{"id":"court_ctb_515_1","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":515,"sub_number":1,"doc_type":"DECLARATION","filed_date":"2022-07-07","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|              | ------              |  |\n|--------------|---------------------|--|\n|              |                     |  |\n| In re:       | Chapter 11<br>:     |  |\n| HO WAN KWOK, | : Case No. 22-50073 |  |\n|              |                     |  |\n| Debtor.      |                     |  |\n|              |                     |  |\n|              |                     |  |\n\n# DECLARATION OF DISINTERESTEDNESS OF LUC A. DESPINS\n\nI, Luc A. Despins, declare the following is true to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief:\n\nI am a partner in Paul Hastings LLP (\"Paul Hastings\"), an international law firm with twenty-one offices across the Americas, Asia, and Europe. I am currently resident in Paul Hastings' New York office. I am authorized to make this Declaration on Paul Hastings' behalf. Except as otherwise indicated, I have personal knowledge of the facts set forth in this Declaration and, if called as a witness, I could and would testify thereto.\n\n2. I submit this Declaration in connection with my appointment as chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") in the chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\") and in support of an application that I intend to file to approve the employment of Paul Hastings as counsel to the Trustee.\n\n3. I attach to this Declaration, as Schedule 1, a consolidated list of parties in interest in connection with the Debtor's chapter 11 case that includes:\n\n<sup>1</sup> Although the Debtor's legal name is Ho Wan Kwok, he is also known by the following names: Guo Wengui; Miles Guo; and Miles Kwok, and searches have been conducted with respect to all such names. The last four digits of the Debtor's taxpayer identification number are 9595.\n\n- a. parties listed as creditors, executory contract counterparties, and codebtors on the Debtor's Schedules D, F, G, and H [Docket No. 78];\n- b. parties listed on the Debtor's Statement of Financial Affairs (\"SOFA\") [Docket No. 77], including (i) as recipients of payments within 90 days prior to the filing of the chapter 11 case (SOFA Part 3, Question 6); (ii) parties involved in litigation in which the Debtor is a party (SOFA Part 4, Question 9); and businesses owned by the Debtor (SOFA Part 11, Question 27).\n- c. parties and counsel filing notice of appearances in the Debtor's chapter 11 case; and\n- d. the Court and personnel of the office of the United States Trustee.\n\n4. Paul Hastings has developed procedures to enable it to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy Rules, and any local rules of the Court regarding the service of a trustee and the employment of professionals under the Bankruptcy Code. Following those procedures, on July 5, 2022, I asked Paul Hastings personnel to compare the names listed on Schedule 1 with a database containing the names of all Paul Hastings clients and former clients who were clients at any time during the past five years,2 and related conflict information, to research information about affiliates of the listed entities, to distribute an email inquiry to all Paul Hastings attorneys, and to make follow-up inquiries.\n\n5. Based on the results of those review procedures, I believe:\n\n<sup>2</sup> Except with respect to the Debtor's family members and related entities, with respect to which no such time limitation was used when reviewing Paul Hastings' database.\n\n- a. Neither I, nor Paul Hastings, nor any partner in, counsel to, or associate of Paul Hastings represents any entity in or in connection with the Debtor's chapter 11 case;\n- b. Paul Hastings and I do not hold or represent an interest adverse to the Debtor's estate; and\n- c. neither Paul Hastings nor any of its attorneys, including me, (i) is a creditor, equity security holder or insider of any of the Debtor or his affiliates, (ii) has been, within two years before the date of the filing of the petition, a director, officer, or employee of any of the Debtor or his affiliates, or (iii) has any interest materially adverse to the interests of the estates of any class of creditors or equity security holders by reason of any direct or indirect relationship to, connection with, or interest in, the Debtor, or for any other reason.\n\n6. Based on the foregoing, I believe that Paul Hastings and I are each a disinterested person and eligible to serve as counsel to the Trustee, respectively, in this case.\n\n7. Also based on the results of the review procedures, I believe neither Paul Hastings nor any of its attorneys, including me, has any connections (as that term is used in Bankruptcy Rule 2014), with any of the entities listed on Schedule 1, except:\n\n> a. The Debtor has listed on his Schedules a potential malpractice claim against \"Boies Schiller.\" Boies Schiller Flexner (UK) LLP is a former client of Paul Hastings in a matter that ended in September of 2021 and was unrelated to the Debtor, his family members, or entities controlled by the Debtor or his family members (an \"Unrelated Matter\"). Given that\n\n> > -3-\n\nBoies Schiller Flexner (UK) LLP is no longer a client of Paul Hastings, there is no legal impediment to Paul Hastings being adverse to any Boies Schiller entities (collectively, \"Boies Schiller\"). I have never represented Boies Schiller. I, in my capacity as Trustee, am able to be adverse to Boies Schiller and to be the named plaintiff, as chapter 11 Trustee, in any lawsuit against Boies Schiller.\n\n- b. Certain Paul Hastings attorneys who joined Paul Hastings in early 2022 formerly represented, while at their prior firm (Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP), Sherry-Netherland, Inc., in the chapter 11 case of Genever Holdings LLC. These attorneys did not represent Sherry-Netherland, Inc. after joining Paul Hastings and will be separated by an \"ethical wall\" from any involvement in Paul Hastings' representation of the Trustee.\n- c. While Paul Hastings previously represented UBS AG (London Branch) (\"UBS AG\") (an entity currently involved in litigation with the Debtor in the United Kingdom) in an Unrelated Matter that ended in November of 2021, Paul Hastings does not currently represent UBS AG. Paul Hastings does currently represent certain UBS entities, namely UBS Securities LLC. UBS Securities Ltd. Pte. Seoul Branch, and UBS Investment Bank, that are affiliates of UBS AG, in Unrelated Matters. Paul Hastings' representation of UBS entities has largely involved advice related to capital markets and leveraged finance transactions. I have never represented any UBS entity (including UBS AG). I, in my capacity as\n\n-4-\n\nTrustee, am able to be adverse to UBS AG and to be the named plaintiff, as chapter 11 Trustee, in any lawsuit against UBS AG.\n\n- d. Baker Hostetler LLP, which has filed a proof of claim in this chapter 11 case and listed on the Debtor's SOFA as a creditor that received a payment within the 90 days preceding the commencement of the Debtor's chapter 11 case, was formerly counsel to a party involved in an Unrelated Matter that ended in December of 2020 in which a Paul Hastings attorney serves as arbitrator.\n- e. LALIVE SA, listed as a creditor on the Debtor's schedules, is related to a former client of Paul Hastings in an Unrelated Matter that ended in August of 2019.\n- f. McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP, which has filed a notice of appearance in the chapter 11 case on behalf of creditors Rui Ma, Zheng Wu, and Weican Meng, served as local counsel to a client of Paul Hastings in connection with an Unrelated Matter that ended in October of 2017.\n- g. The Debtor has listed \"Ying Liu\" on his Schedules as a creditor. An individual named Ying Liu, whom Paul Hastings cannot presently confirm is the same person listed on the Schedules, is a former client of Paul Hastings in an Unrelated Matter that ended in January of 2020.\n- h. The Debtor has listed \"Shuang Wang\" on his Schedules as a creditor. An individual named Shuang Wang, whom Paul Hastings cannot presently confirm is the same person listed on the Schedules, is related to a former\n\n-5-\n\nclient of Paul Hastings in an Unrelated Matter that ended in September of 2021.\n\n- i. The Debtor has listed \"Yan Huang\" on his Schedules as a creditor. An individual named Yan Huang, whom Paul Hastings cannot presently confirm is the same person listed on the Schedules, is related to a former client of Paul Hastings in an Unrelated Matter that ended in September of 2021.\n- j. The Debtor has listed \"Yan Zhao\" on his Schedules as a creditor. An individual named Yan Zhao, whom Paul Hastings cannot presently confirm is the same person listed on the Schedules, is related to a former client of Paul Hastings in an Unrelated Matter that ended in August of 2019.\n- k. The Debtor has listed Veritext on the Debtor's SOFA as a creditor that received a payment (of less than \\$1,000.00) within the 90 days preceding the commencement of the Debtor's chapter 11 case. Entities related to Veritext are current clients of Paul Hastings in Unrelated Matters.\n\n8. Paul Hastings has been or is currently adverse to certain parties listed on Schedule 1 in Unrelated Matters. For example, Brown Rudnick, LLP, the Debtor's counsel, and O'Melveny & Myers LLP, counsel to Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P., are opposing counsel or otherwise adverse to Paul Hastings LLP in connection with certain Unrelated Matters related to Paul Hastings' representation of the official committee of unsecured creditors of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and certain of its instrumentalities.\n\n-6-\n\n9. All references herein to \"Unrelated Matters\" means matters that are not related to the Debtor, his family members, entities controlled by the Debtor or his family members, or this chapter 11 case. Paul Hastings is not precluded from taking a position, on any matter that is related to this chapter 11 case, that would be adverse to any entity on Schedule 1 that is not a current Paul Hastings client or related thereto. Should the Trustee become adverse to a Paul Hastings client or related party, the Trustee would employ other counsel in connection with such matter.\n\n10. To the extent that Paul Hastings discovers any facts bearing on matters described in this Declaration, Paul Hastings will supplement the information contained in this Declaration. Paul Hastings will not represent any entity other than the chapter 11 Trustee in any matter in or in connection with this chapter 11 case.\n\n11. I declare under penalty of perjury under 28 U.S.C. § 1746 that the foregoing is true and correct.\n\nExecuted July 7, 2022, at Greenwich, Connecticut.\n\n200\n\nLuc A. Despins\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 515-1 Filed 07/07/22 Entered 07/07/22 11:53:05 Page 8 of 12\n\n## SCHEDULE OF PARTIES IN INTEREST - IN RE KWOK\n\n#### 20 LARGEST UNSECURED CREDITORS\n\nPACIFIC ALLIANCE ASIA OPPORTUNITY GOLDEN SPRING NEW YORK RUI MA CHENG JIAN WU JIAN SHE NING YE GUO BAOSHENG YAN LAN & WU ZHENG HONG QI QU NAN TONG SI JIAN JIAN GONG YAN ZHAO YUA HUA ZHUANG SHI LIEHONG ZHUANG/XIAO Y AN ZHU WEICAN MENG/BOXUN INC. SAMUEL NUNBERG LAMP CAPITAL LLC JUN CHEN AKA JONATHAN HO YUE HUA ZHU SHI XIONG XIAN WEI YE HUIZEN WANG\n\n### DEBTOR, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND CERTAIN RELATED ENTITIES\n\nHO WAN KWOK (A.K.A MILES GWOK, MILES GUO AND WENGUI GUO) HING CH NGOK/YUE QINGZHI QIANG GUO MEI GUO/MEI GUI HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC BRAVO LUCK LIMITED GENEVER HOLDINGS CORPORATION GENEVER HOLDINGS LLC\n\n### BANKRUPTCY JUDGE AND U.S. TRUSTEE PERSONNEL\n\nHONORABLE JULIE A. MANNING WILLIAM HARRINGTON KIM L. MCCABE HOLLEY CLAIBORN JOSEPH H. FLAMINI ERIN HOGAN STEVEN MACKEY FRANK MARINO JENNIFER J. MOREY NICOLE NEELY SHARON WARNER JOHN GERVAIS\n\n12\n\nCase 22-50073 Doc 515-1 Filed 07/07/22 Entered 07/07/22 11:53:05 Page 12 of\n\n12","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关于：第 11 章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵），：案号 22-50073\n债务人。\n\nLUC A. DESPINS 的无利害关系声明\n\n我，Luc A. Despins，谨声明据我所知、所悉及所信，以下内容属实：\n\n我是 Paul Hastings LLP（普衡律师事务所，简称「Paul Hastings」）的合伙人。该所是一家国际律师事务所，在美洲、亚洲和欧洲设有二十一个办事处。我目前常驻普衡律师事务所的纽约办事处。我已获授权代表普衡律师事务所作出本声明。除另有说明外，我对本声明中陈述的事实具有直接了解；若被传唤作证，我能够且愿意就此作证。\n\n2. 我提交本声明，系关于我在 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，简称「债务人」）的第 11 章案件中被任命为第 11 章受托人（简称「受托人」），并支持我拟提交的批准聘请普衡律师事务所担任受托人律师的申请。\n\n3. 我在作为附件 1（Schedule 1）随本声明附上关于债务人第 11 章案件的利害关系方综合名单，其中包括：\n\n1 尽管债务人的法定姓名为 Ho Wan Kwok，但他也以以下姓名为人所知：Guo Wengui（郭文贵）；Miles Guo；以及 Miles Kwok，且已针对所有这些姓名进行了检索。债务人纳税人识别号的后四位是 9595。\n\n- a. 在债务人的附表 D、F、G 和 H [Docket No. 78] 中列为债权人、待履行合同相对方以及共同债务人的各方；\n- b. 在债务人的《财务状况说明书》（Statement of Financial Affairs，简称「SOFA」）[Docket No. 77] 中列出的各方，包括 (i) 在第 11 章案件提起前 90 天内收款的各方（SOFA 第 3 部分，问题 6）；(ii) 债务人作为当事人的诉讼所涉及的各方（SOFA 第 4 部分，问题 9）；以及债务人拥有的企业（SOFA 第 11 部分，问题 27）；\n- c. 在债务人的第 11 章案件中提交应诉通知书（notice of appearances）的各方及律师；以及\n- d. 本法院及美国受托人办公室（Office of the United States Trustee）的人员。\n\n4. 普衡律师事务所已制定相应程序，以确保其遵守《破产法典》（Bankruptcy Code）、《破产规则》（Bankruptcy Rules）以及法院关于受托人履职和根据《破产法典》聘用专业人士的任何本地规则的要求。按照这些程序，于 2022 年 7 月 5 日，我要求普衡律师事务所的人员将附件 1 中列出的姓名/名称与包含过去五年内任何时期属于客户的所有普衡律师事务所客户和前客户姓名/名称的数据库2及相关冲突信息进行比对，调查所列实体的关联方信息，向所有普衡律师事务所律师发送电子邮件询问，并进行跟进调查。\n\n5. 根据上述审查程序的结果，我认为：\n\n2 但债务人的家庭成员及相关实体除外，在审查普衡律师事务所数据库时对该等主体未采用此类时间限制。\n\n- a. 我、普衡律师事务所，或普衡律师事务所的任何合伙人、顾问律师或聘用律师，均未在债务人的第 11 章案件中或与该案相关的事务中代表任何实体；\n- b. 普衡律师事务所与我均不持有或代表与债务人破产财产有利益冲突的权益；以及\n- c. 无论是普衡律师事务所还是其任何律师（包括我在内），(i) 均不是债务人或其关联方的债权人、权益证券持有人或内部人，(ii) 均未在申请提交之日前两年内担任过债务人或其任何关联方的董事、高级管理人员或雇员，或 (iii) 均未因与债务人的任何直接或间接关系、关联或在其中的利益，或出于任何其他原因，而拥有与任何类别债权人或权益证券持有人的破产财产利益存在重大不利冲突的任何权益。\n\n6. 基于前述情况，我认为普衡律师事务所与我各自均为无利害关系人，并分别符合在本案中担任受托人律师的资格。\n\n7. 同样基于审查程序的结果，我认为普衡律师事务所或其任何律师（包括我在内），与附件 1 中列出的任何实体均无任何关联（按《破产规则》第 2014 条中使用该词的含义），但以下情况除外：\n\n> a. 债务人在其附表中列出了针对「Boies Schiller」的潜在专业过失索赔。Boies Schiller Flexner (UK) LLP 是普衡律师事务所的前客户，涉及的一起事项已于 2021 年 9 月结案，该事项与债务人、其家庭成员或由债务人或其家庭成员控制的实体无关（简称「无关事项」）。鉴于\n\n> > -3-\n\nBoies Schiller Flexner (UK) LLP 不再是普衡律师事务所的客户，普衡律师事务所与任何 Boies Schiller 实体（统称「Boies Schiller」）处于对立立场不存在法律障碍。我从未代表过 Boies Schiller。我以受托人身份，能够与 Boies Schiller 处于对立立场，并以第 11 章受托人的身份作为针对 Boies Schiller 的任何诉讼中的具名原告。\n\n- b. 于 2022 年初加入普衡律师事务所的某些普衡律师，在他们此前的律师事务所（Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP）执业期间，曾代表过 Genever Holdings LLC 的第 11 章案件中的 Sherry-Netherland, Inc.。这些律师在加入普衡律师事务所后未代表过 Sherry-Netherland, Inc.，且将通过「伦理墙（ethical wall）」与普衡律师事务所代表受托人的任何工作相隔离。\n- c. 尽管普衡律师事务所此前曾在已于 2021 年 11 月结案的一起无关事项中代表过 UBS AG (London Branch)（瑞士联合银行伦敦分行，简称「UBS AG」）（该实体目前在英国与债务人存在诉讼关系），但普衡律师事务所目前并不代表 UBS AG。普衡律师事务所目前确实在无关事项中代表属于 UBS AG 关联方的某些 UBS 实体，即 UBS Securities LLC、UBS Securities Ltd. Pte. Seoul Branch 以及 UBS Investment Bank。普衡律师事务所代表 UBS 实体的工作主要涉及与资本市场和杠杆融资交易相关的法律咨询。我从未代表过任何 UBS 实体（包括 UBS AG）。我以受托人\n\n-4-\n\n身份，能够与 UBS AG 处于对立立场，并以第 11 章受托人的身份作为针对 UBS AG 的任何诉讼中的具名原告。\n\n- d. Baker Hostetler LLP 在本第 11 章案件中提交了债权证明，并在债务人的 SOFA 中被列为在债务人第 11 章案件开始前 90 天内收到付款的债权人，该所此前曾是一起于 2020 年 12 月结案的无关事项当事人的代理律师，在该事项中有一名普衡律师事务所的律师担任仲裁员。\n- e. 在债务人附表中列为债权人的 LALIVE SA，与普衡律师事务所于 2019 年 8 月结案的一起无关事项中的前客户存在关联。\n- f. McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP 在该第 11 章案件中代表债权人 Rui Ma（马锐）、Zheng Wu（吴征）和 Weican Meng（孟维参）提交了应诉通知书，该所曾就一起于 2017 年 10 月结案的无关事项担任普衡律师事务所客户的当地代理律师。\n- g. 债务人在其附表中将「Ying Liu」列为债权人。一名名为 Ying Liu 的个人是普衡律师事务所于 2020 年 1 月结案的一起无关事项中的前客户，普衡律师事务所目前无法确认该人是否与附表中所列为同一人。\n- h. 债务人在其附表中将「Shuang Wang」列为债权人。一名名为 Shuang Wang 的个人与普衡律师事务所于 2021 年 9 月结案的一起无关事项中的前\n\n-5-\n\n客户存在关联，普衡律师事务所目前无法确认该人是否与附表中所列为同一人。\n\n- i. 债务人在其附表中将「Yan Huang」列为债权人。一名名为 Yan Huang 的个人与普衡律师事务所于 2021 年 9 月结案的一起无关事项中的前客户存在关联，普衡律师事务所目前无法确认该人是否与附表中所列为同一人。\n- j. 债务人在其附表中将「Yan Zhao」列为债权人。一名名为 Yan Zhao 的个人与普衡律师事务所于 2019 年 8 月结案的一起无关事项中的前客户存在关联，普衡律师事务所目前无法确认该人是否与附表中所列为同一人。\n- k. 债务人在债务人的 SOFA 中将 Veritext 列为在债务人第 11 章案件开始前 90 天内收到付款（少于 $1,000.00）的债权人。与 Veritext 相关的实体是普衡律师事务所在无关事项中的现有客户。\n\n8. 普衡律师事务所在无关事项中曾与或目前正与附件 1 中列出的某些主体处于对立立场。例如，债务人的代理律师 Brown Rudnick, LLP 以及 Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P.（太平洋联盟亚洲机会基金有限合伙）的代理律师 O'Melveny & Myers LLP（美迈斯律师事务所），在与普衡律师事务所代表 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico（波多黎各自由邦）无担保债权人官方委员会及其某些机构相关的某些无关事项中，担任对立方律师或在其他方面与普衡律师事务所处于对立立场。\n\n-6-\n\n9. 本文中所提及的「无关事项」均指与债务人、其家庭成员、由债务人或其家庭成员控制的实体，或本第 11 章案件无关的事项。就与本第 11 章案件相关的任何事项而言，普衡律师事务所并未被禁止采取不利于附件 1 中非普衡律师事务所当前客户或其关联方的任何实体的立场。如果受托人与普衡律师事务所的客户或关联方发生利益对立，受托人将就该等事项聘请其他律师。\n\n10. 如果普衡律师事务所发现与本声明所述事项相关的任何事实，普衡律师事务所将对本声明中包含的信息进行补充。除第 11 章受托人外，普衡律师事务所不会在本第 11 章案件中或与该案相关的任何事项中代表任何其他实体。\n\n11. 我根据 28 U.S.C. § 1746 谨此声明，在接受伪证罪处罚的前提下，上述内容真实无误。\n\n签署于 2022 年 7 月 7 日，地点为康涅狄格州格林威治。\n\nLuc A. Despins\n\n案号 22-50073 文件 515-1 提交于 07/07/22 录入于 07/07/22 11:53:05 第 8 页，共 12 页\n利害关系方附表 - 关于 KWOK 案\n20 位最大无担保债权人\n\nPACIFIC ALLIANCE ASIA OPPORTUNITY GOLDEN SPRING NEW YORK RUI MA（马锐） CHENG JIAN WU JIAN SHE NING YE（叶宁） GUO BAOSHENG（郭宝胜） YAN LAN & WU ZHENG（吴征） HONG QI QU NAN TONG SI JIAN JIAN GONG YAN ZHAO YUA HUA ZHUANG SHI LIEHONG ZHUANG/XIAO Y AN ZHU WEICAN MENG（孟维参）/BOXUN INC.（博讯） SAMUEL NUNBERG LAMP CAPITAL LLC JUN CHEN AKA JONATHAN HO YUE HUA ZHU SHI XIONG XIAN WEI YE HUIZEN WANG\n债务人、家庭成员及若干相关实体\n\nHO WAN KWOK（又名 MILES GWOK、MILES GUO 及 WENGUI GUO/郭文贵） HING CH NGOK/YUE QINGZHI（岳庆芝） QIANG GUO（郭强） MEI GUO/MEI GUI（郭美） HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC BRAVO LUCK LIMITED GENEVER HOLDINGS CORPORATION GENEVER HOLDINGS LLC\n破产法官及美国受托人人员\n\nHONORABLE JULIE A. MANNING WILLIAM HARRINGTON KIM L. MCCABE HOLLEY CLAIBORN JOSEPH H. FLAMINI ERIN HOGAN STEVEN MACKEY FRANK MARINO JENNIFER J. MOREY NICOLE NEELY SHARON WARNER JOHN GERVAIS\n案号 22-50073 文件 515-1 提交于 07/07/22 录入于 07/07/22 11:53:05 第 12 页，共","key_entities":["Paul Hastings","Guo","Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Despins","Miles Guo","Je","RICO"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":1964,"status":"published","published_at":"2022-07-07 00:00:00","created_at":"2022-07-07","updated_at":"2026-08-23 13:00:32"}