.R. 143, 159 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2005) (citing *In re Penn Cent. Transp. Co.*, 596 F.2d 1102, 1114 (3d Cir. 1979)). Instead, the court needs only \"canvass the issues and see whether the settlement falls below the lowest point in the range of reasonableness.\" *Id.* (citing *In re W.T. Grant Co.*, 699 F.2d 599, 608 (2d Cir. 1983)).In deciding whether a particular settlement falls within the \"range of reasonableness,\" courts consider the following factors:\n\n> (1) the balance between the litigation's possibility of success and the settlement's future benefits; (2) the likelihood of complex and protracted litigation, \"with its attendant expense, inconvenience, and delay\" . . . ; (3) the \"paramount interests of the creditors,\" including each affected class's relative benefits \"and the degree to which creditors either do not object to or affirmatively support the proposed settlement\"; (4) whether other parties in interest support the settlement; (5) the \"competency and experience of counsel\" supporting, and \"[t]he experience and knowledge of the bankruptcy court judge\" reviewing, the settlement; (6) \"the nature and breadth of releases to be obtained by officers and directors\"; and (7) \"the extent to which the settlement is the product of arm's length bargaining.\"\n\n*Iridium*, 478 F.3d at 462.\n\n#### **II. Settlement Agreement Should Be Approved**\n\n24. The Settlement Agreement is a positive outcome for the Estate and, by extension, the creditors of the Estate, and it is a fair and reasonable compromise under the circumstances and considering the applicable *Iridium* factors.\n\n25. The Settlement Agreement provides for the Estate to obtain the Settlement Amount without litigation, the cost of which would likely be substantial, and which (accounting for potential appeals) could last for years. While the Trustee is confident in the merits of the Claims, he recognizes that litigation is uncertain and that Brown Rudnick would raise significant factual and legal issues that Brown Rudnick contends would exonerate it in any litigation of the Claims. Moreover, the proposed settlement will result in the Estate obtaining funds without the uncertainty or delay arising from litigation and potential appeals.\n\n26. The Trustee thus believes the proposed Settlement Agreement satisfies Bankruptcy Rule 9019 and should be approved.\n\n#### **NOTICE OF MOTION**\n\n27. Pursuant to the *Order Granting Motion to Limit Notice of Motions Pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019 Regarding Mediated/Avoidance Claim Settlements* dated October 15, 2024 [Docket No. 3685], notice of this Motion will be sent to all appearing parties who utilize the Court's case management/electronic case file system and any party that requested notice in this Chapter 11 Case but is unable to accept electronic filing as indicated on the Notice of Electronic Filing. The foregoing will serve: (a) the United States Trustee, (b) Debtor's counsel, (c) the Committee's counsel, and (d) the counterparty to the settlement at issue in this Motion (*i.e.*, Brown Rudnick). The Trustee submitsthat, under the circumstances, no other or further notice is required.\n\n### **NO PREVIOUS REQUEST**\n\n28. No previous request for the relief sought herein has been made by the Trustee to this or any other court.\n\n[*Remainder of page intentionally left blank*.]\n\nWHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, the Trustee respectfully requests entry of the Proposed Order granting the relief requested in the Motion and such other relief as is just and proper.\n\nDated: \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_ \\_\\_, 2025 LUC A. DESPINS, New Haven, Connecticut CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE\n\nBy: */s/ DRAFT*\n\nPatrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n*Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*\n\n# **EXHIBIT A**\n\n**Proposed Order**\n\n### **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| --------------------------------------------------------------- | x | |\n|-----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|--|\n| In re: | :
:
Chapter 11 | |\n| HO WAN KWOK, | :
:
Case No. 22-50073 (JAM)
: | |\n| Debtor. | :
: | |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------- | x | |\n\n# **[PROPOSED] ORDER APPROVING MOTION OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE, PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY RULE 9019, REGARDING SETTLEMENT WITH BROWN RUDNICK LLP**\n\nUpon the Motion,1 of Luc A. Despins, in his capacity as the Chapter 11 Trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the above-captioned chapter 11 case (the \"Chapter 11 Case\") of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\"), for entry of an order approving a settlement agreement between the Trustee and Brown Rudnick LLP (\"Brown Rudnick\" and, together with the Trustee, the \"Parties\"), as more fully described in the Motion and the settlement agreement attached to the Motion as Exhibit B (the \"Settlement Agreement\"); and the Court having jurisdiction to consider the Motion and the relief requested therein in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334; and this matter constituting a core proceeding within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2); and due and sufficient notice having been given under the particular circumstances and it appears that no other or further notice need be provided; and the relief requested being a reasonable exercise of the Trustee's sound business judgment consistent with his duties and in the best interests of the Trustee and the Estate and its creditors; and the Parties having participated in Mediation Proceedings pursuant to which Judge Tancredi has issued the Mediator's Report stating his belief that the economics of the\n\n1 Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Order have the meanings set forth in the Motion.\n\nSettlement Agreement are fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of the Chapter 11 estate as measured by the standards of *In re Iridium Operating LLC*, 478 F.3d 452, 462 (2d Cir. 2007) and otherwise deferring to this Court's evaluation of the Settlement Agreement, and the Court having determined that the terms of the Settlement Agreement are fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of the Estate; and after due deliberation and sufficient cause appearing therefor, it is **ORDERED THAT**:\n\n1. The Motion is GRANTED.\n\n2. All objections to the Motion, if any, that have not been withdrawn, waived or settled, and all reservations of rights included therein, are overruled.\n\n3. The Settlement Agreement is approved pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019.\n\n4. The Trustee is authorized, pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019, to execute, deliver, implement, and fully perform any and all obligations, instruments, documents and papers and to take any and all actions reasonably necessary or appropriate to consummate the settlement reflected in the Settlement Agreement and to perform any and all obligations contemplated therein immediately upon entry of this Order.\n\n5. The Court finds that the Trustee holds, and has the right to settle and release, all potential claims on behalf of the Estate to the extent provided by the Settlement Agreement, including potential claims owned by the Debtor against Brown Rudnick.\n\n6. This Order shall be effective and enforceable immediately upon entry pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 6004(h).\n\n7. This Court shall retain jurisdiction to hear and determine all matters arising from or related to this Order and to the Settlement Agreement.\n\n2\n\n### **EXHIBIT B**\n\n29\n\n**Settlement Agreement**\n\n### **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| --------------------------------------------------------------- | x | |\n|-----------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|--|\n| | : | |\n| In re: | :
Chapter 11 | |\n| | : | |\n| HO WAN KWOK, | :
Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) | |\n| | : | |\n| Debtor. | : | |\n| | : | |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------- | x | |\n\n### **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**\n\nThe foregoing, inclusive of all exhibits thereto, was filed using the Court's case management/electronic case files (\"CM/ECF\") system in the above-captioned chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Chapter 11 Case\"). Notice of this filing will be sent automatically via email by operation of the CM/ECF system to all parties appearing in the Chapter 11 Case that are eligible to receive electronic notice and within one business day by U.S. Mail to any appearing parties not eligible to receive electronic notice.\n\n[*Remainder of page intentionally left blank*.]\n\nDated this \\_\\_\\_ day of \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_ 2025 at New Haven, Connecticut\n\n### */s/ DRAFT*\n\nPatrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.com","body_zh":"附件B\n\n和解协议\n和解协议\n\n本和解协议（以下简称“本协议”）由以下双方于2025年4月4日订立：（a）Luc A. Despins（卢克·A·德斯平斯），以其在Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，以下简称“债务人”或“郭”）第11章案件中获任命的第11章受托人（以下简称“受托人”）身份；及（b）BROWN RUDNICK LLP（布朗·拉德尼克律师事务所，以下简称“BRL”，与受托人合称“双方”）。双方现同意如下：\n鉴于条款\n\n鉴于，债务人于2022年2月15日（以下简称“申请日”）向United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格联邦破产法院，以下简称“法院”）提交了根据《破产法》第11章寻求救济的自愿申请，该案件以案号22-50073（以下简称“破产案件”）进行管理；\n\n鉴于，破产案件的提交依据《破产法》第541条设立了一个财产集合（以下简称“破产财产”或“财产集合”）；\n\n鉴于，2022年6月15日，法院作出了一份决定备忘录及命令（以下简称“受托人命令”），指示United States Trustee（美国受托人）在债务人的第11章案件中任命一名第11章受托人；\n\n鉴于，根据受托人命令，美国受托人选定Luc A. Despins担任受托人，并且于2022年7月8日，法院作出命令，批准Luc A. Despins担任破产案件受托人的任命，并责成受托人履行其中所述的职责和义务；\n\n鉴于，在申请日前后，BRL均曾就与破产案件有关的事项代理郭文贵；BRL声明，该代理约于2022年2月11日开始，并约于2022年8月1日结束，以下称为“破产代理”；该术语明确不包括刑事辩护代理（定义见下文）；\n\n鉴于，在破产代理之后，BRL受聘就United States Government（美国政府）对债务人进行的刑事调查及起诉提供建议和法律服务；BRL声明，该受聘约于2023年3月16日开始，并约于2023年7月12日结束（以下简称“刑事辩护代理”）；双方已明确将其排除在本协议规定的和解及解除范围之外；\n\n鉴于，受托人主张破产财产持有因破产代理而产生的针对BRL的某些请求权，而BRL明确否认该等请求权；\n\n鉴于，双方已就破产财产对BRL持有的任何请求权以及反之亦然的任何请求权订立时效中止协议；\n\n鉴于，为避免诉讼的费用、负担和不便，受托人与BRL已达成和解，以解决获释请求权（定义见下文），但须遵守本协议规定的条款和条件；以及\n\n鉴于，双方希望并意图根据本协议条款，就获释请求权达成最终和解及解决。\n协议条款\n\n因此，鉴于上述鉴于条款及附随本协议的附件均纳入本协议，以及鉴于本协议载明的相互协议、承诺及解除，以及其他良好且有价值的对价，双方特此确认该等对价的充分性及收悉，双方同意如下：\n\n1. 和解金额。作为本协议所载解除及本协议提供的其他有价值对价的对价，并为完全清偿针对BRL的获释请求权，BRL同意向受托人支付$7,000,000，另加BRL目前以信托方式持有的$948,000，该金额为其为在破产案件中代理郭文贵而收取的预付律师费的余额，合计$7,948,000（以下简称“和解金额”）。作为本协议解决针对BRL的获释请求权的一部分，BRL放弃并进一步同意不就其与破产代理有关已提供的服务申请任何费用，亦不申请偿还BRL已发生的任何费用。\n\n2. 本协议的生效。本协议须经法院在破产案件中批准。本协议应于法院在破产案件中作出与本协议第3段一致的命令（以下简称“命令”）且该命令成为终局时生效（以下简称“生效日”）。为免生疑，生效日不得早于以下两项中较晚发生者：（i）命令作出，以及自命令作出之日起经过三十五日，在该期间内未就该命令提起上诉，亦未提出《破产程序联邦规则》第8002(b)条所规定的动议，或未发生其他延长上诉期限的事件（例如有管辖权法院批准中止）；及（ii）如已提起任何上诉、已提出《破产程序联邦规则》第8002(b)条所规定的动议，或发生其他延长提起上诉期限的事件（例如有管辖权法院批准中止），则该等上诉获得最终且完全解决，或者未在适用的提交期限前提起该等上诉。本协议应连同双方共同请求Mediator（调解员）Honorable James J. Tancredi（詹姆斯·J·坦克雷迪法官）根据诉前调解命令1出具一份建议法院批准本协议条款的诉前和解报告，一并提交给该调解员。\n\na. 根据诉前调解命令第2.v.段，并除下文第2.b.段另有规定外，受托人应在出具诉前和解报告（定义见诉前调解命令）后三十（30）日内，根据《破产程序联邦规则》第9019条提交一项动议，请求法院批准本协议，并将诉前／出庭前和解报告作为附件附上（该动议连同其附件，以下简称“9019动议”）；受托人可将该动议作为请求批准其他和解协议的综合动议的一部分提交。\n\n1 “诉前调解命令”系指《修订指示各方进行调解的命令、任命Honorable James H. Tancredi（詹姆斯·H·坦克雷迪法官）为调解员并修订批准适用于撤销请求权对抗程序的程序以促进协商一致的诉前调解和出庭前调解的命令》（案号22-50073，案卷编号3465）。\n\nb. 受托人应在其收到诉前／出庭前和解报告的同一天，通过电子邮件将该报告发送给BRL的律师；双方同意，除非BRL事先授权，受托人应在向BRL律师交付诉前／出庭前和解报告后不早于十（10）个营业日，按照作为附件A附于本协议的格式提交9019动议（但受托人可在提交前添加或变更文件日期，以使其符合提交日期，并可按照双方以书面同意的任何方式对文件作出其他变更，该等书面同意可由双方律师之间的电子邮件予以记录）。\n\n3. 命令的形式。批准9019动议的命令应：（a）不受限制或增补地批准本协议的所有条款；（b）载明一项认定，即受托人持有并有权和解及解除针对BRL的获释请求权；以及（c）不受任何中止的约束，包括但不限于《破产程序规则》第6004(h)条规定的中止。\n\n4. 支付和解金额的期限。BRL应于生效日后五（5）个营业日内，促使以即时可用资金向受托人支付和解金额。BRL应通过发起电汇（一次或多次）促使支付和解金额。全部和解金额将支付给受托人。任何该等电汇应汇入受托人指定的账户，并依照受托人律师已向BRL律师提供的电汇指示进行，BRL确认已收到该等指示。\n\n受托人确认并同意，在构成全部和解金额的电汇已汇给受托人后，BRL及其保险人对和解金额任何部分的分配或支付，或确保受托人向任何个人、账户或实体支付任何款项，均绝对不具有任何作用或责任。双方明确理解，BRL的付款义务应在依照受托人通过双方律师以电子邮件向BRL提供的电汇指示完成和解金额的转账、从而全额支付和解金额（以下简称“和解付款”）后立即完全履行，且BRL不对任何税款、抵销或任何其他扣除或其他事项承担任何责任，亦不会承担该等责任。\n\n5. 未及时支付和解金额。如BRL未能依照本协议第4段向受托人支付和解金额，则BRL同意并授权受托人自行决定，通过向BRL发出书面终止本协议通知，立即终止本协议。于本和解协议发生任何终止时，受托人可选择并寻求其可获得的任何救济，包括但不限于：（i）提起对抗程序以追究针对BRL的获释请求权；及（ii）在法律允许的最大范围内执行本协议。\n\n6. 相互解除。\n\na. “BRL获解除请求权（BRL Released Claims）”系指由破产财产（Bankruptcy Estate）拥有、持有或能够由破产财产或代表破产财产、以及目前或将来以、根据、通过或代表破产财产提出主张的任何其他个人或实体及其各自的继承人或受让人拥有、持有或能够提出主张的任何及所有种类或性质的请求权、反请求、申诉、争议、要求、权利、诉讼、潜在诉讼、诉因、债权证明、责任、义务、损害赔偿、损失、价值减损、义务、判决书、法令、律师费或费用请求、事项、问题、诉讼、程序及争议，无论已知或未知，依普通法、衡平法或其他法律提出或未提出，附条件或绝对，已清算或未清算，已发生或未发生，已怀疑或未怀疑，已披露或未披露，已主张或未主张，显而易见或不显而易见，可预见或不可预见，已到期或未到期，有担保或无担保，目前存在、此前或先前存在，并寻求实际损害赔偿及惩罚性损害赔偿、设定推定信托、返还财产、赔偿以及与此相关或其他宣告性救济的请求权（统称“请求权”），针对BRL被解除方（BRL Releasees，定义见下文）提出，无论该等请求权是否于生效日（Effective Date）当日或之前提出，包括但不限于根据联邦、州或外国法律、普通法、破产法、制定法、衡平法、规则或条例或协议产生的任何请求权，无论其为个人、集体、直接、派生、代表、代表他人、法律、衡平、监管、政府性质，或任何其他类型或以任何其他身份提出，并包括因侵权、违约、欺诈性让与和转让、违反信义义务、违反忠实义务或服从义务、律师职业过失、追偿律师费、返还财产以及破产财产的撤销或追偿诉讼而产生或基于该等事由的诉讼，破产法典（Bankruptcy Code）项下的任何其他请求权，以及可由财产代表根据破产法典第362条或第5章提起的诉讼；但BRL获解除请求权不包括任何刑事辩护除外请求权（Criminal Defense Carve-Out Claims，定义见下文）。在遵守刑事辩护除外事项（Criminal Defense Carve-Out，定义见下文）的前提下，BRL获解除请求权应包括截至生效日存在且根据适用法律仅可由破产财产或代表破产财产（包括受托人（Trustee）和/或任何政府实体）针对BRL被解除方（定义见下文）提出的任何请求权。为免生疑问，如受托人或破产财产现拥有或控制此前由任何其他个人或实体持有和/或控制的、针对BRL被解除方（定义见下文）的请求权的权益或控制权，例如但仅作为示例，此前由Kwok（郭文贵）或破产财产的投资者和/或债权人持有的请求权，则除非受刑事辩护除外事项（定义见下文）约束，任何该等请求权均包括在BRL获解除请求权的定义内。\n\nb. “破产财产及受托人获解除请求权（Estate and Trustee Released Claims）”系指针对破产财产及受托人被解除方（Estate and Trustee Releasees，定义见下文）的任何及所有请求权，无论该等请求权是否于生效日当日或之前提出，包括但不限于根据联邦、州或外国法律、普通法、破产法、制定法、衡平法、规则或条例或协议产生的任何请求权，无论其为个人、集体、直接、派生、代表、代表他人、法律、衡平、监管、政府性质，或任何其他类型或以任何其他身份提出，并包括任何报酬和/或费用偿还请求，和/或破产法典项下的任何其他请求权；但破产财产及受托人获解除请求权不包括任何刑事辩护除外请求权（定义见下文）。\n\nc. “刑事辩护除外请求权”系指针对BRL被解除方（定义见下文）或破产财产及受托人被解除方（定义见下文）的、与刑事辩护代理（Criminal Defense Representation）有关的任何及所有请求权，包括但不限于因与刑事辩护代理有关的转让而产生的任何撤销或追偿诉讼；“刑事辩护除外事项”系指将刑事辩护除外请求权排除在BRL获解除请求权及破产财产及受托人获解除请求权（统称“获解除请求权”）之外。尽管本协议有任何其他规定，BRL及受托人和破产财产均保留针对刑事辩护除外请求权的所有抗辩，且BRL保留在破产财产就刑事辩护除外请求权依据11 U.S.C. § 550获得任何追偿的范围内，向破产财产提出请求权的一切权利。\n\nd. “破产财产及受托人被解除方”系指：(i) 破产财产；(ii) 受托人；及(iii) 以其各自该等身份行事的受托人的任何及所有律师、会计师、顾问、代表或代理人。\n\ne. “BRL被解除方”系指：(i) BRL；及(ii) 以其各自该等身份行事的BRL现任及前任合伙人、律师助理、雇员、律师（包括但不限于Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP及其现任和前任合伙人、律师助理及雇员）、保险人、共同保险人、再保险人、会计师、顾问、代表或代理人。\n\nf. 破产财产及受托人的解除。于生效日，并以受托人收到和解款项（Settlement Payment）为条件，作为对本协议所载约定及其他对价的交换，受托人代表其本人及破产财产，特此无条件、绝对且不可撤销地解除并免除BRL被解除方就所有BRL获解除请求权所负的一切责任；受托人的意图是，不保留本协议项下任何BRL获解除请求权，并确保BRL被解除方免受每一项无论性质及描述为何的BRL获解除请求权之干扰和负担；但本款任何内容均不得被视为或解释为解除、放弃或免除本协议的条款和条件，或任何刑事辩护除外请求权。\n\ng. BRL的解除。于生效日，作为对本协议所载约定及其他对价的交换，BRL特此无条件、绝对且不可撤销地解除并免除破产财产及受托人被解除方就所有破产财产及受托人获解除请求权所负的一切责任；BRL的意图是，不保留任何破产财产及受托人获解除请求权，并确保破产财产及受托人被解除方免受每一项无论性质及描述为何的破产财产及受托人获解除请求权之干扰和负担；但本款任何内容均不得被视为或解释为解除、放弃或免除本协议的条款和条件，或任何刑事辩护除外请求权。\n\nh. 不解除第三方责任。为免生疑问，本协议或命令（Order）中的任何内容均不得、亦不得被解释为，导致解除由非本协议当事人独家持有或拥有的任何请求权。若该等非当事人可能对受托人、破产财产、破产财产被解除方（Estate Releasees）、BRL、BRL被解除方或郭文贵享有该等请求权，并具有提出该等请求权的诉讼资格，则该等请求权及该等诉讼资格均不因本协议或命令而受到任何影响。\n\n7. 不起诉承诺／解除范围／获解除请求权的保密性。当事人承诺并同意，除为执行本协议条款外，不会相互提出、主张或维持任何根据本协议获解除的请求、要求、诉讼或诉因。在就刑事辩护除外请求权提起的任何程序中，当事人不得提及或描述据称导致获解除请求权的BRL行为（“已解除事项”），但可提及在该等日期期间破产代理（Bankruptcy Representation）这一事实，或BRL在公开案卷上提交文件这一事实，且不得提及其他任何事项。\n\n8. 诉讼费用和成本。各当事人应自行承担其律师费、成本和费用，包括因下列事项产生的费用：(a) 调查、诉讼、起诉或抗辩与获解除请求权有关的已经或可能提出的所有请求权和抗辩；及(b) 本协议的谈判和签署。但是，如发生违反本协议的情形，在为执行本协议而提起的诉讼中胜诉的一方或多方，除获得任何其他裁判救济外，还有权追偿为成功起诉或抗辩该诉讼所产生的合理且必要的成本和律师费。\n\n9. 当事人不承认责任。本协议不构成当事人承认任何不当行为，或承认违反任何联邦或州制定法或普通法权利，或任何其他可能或被主张的违法或侵犯权利的行为。当事人订立本协议仅为达成妥协及友好和解，且该和解不应被解释为任何人承认责任。各当事人坚决否认另一当事人提出的任何及所有请求权。\n\n10. 当事人的理解。当事人声明并保证，其已在律师协助下阅读并理解本协议条款。\n\n11. 声明与保证。\n\na. BRL声明并保证：\n\ni. 其拥有起诉、和解及解除破产财产及受托人获解除请求权的专属权利；\n\nii. 破产代理于2022年2月11日或前后开始，并于2022年8月1日或前后结束；\n\niii. 刑事辩护代理于2023年3月16日或前后开始，并于2023年7月12日或前后结束；及\n\niv. BRL从未就向受托人、破产财产或郭文贵或破产财产的债权人隐匿或秘密转移资产向郭文贵提供建议。\n\nb. 受托人声明并保证，据受托人所知，针对BRL被解除方的、属于或原本将属于BRL获解除请求权的任何请求权均未被出售、转让、让与、授予或以其他方式移转给任何第三方。\n\nc. 本协议当事人声明并保证：\n\ni. 各当事人均获授权以或代表该当事人作出本协议所载的声明和约定；\n\nii. 代表一方或多方当事人签署的每名个人，均有充分权力、授权及行为能力代表其所签署代表的当事人签署及订立本协议；\n\niii. 获解除请求权中无任何请求权已经或将在生效日前被出售、让与、寄售、移转，或以其他方式转让或代位；\n\niv. 各当事人此前未让与、出售、转让、移转、设定质押担保、质押或以其他方式处分由本协议解除的任何权利、请求权或救济，或其任何部分或其中任何权益；及\n\nv. 各当事人不会让与、出售、移转、转让、设定质押担保、质押或以其他方式处分由本协议解除的任何权利、请求权或救济，或其任何部分或其中任何权益。任何违反本规定的让与、出售、转让、移转、设定质押担保、质押或其他处分，自始无效且不具任何效力。\n\nd. 本协议载明的声明与保证在本协议签署及交付后继续有效。\n\n12. 对继受人的约束力。本协议项下的义务和条款对各方及其各自的权益继受人、受让人、法定代表人、保险人以及可能通过各方对本文所免责事项取得任何权益的所有其他个人或实体（包括但不限于遗产财产及受托人被免责方以及 BRL 被免责方）均具有约束力。前述个人和实体，包括但不限于遗产财产及受托人被免责方以及 BRL 被免责方，均为本协议的第三方受益人，并受本协议约束且可执行本协议。\n\n13. 本协议的使用。本协议可作为对可能就任何已免责请求提起、进行或尝试进行的任何诉讼、诉讼程序或其他程序的完整且充分抗辩。各方同意，任何该等程序均将对被提起该等程序的一方造成不可弥补的损害，且任何有管辖权的法院均可作出禁止继续该等程序的禁令。各方进一步同意，为执行本协议之目的，可在必要时援引本协议。本段任何内容均无意否定或损害各方执行本协议的权利，包括但不限于执行和解付款的权利。\n\n14. 合作／促成：双方明确同意，作为本协议不可分割的组成部分及本协议的重要对价，受托人不得反对与本协议一致的后续动议或请求，以请求作出和／或由法院作出任何命令，该命令应当：(a) 执行本协议中的免责条款和／或 (b) 禁止针对 BRL 提出本协议免责范围内的请求或事项。\n\n15. 同意管辖。各方特此不可撤销地同意法院对任何执行本协议条款及规定的诉讼享有有限管辖权，并明确放弃在任何其他审理机构提起任何该等诉讼的任何权利。各方同意，本协议中的任何内容，包括但不限于本段，不构成亦不得被解释为 BRL 对破产法院就任何潜在对抗程序或任何其他事项行使管辖权可能提出的任何异议的任何形式的放弃，但本段明确规定者除外。\n\n16. 完整协议。本协议反映各方就本协议标的达成的完整协议和谅解。所有先前的协议、承诺和谅解，无论书面或口头、明示或默示，均明确被本协议取代，并就本协议标的不再具有任何效力或作用。本协议为一份完整整合的协议。尽管有前述规定，时效中止协议仍应依其条款保持完全有效。\n\n17. 对协议的修改。双方明确理解并同意，除非经所有各方签署书面文件，本协议不得在任何方面被变更、修订、修改或以其他方式更改。\n\n18. 关于协议的弃权。各方在任何一次或多次情形中未坚持严格履行本协议的任何规定，或未行使本协议所载的任何选择权，不得被解释为对该等规定或选择权的弃权，或对其未来权利的放弃；该等规定或选择权仍应继续保持完全有效。\n\n19. 和解讨论及保密。本协议系对原本将成为各方之间诉讼标的事项进行调解和解的一部分。根据《联邦证据规则》第 408 条、任何适用的州证据规则或调解特权，以及任何其他适用的外国或国内法律，与本协议有关的所有谈判均不得在除执行其条款的程序以外的任何程序中被发现或作为证据采纳。\n\n20. 准据法。本协议应受纽约州法律管辖并依其解释，不考虑其法律冲突程序。\n\n21. 副本。本协议可签署多份内容相同的副本，每一该等副本在所有目的下均应视为正本，但所有副本共同构成一份协议。以电子方式签署的签名在所有目的下均应视为原始签名。\n\n22. 通知。本协议要求的所有通知或信息均应以书面形式作出，并应在通过全国认可的隔夜快递服务递送至以下各方地址时（或递送至一方通过同类通知指定的其他地址时）视为已送达；但地址变更通知仅自另一方收到该通知之日起生效。各方同意，其将同时通过电子邮件向对方律师（发送至下列各自地址）发送任何有关本协议的通知或通信的礼节性副本：\n\n如通知受托人：Patrick R. Linsey\nNEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C.\n195 Church Street, 13th Floor\nNew Haven, Connecticut 06510\n(203) 781-2847\nplinsey@npmlaw.com\n\nLuc A. Despins\nPAUL HASTINGS LLP\n200 Park Avenue\nNew York, New York 10166\n(212) 318-6000\nlucdespins@paulhastings.com\n如通知 BRL：Joel S. Miliband\nBROWN RUDNICK LLP（布朗·拉德尼克律师事务所）\n2211 Michelson Drive, 7th Floor\nIrvine, CA 92612\njmiliband@brownrudnick.com\n\n抄送：Kevin S. Rosen\nMichael Dore\nGIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER, LLP\n333 South Grand Avenue\nLos Angeles, CA 90071\nkrosen@gibsondunn.com\nmdore@gibsondunn.com\n\n23. 解释；解释规则；由律师代理。各方同意，其在本协议的谈判及签署过程中均由法律顾问代理，因此放弃适用任何规定协议或其他文件中的歧义应作不利于起草该协议或文件一方解释的法律、法规、判例或解释规则。在本协议中，除非另有规定或上下文另有要求：(a) 每当使用“include”、“includes”或“including”一词时，均视为其后附有“without limitation”一语；(b) 本协议所载定义适用于该等术语的单数及复数形式；(c) 除非明确另有说明，使用“or”或“nor”并非意图具有排他性或限制性；以及 (d) 表示单数的词语包括复数，反之亦然，表示性别的词语包括所有性别。\n\n24. 各方的善意；不存在胁迫或不当影响。各方明确陈述并保证，本协议系出于善意作出。各方均确认并陈述，其是在未受到任何其他一方或任何其他个人施加的任何胁迫——经济胁迫或其他胁迫——或不当影响或压力的情况下订立本协议，且各方均在有机会咨询法律顾问及其可能选择咨询的任何其他人士后，自愿订立本协议。各方进一步陈述，其已自行进行尽职调查，以此作为决定订立本协议的依据，且除本协议明确规定外，其并未依赖任何其他一方的陈述、诱因、行为或不作为。\n\n25. 除非协议明确说明，否则不存在第三方受益人。除非本协议明确说明（例如但仅作为示例，第 12 段），本协议应仅为各方的利益而订立，任何其他个人或实体均不得为第三方受益人。为免疑义，根据本协议条款获得免责的所有个人和实体均为该等免责的第三方受益人。\n\n26. 可分割性。各方同意，不对本协议或其任何规定以违法、无效或不可执行为由提出异议。除本文所含的免责条款外，如本协议的任何部分、规定或条款因任何原因被认定、确定或裁决为无效、不可执行或无效力，则每一该等部分、规定或条款应与本协议其余部分、规定或条款相分割，且不影响本协议该等其余部分、规定或条款的有效性或可执行性。各方明确同意，本协议条款应以旨在使其在最大可能范围内有效且可执行的方式予以解释。\n\n27. 标题的效力。本协议各段的标题仅为便于查阅而设，不应控制或影响本协议或任何该等段落的含义、意图、解释或效力。\n\n［本页其余部分有意留白；后附签署页］\n\nLUC A. DESPINS，以其作为 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）第 11 章案件中获指定第 11 章受托人的身份\n\n签署人：________________________________________\n姓名：Luc A. Despins\n职务：第 11 章受托人\n/s/ Luc A. Despins\n\nBROWN RUDNICK LLP（布朗·拉德尼克律师事务所）\n\n签署人：________________________________________\n\n姓名：Joel S. Miliband\n职务：合伙人兼总法律顾问\n\n附件 A\n\nUNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格州联邦破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\n---------------------------------------------------------------　x\n\n关于：　：\n：\n第 11 章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵），　：\n：\n案号 22-50073 (JAM)\n\n债务人。　：\n\n---------------------------------------------------------------　x\n\n第 11 章受托人根据《破产程序规则》第 9019 条就与 BROWN RUDNICK LLP 达成和解所提出的动议\n\nLuc A. Despins，以其作为 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）第 11 章案件（“第 11 章案件”）中获指定第 11 章受托人（“受托人”）的身份，特此根据《联邦破产程序规则》（“破产程序规则”）第 9019(a) 条、United States Bankruptcy Court District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格州联邦破产法院）《地方破产程序规则》（“地方规则”）第 9019-1(a) 条，以及法院的《程序命令》和《诉前调解命令》（定义见本文）1，提交本动议（“本动议”），请求作出一项实质上采用随附附件 A 所附格式的命令（“拟议命令”），批准受托人与 (b) Brown Rudnick LLP（“Brown Rudnick”，并与受托人合称“各方”）之间达成的和解协议（“和解协议”）的条款。为支持本动议，受托人谨陈述如下：\n\n初步声明\n\n1. 受托人已达成协议，以解决破产财产对 Brown Rudnick 提出的请求。拟议和解协议是根据《诉前调解命令》在协商一致的诉前／出庭前调解中进行的善意、独立交易谈判的产物。\n\n1 本文使用但未定义的首字母大写术语，应在适用情况下具有《程序命令》和《诉前调解命令》中规定的含义，或具有本文规定的含义。\n\n案号 22-50073 文书 4298-2 于 04/04/25 提交，于 04/04/25 20:13:28 登记，第 16 页，共 29 页\n\nTancredi 法官已出具其调解员报告，载明其建议“法院认定，依照 In re Iridium Operating LLC, 478 F.3d 452, 462 (2d Cir. 2007) 的标准衡量，和解协议的经济条款公平、合理，且符合第 11 章破产财产的最佳利益。”\n\n2. 通过拟议和解，破产财产将为债权人的利益取得近 $8 million，而无需承担诉讼的成本和不确定性；Brown Rudnick（布朗·鲁德尼克律师事务所）将放弃就其在本第11章案件中代理债务人所主张的任何律师费及费用。受托人已对该等请求权进行了广泛调查，并认为该项解决方案将为债权人创造价值，且按照 Iridium 的标准衡量，显然符合破产财产的最佳利益。因此，应当准许该动议。\n\n管辖权和审判地\n\n3. 本院根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334 以及 United States District Court for the District of Connecticut（康涅狄格联邦地区法院）作出的移送常设命令，对审理该动议具有管辖权。根据 28 U.S.C. § 157(b) 的含义，本案属于核心程序。\n\n4. 根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409，本地区为适格审判地。\n\n5. 本文所请求救济的依据为 Bankruptcy Rule 9019(a) 和 Local Rule 9019-1(a)。\n\n背景\n\n6. 于 2022 年 2 月初前后，债务人就可能提交破产申请之事聘请 Brown Rudnick，由此开始其就与本第11章案件有关事项代理债务人。Brown Rudnick 获支付 $1,000,000.00 的预付聘金，以\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 4298-2 Filed 04/04/25 Entered 04/04/25 20:13:28 Page 17 of 29\n\n担保其就与本第11章案件有关事项代理债务人的费用；Brown Rudnick 目前仍持有其中的 $948,000.00（以下简称“预付聘金”）。\n\n7. 2022 年 2 月 15 日（以下简称“申请日”），债务人向 United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut（康涅狄格联邦破产法院）（以下简称“本院”）提交了根据 Bankruptcy Code（破产法）第11章寻求救济的自愿申请，从而启动本第11章案件。Brown Rudnick 就该破产申请代理债务人，并担任债务人的破产法律顾问，直至其在本第11章案件中终止代理债务人为止。\n\n8. 2022 年 3 月 21 日，United States Trustee（美国受托人）在本第11章案件中指定了一个无担保债权人正式委员会（以下简称“委员会”）。本第11章案件中尚未指定审查员。\n\n9. 2022 年 4 月 29 日，本院作出《授权聘任和雇用 Brown Rudnick LLP 作为债务人及占有中债务人法律顾问的命令》[Docket No. 293]。\n\n10. 2022 年 6 月 15 日，本院作出决定备忘录及命令（以下简称“受托人命令”），指示美国受托人在本第11章案件中指定一名第11章受托人。根据受托人命令，美国受托人选定 Luc A. Despins（吕克·A. 德斯平）担任受托人；2022 年 7 月 8 日，本院作出命令，批准任命 Luc A. Despins 为本第11章案件的受托人。\n\n11. 2024 年 7 月 11 日，替代法律顾问在本第11章案件中代表债务人出庭 [Docket No. 543]。2024 年 7 月 13 日，Brown Rudnick 提出动议，请求准许其退出担任本第11章案件中债务人的法律顾问 [Docket No. 543]；本院于 2022 年 8 月 2 日准许该动议 [Docket No. 666]。Brown Rudnick 保留申请核准及支付费用和开支的权利。\n\n12. 受托人认为，债务人的第11章破产财产（以下简称“破产财产”）对 Brown Rudnick 享有因 Brown Rudnick 在本第11章案件中代理债务人而产生的请求权（以下简称“请求权”）。Brown Rudnick 明确否认该等请求权。\n\n13. 受托人准备在就该动议举行的听证会上进一步说明拟议和解的理由，并回答本院可能提出的任何问题。\n\n和解\n\n14. 2024 年 5 月 2 日，本院作出《指示当事人进行调解、指定 Honorable James J. Tancredi（詹姆斯·J. 坦克雷迪）法官为调解员，并修订批准适用于撤销请求权对抗程序之程序的命令》[Docket No. 3163]（以下简称“程序命令”）。\n\n15. 2024 年 8 月 28 日，本院作出《修订指示当事人进行调解、指定 Honorable James J. Tancredi 法官为调解员，并修订批准适用于撤销请求权对抗程序之程序以促进协商一致的诉前及出庭前调解的命令》[Docket No. 3465]（以下简称“诉前调解命令”）。\n\n16. 在 2024 年夏季期间，受托人联系 Brown Rudnick，讨论其对该等请求权的看法，并确定是否可能达成协商一致的解决方案；各方随后着手协商解决方案。\n\n17. 各方通过其法律顾问，就该等请求权进行了善意、独立交易的讨论。经该等讨论以及多轮提案和反提案后，各方达成本文件附件 B 所附的和解协议。\n\n18. 和解协议的重要条款包括如下：2\n\na. Brown Rudnick 应当：(i) 向破产财产支付 $7,000,000，连同预付聘金，总计 $7,948,000（以下简称“和解金额”）；\n\nb. Brown Rudnick 同意不就其在本第11章案件中代理债务人所提供的服务申请任何费用，亦不申请偿还所发生的任何开支；以及\n\nc. 各方相互交换豁免，但该等豁免的范围不包括与 Brown Rudnick 在本第11章案件中代理债务人无关的某些事项。\n\n19. 2025 年 1 月 30 日，各方向 Tancredi 法官提交该等请求权，以进行诉前/出庭前调解（以下简称“调解”）。根据诉前调解命令，Tancredi 法官已审阅拟议和解。\n\n20. 在本文件附件 3 所附的《诉前/出庭前和解报告》（以下简称“调解员报告”）中，Tancredi 法官认可拟议和解的经济条件，认为其“公平、合理，且按照 In re Iridium Operating LLC, 478 F.3d 452, 462 (2d Cir. 2007)（以下简称“Iridium”）的标准衡量，符合第11章破产财产的最佳利益”。鉴于“Brown Rudnick 与债务人及其关联方之间被指称关系的复杂性”，Tancredi 法官未就和解协议的条款作出其他评论，而交由本院进行评估。各方感谢 Tancredi 法官的服务。\n\n请求的救济\n\n21. 受托人通过该动议，请求本院根据 Bankruptcy Rule 9019(a) 作出命令，整体批准和解协议，并授权各方依照其条款订立及实施和解协议。\n\n2 如该动议中对和解协议的摘要说明与和解协议条款之间存在任何不一致，应以和解协议条款为准。\n\n请求救济的依据\n\nI. 批准和解协议的标准\n\n22. 为根据 Bankruptcy Rule 9019 批准和解与解决方案，破产法院应认定该和解与解决方案公平、公正、合理，且符合债务人破产财产的最佳利益。参见，例如，In re Ionosphere Clubs, Inc., 156 B.R. 414, 426 (S.D.N.Y. 1993.), aff'd, 17 F.3d 600 (2d Cir. 1994) (citations omitted); In re Enron Corp., No. 02 Civ. 8489(AKH), 2003 WL 230838, at *2 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Jan. 31, 2003)。批准特定和解的决定属于破产法院的合理裁量权范围。参见 Nellis v. Shugrue, 165 B.R. 115, 122-23 (S.D.N.Y. 1994)。\n\n23. 重要的是，“和解不必是债务人本可获得的最佳和解。”In re Adelphia Commc'ns Corp., 327 B.R. 143, 159 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2005) (citing In re Penn Cent. Transp. Co., 596 F.2d 1102, 1114 (3d Cir. 1979))。相反，法院仅需“审视争议问题，并判断该和解是否低于合理性范围的最低点。”Id. (citing In re W.T. Grant Co., 699 F.2d 599, 608 (2d Cir. 1983))。在决定特定和解是否属于“合理性范围”内时，法院考虑以下因素：\n\n（1）诉讼成功可能性与和解未来利益之间的平衡；（2）复杂且旷日持久诉讼的可能性，“及其随之而来的费用、不便和延误”……；（3）“债权人的首要利益”，包括每一受影响类别的相对利益，“以及债权人不反对或积极支持拟议和解的程度”；（4）其他利害关系方是否支持和解；（5）支持和解的法律顾问的“能力和经验”，以及审查和解的“破产法院法官的经验和知识”；（6）“高级职员和董事将获得的豁免的性质和范围”；以及（7）“该和解在何种程度上是独立交易谈判的产物”。\n\nIridium, 478 F.3d at 462。\n\nII. 应批准和解协议\n\n24. 和解协议对破产财产以及进而对破产财产的债权人而言是积极结果；在此等情况下并考虑适用的 Iridium 因素，该协议构成公平合理的和解。\n\n25. 和解协议规定，破产财产无需诉讼即可获得和解金额；诉讼成本很可能相当高昂，并且该诉讼（考虑到可能的上诉）可能持续数年。尽管受托人对该等请求权的是非曲直充满信心，但其认识到诉讼具有不确定性，并且 Brown Rudnick 将提出重大事实和法律问题；Brown Rudnick 主张，该等问题将在任何有关该等请求权的诉讼中使其免责。此外，拟议和解将使破产财产获得资金，而无需承受诉讼及潜在上诉所导致的不确定性或延误。\n\n26. 因此，受托人认为拟议和解协议符合 Bankruptcy Rule 9019，应予批准。\n\n动议通知\n\n27. 根据日期为 2024 年 10 月 15 日的《准许限制就经调解/撤销请求权和解事项依据 Bankruptcy Rule 9019 提出动议之通知的动议的命令》[Docket No. 3685]，该动议的通知将发送给使用本院案件管理/电子案件档案系统的所有出庭当事人，以及在本第11章案件中请求通知但如电子提交通知所示无法接受电子提交的任何当事人。前述通知将送达：(a) 美国受托人，(b) 债务人的法律顾问，(c) 委员会的法律顾问，以及 (d) 本动议所涉和解的相对方（即 Brown Rudnick）。受托人主张，在此等情况下，无需作出任何其他或进一步通知。\n\n无先前请求\n\n28. 受托人此前未向本院或任何其他法院提出过本文所请求救济的请求。\n\n［本页其余部分特意留白。］\n\n因此，基于前述理由，受托人谨请求作出拟议命令，准许动议中所请求的救济，以及其他公正和适当的救济。\n\n日期：____________ __, 2025\nLuc A. Despins（吕克·A. 德斯平）\n康涅狄格州纽黑文\n第11章受托人\n\n签署人：/s/ DRAFT\n\nPatrick R. Linsey（帕特里克·R. 林赛）(ct29437)\nNEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C.（诺伊伯特、佩佩与蒙泰思律师事务所）\n195 Church Street, 13th Floor\nNew Haven, Connecticut 06510\n(203) 781-2847\nplinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n第11章受托人的法律顾问\n\n附件 A\n\n拟议命令\n\nUNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT（美国联邦破产法院）\nDISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT（康涅狄格地区）\nBRIDGEPORT DIVISION（布里奇波特分庭）\n\n---------------------------------------------------------------　x\n\n关于：　：\n：\n第11章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵），　：\n：\n案号 22-50073 (JAM)\n\n债务人。　：\n\n---------------------------------------------------------------　x\n\n［拟议］根据 BANKRUPTCY RULE 9019 批准第11章受托人关于与 BROWN RUDNICK LLP 和解之动议的命令\n\n鉴于，Luc A. Despins（卢克·A·德斯平斯）以其作为上述标题第11章案件（以下简称“第11章案件”）中 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）（以下简称“债务人”）获任命的第11章受托人（以下简称“受托人”）的身份，提出动议1，请求作出命令，批准受托人与 Brown Rudnick LLP（布朗·拉德尼克律师事务所）（以下简称“Brown Rudnick”，与受托人合称“各方”）之间的和解协议，详情载于该动议及作为该动议附件B附上的和解协议（以下简称“和解协议”）；且本院依据 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334 对该动议及其中请求的救济具有管辖权；且本事项构成 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2) 所指的核心程序；且在具体情形下已给予适当且充分的通知，并且看来无需提供其他或进一步通知；且所请求的救济是受托人依其职责并为受托人、财产及其债权人的最佳利益而作出的合理审慎商业判断；且各方已参加调解程序，据此 Tancredi 法官（坦克雷迪法官）出具了调解员报告，表明其相信和解协议的经济条款\n\n1 本命令中使用但未定义的首字母大写术语具有该动议中规定的含义。\n\n按照 In re Iridium Operating LLC, 478 F.3d 452, 462 (2d Cir. 2007) 的标准衡量是公平、合理且符合第11章财产最佳利益的，并在其他方面尊重本院对和解协议的评估；且本院已认定和解协议的条款公平、合理且符合财产的最佳利益；经适当审议且有充分理由，据此命令如下：\n\n1. 准许该动议。\n\n2. 对该动议提出的所有尚未撤回、放弃或和解的异议（如有），以及其中载明的所有权利保留，均予驳回。\n\n3. 依据 Bankruptcy Rule 9019，批准和解协议。\n\n4. 依据 Bankruptcy Rule 9019，授权受托人在本命令录入后立即签署、交付、实施并全面履行任何及所有义务、文书、文件和材料，并采取合理必要或适当的任何及所有行动，以完成和解协议所反映的和解，并履行其中预期的任何及所有义务。\n\n5. 本院认定，受托人持有并有权在和解协议规定的范围内，就代表财产提出的所有潜在请求权进行和解及免除，包括债务人对 Brown Rudnick 持有的潜在请求权。\n\n6. 本命令应依据 Bankruptcy Rule 6004(h) 在录入后立即生效并可执行。\n\n7. 本院保留管辖权，以审理和裁定因本命令及和解协议产生或与之相关的所有事项。\n\n附件 B\n和解协议\n美国康涅狄格地区破产法院布里奇波特分部\n\n---------------------------------------------------------------　x\n\n关于：　：\n第11章\n\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵），　：\n案号 22-50073 (JAM)\n\n债务人。　：\n\n---------------------------------------------------------------　x\n送达证明\n\n上述文件及其所有附件，已通过本院案件管理/电子案件档案（“CM/ECF”）系统在上述标题 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）第11章案件（以下简称“第11章案件”）中提交。CM/ECF 系统将自动通过电子邮件向第11章案件中有资格接收电子通知的所有出庭当事人发送本次提交的通知；并将在一个营业日内通过美国邮政向无资格接收电子通知的任何出庭当事人发送通知。\n\n[本页其余部分特意留白。]\n\n日期：2025 年 ____________ 月 ___ 日，地点：康涅狄格州纽黑文\n/s/ 草案\n\nPatrick R. Linsey（帕特里克·R·林赛）(ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C.（纽伯特、佩佩与蒙泰斯律师事务所）195 Church Street, 13th Floor, New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.com","key_entities":["Kwok","Je","Despins","Ho Wan Kwok","Paul Hastings","CIPA"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":7732,"status":"published","published_at":"2025-04-04 00:00:00","created_at":"2025-04-04","updated_at":"2026-08-23 20:28:07"}