{"id":"court_ctb_4397_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":4397,"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| In re:                                                 | :<br>: | Chapter 11              |\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al.,                                   | :<br>: | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) |\n| Debtors.1                                              | :<br>: | Jointly Administered    |\n| ------------------------------------------------------ | :<br>x | RE: ECF No. 4352        |\n\n## **ORDER (A) GRANTING APPLICATION OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE FOR ENTRY OF ORDER, PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY CODE SECTIONS 327(e) AND 330, BANKRUPTCY RULES 2014 AND 2016, AND LOCAL BANKRUPTCY RULES 2014-1 AND 2016-1, AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING RETENTION AND EMPLOYMENT OF HADEF & PARTNERS AS LOCAL COUNSEL IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES**\n\n Upon the application (the \"Application\")<sup>2</sup> of Chapter 11 Trustee Luc A. Despins (the \"Chapter 11 Trustee\") in the above-captioned chapter 11 case (the \"Chapter 11 Case\"), for authority to retain and employ Hadef & Partners (\"Hadef\"), as local counsel in the United Arab Emirates (the \"UAE\"), effective as of April 11, 2025, pursuant to sections 327(e) and 330 of title 11 of the United States Code (the \"Bankruptcy Code\"), Rules 2014 and 2016 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (the \"Bankruptcy Rules\"), and Rules 2014-1 and 2016-1 of the Local Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut (the \"Local Bankruptcy Rules\"), all as more fully set forth in the Application; and\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases are Ho Wan Kwok (also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok, as well as numerous other aliases) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202) and Genever Holdings Corporation. The mailing address for the Trustee, Genever Holdings LLC, and 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<sup>2</sup> Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Application or the Mahmoud Declaration\n\nupon consideration of the Application and the Mahmoud Declaration; and this Court having jurisdiction to consider the Application and the relief requested therein in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334 and the Standing Order of Reference from the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut; and consideration of the Application and the relief requested therein being a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b); and venue being proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409; and the Court having found that (i) the relief requested in the Application is in the best interest of the Debtor's estate, its creditors, and all parties-in-interest, (ii) the legal and factual bases set forth in the Application and the Mahmoud Declaration, and the record of any hearing on the Application before this Court establish just cause for the relief granted herein, (iii) Hadef is a \"disinterested person,\" as defined in section 101(14) of the Bankruptcy Code, and (iv) Hadef does not hold or represent an interest adverse to the Debtor's estate; and due and sufficient notice of the Application having been given under the particular circumstances; and it appearing that no other or further notice need be given; and upon all of the proceedings had before this Court including a hearing held on\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_ 2025; and after due deliberation and sufficient cause appearing therefor, it is hereby ORDERED THAT:\n\n1. The Application is granted as set forth herein.\n\n2. The Chapter 11 Trustee is authorized to retain and employ Hadef as his local counsel in the UAE pursuant to sections 327(e) and 330 of the Bankruptcy Code, effective as of April 11, 2025 on the terms set forth in the Application and the Mahmoud Declaration.\n\n3. Hadef is authorized to act as the Chapter 11 Trustee's local counsel in the UAE, and to perform those services described in the Application.\n\n2\n\n4. The Estate shall be responsible for Hadef's compensation and reimbursement of expenses with respect to the engagement.\n\n5. The allowance of any compensation to be paid to Hadef shall be determined in accordance with the procedures set forth in sections 330 and 331 of the Bankruptcy Code, Bankruptcy Rule 2016, and Local Bankruptcy Rule 2016-1. Any disputes regarding compensation shall be determined solely by this Court.\n\n6. Allowance of any compensation for Hadef shall be limited to the extent of services actually performed, and expenses actually incurred, as local counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee Luc A. Despins, and shall not include compensation for the performance of any of the trustee duties that are generally performed by a chapter 11 trustee without the assistance of counsel.\n\n7. For the avoidance of doubt, all matters related to the payment and allowance of Hadef's fees and expenses shall be decided by the Bankruptcy Court in accordance with the Bankruptcy Code. All other disputes that may arise out of the Chapter 11 Trustee's engagement are to be governed by the federal law of the UAE, as applied in the Emirate of Dubai or Abu Dhabi, as applicable, under the jurisdiction of the courts of Dubai or Abu Dhabi, as applicable, in accordance with the *Governing Law and Jurisdiction* section of Schedule 1 to Hadef's Engagement Letter.\n\n8. Hadef shall provide no less than ten business days' notice to the Chapter 11 Trustee, the United States Trustee, and counsel to any official committee before any increases in the rates it charges are implemented and shall file such notice with the Court.\n\n9. The Chapter 11 Trustee is authorized and empowered to take all actions necessary to effectuate the relief granted in this Order.\n\n3\n\n10. The requirements of the Local Bankruptcy Rules are satisfied by the contents of the Application.\n\n11. To the extent the Application, the Mahmoud Declaration, and the Engagement Letter are inconsistent with this Order, the terms of this Order shall govern.\n\n12. The terms and conditions of this Order shall be immediately effective and enforceable upon its entry.\n\n13. This Court shall retain jurisdiction with respect to all matters arising from or related to the implementation, interpretation, and enforcement of this Order.\n\nDated at Bridgeport, Connecticut this 13th day of May, 2025.\n\n*Juli* **'L'Mr** *IN1.ning\\_ '/J11ite,{ S ptcy Judge 'lJistr t {cut*","body_zh":"United States Bankruptcy Court District of Connecticut Bridgeport Division（美国康涅狄格区联邦破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\n------------------------------------------------------ x\n\n关于： :\n: 第11章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等， :\n: 案号 22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。1 :\n: 联合审理\n\nx 关于：ECF No. 4352\n裁定：(A) 批准第11章受托人依据《破产法典》第327(e)条和第330条、《联邦破产程序规则》第2014条和第2016条以及《地方破产规则》第2014-1条和第2016-1条申请作出裁定，授权并批准聘用 Hadef & Partners 作为阿拉伯联合酋长国当地法律顾问\n\n经审议上述标题所示第11章案件（简称「第11章案件」）中第11章受托人 Luc A. Despins（简称「第11章受托人」）依据《美国法典》第11编（简称「《破产法典》」）第327(e)条和第330条、《联邦破产程序规则》（简称「《破产规则》」）第2014条和第2016条以及《美国康涅狄格区联邦破产法院地方破产程序规则》（简称「《地方破产规则》」）第2014-1条和第2016-1条，申请授权自2025年4月11日起聘用 Hadef & Partners（简称「Hadef」）作为在 United Arab Emirates（阿拉伯联合酋长国，简称「阿联酋」）的当地法律顾问的申请（简称「《申请》」）2，且所有内容均已在《申请》中详述；并且\n\n1 本些第11章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（亦称郭文贵、Miles Guo、Miles Kwok 以及诸多其他化名）（税务识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（税务识别号后四位：8202）及 Genever Holdings Corporation。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC 和 Genever Holdings Corporation 的邮寄地址为 Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 转交 Ho Wan Kwok 破产财团受托人 Luc A. Despins（仅用于接收通知和联络）。\n\n2 本文中已大写但未另行定义的术语具有《申请》或《Mahmoud 声明》中所载之含义。\n\n经审议《申请》及《Mahmoud 声明》；且本法院根据《美国法典》第28编第157条和第1334条以及 United States District Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格区联邦地区法院）的常规移送命令，对审理《申请》及其中所请求的救济享有管辖权；且根据《美国法典》第28编第157(b)条，审议《申请》及其中所请求的救济属于核心程序；且根据《美国法典》第28编第1408条和第1409条，本法院管辖地适当；且本法院认定：(i) 《申请》中所请求的救济符合债务人破产财团、其债权人及所有利害关系方的最大利益，(ii) 《申请》和《Mahmoud 声明》中所载的法律与事实依据，以及本法院就《申请》举行的任何听证会记录，构成本文所授予救济的正当理由，(iii) Hadef 属于《破产法典》第101(14)条所定义的「无利害关系人」，以及 (iv) Hadef 未持有或代表与债务人破产财团相冲突的利益；且在特定情况下已就《申请》发出了适当且充分的通知；且看似无需再发出其他或进一步的通知；并在审查了本法院之前的所有程序（包括于 2025年____月____日举行的听证会）之后；经审慎研议并有充分理由表明，特此裁定如下：\n\n1. 《申请》按本文所述予以批准。\n\n2. 授权第11章受托人依据《破产法典》第327(e)条和第330条，自2025年4月11日起，按照《申请》和《Mahmoud 声明》中所载的条款，聘用 Hadef 作为其在阿联酋的当地法律顾问。\n\n3. 授权 Hadef 作为第11章受托人在阿联酋的当地法律顾问，并履行《申请》中所述的该等服务。\n\n4. 破产财团应负责支付 Hadef 关于该项聘用的报酬及补偿相关费用。\n\n5. 支付给 Hadef 的任何报酬的准许应根据《破产法典》第330条和第331条、《破产规则》第2016条以及《地方破产规则》第2016-1条所规定的程序予以确定。有关报酬的任何争议应完全由本法院裁决。\n\n6. 对 Hadef 任何报酬的准许应严格限于其作为第11章受托人 Luc A. Despins 的当地法律顾问实际履行的服务和实际产生的费用，且不应包括通常由第11章受托人在无律师协助下自行履行的任何受托人职责的报酬。\n\n7. 为免疑义，与支付和准许 Hadef 的律师费及费用相关的所有事项均应由破产法院依据《破产法典》予以裁定。因第11章受托人的聘用而可能产生的所有其他争议，应根据 Hadef 聘用函附表1的「适用法律与管辖权」部分，受阿联酋联邦法律（视情况在迪拜酋长国或阿布扎比酋长国适用）管辖，并受迪拜或阿布扎比法院（视情况适用）的管辖。\n\n8. Hadef 在实施对其收费费率的任何上调之前，应提前不少于十个工作日通知第11章受托人、United States Trustee（美国受托人）以及任何官方委员会的法律顾问，并将该通知提交给法院。\n\n9. 授权并赋予第11章受托人采取一切必要行动以落实本裁定所授予之救济的权力。\n\n10. 《申请》的内容符合《地方破产规则》的要求。\n\n11. 若《申请》、《Mahmoud 声明》及《聘用函》与本裁定存在不一致之处，以本裁定的条款为准。\n\n12. 本裁定的条款和条件自作出之日起立即生效并具有可执行性。\n\n13. 本法院对由本裁定的执行、解释和强制执行引起的或与之相关的所有事项保留管辖权。\n\n日期：2025年5月13日，于康涅狄格州布里奇波特。\n\nJulie A. Manning，美国康涅狄格区破产法官","key_entities":["Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Despins","Guo","Miles Guo","Paul Hastings"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":4352,"court":"CTB"}],"word_count":1052,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:42:32"}