{"id":"court_ctb_699_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":699,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":"2022-08-05","title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION RESPONSE AND RESERVATION OF RIGHTS OF VERDOLI","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"body_en":"# **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------X In re: Ho Wan Kwok, Debtor.[1](#page-0-0) : : : : : : : : Chapter 11 Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) --------------------------------------------------------------------X\n\n## **RESPONSE AND RESERVATION OF RIGHTS OF VERDOLINO & LOWEY, P.C. TO CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE'S DISCOVERY MOTION**\n\nVerdolino & Lowey, P.C. (\"VLPC\") hereby submits this response in connection with the *Omnibus Motion of Chapter 11 Trustee for Entry of Order Under Bankruptcy Rule 2004 and Local Rule 2004-1 Authorizing Discovery with Respect to Various Legal and Financial Advisors to the Debtor* (the \"2004 Motion\") (Docket No. 637). In response to the 2004 Motion, VLPC states as follows:\n\n### **FACTUAL BACKGROUND**\n\n1. On February 15, 2022, Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\") filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.\n\n2. On March 16, 2022, the Debtor filed an application to employ VLPC as counsel (Docket No. 90). The Court held an evidentiary hearing on the Debtor's application on April 27, 2022. The Debtor's application to employ VLPC remains under advisement.\n\n3. On June 15, 2022, the Court entered an order directing appointment of a chapter 11 trustee. Docket No. 465. The current chapter 11 trustee, Luc Despins (the \"Trustee\"), was appointed on July 7, 2022. Docket No. 514.\n\n<span id=\"page-0-0\"></span><sup>1</sup> The Debtor is known by the following names: Guo Wengui; Miles Guo; Miles Kwok; and Ho Wan Kwok.\n\n4. On July 28, 2022, the Trustee filed the 2004 Motion, seeking broad discovery of the Debtor's current and former professionals. Docket No. 637.\n\n### **RESPONSE**\n\n5. VLPC recognizes that the Trustee has generally succeeded to the privileges of the Debtor, including the attorney-client privilege. Notwithstanding the Trustee's authority, VLPC's production of documents and examination may be properly subject to certain legal or ethical limitations, the nature and extent of which will be subject to further discussions with the Trustee and/or the Debtor and, if not fully agreed, may be subject to further orders of this Court.\n\n6. To the extent the 2004 Motion is granted, VLPC reserves all rights to object to any particular discovery request on any basis, including but not limited to the protections afforded to VLPC and other parties by applicable law.\n\n[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]\n\nDated: August 5, 2022\n\n#### **BROWN RUDNICK LLP**\n\nBy: /s/ *William R. Baldiga*  BROWN RUDNICK LLP 185 Asylum Street Hartford, CT 06103 Attn: Dylan Kletter, Esq. Telephone: (860) 509-6500 Facsimile: (860) 509-6653 Email: dkletter@brownrudnick.com\n\nSeven Times Square New York, NY 10036 Attn: William R. Baldiga, Esq. (*pro hac vice*) Attn: Jeffrey L. Jonas, Esq. (*pro hac vice*) Attn: Bennett S. Silverberg, Esq. (*pro hac vice*) Telephone: (212) 209-4800 Facsimile: (212) 209-4801 Email: wbaldiga@brownrudnick.com jjonas@brownrundnick.com bsilverberg@brownrudnick.com\n\n*Counsel to Verdolino & Lowey, P.C.*\n\n# **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n:\n\n:\n\n:\n\n:\n\nDebtor.[1](#page-3-0)\n\n:\n\nIn re: : Chapter 11\n\nHo Wan Kwok, : Case No. 22-50073\n\n# **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**\n\nI, William R. Baldiga, hereby certify that on the 5th day of August, 2022, the *Response and Reservation of Rights of Verdolino & Lowey, P.C. to Chapter 11 Trustee's Discovery Motion* was sent by e-mail to all appearing parties by operation of the Court's electronic filing system. Dated: Aug. 5, 2022\n\n## **BROWN RUDNICK LLP**\n\nBy: /s/ *William R. Baldiga*  BROWN RUDNICK LLP 185 Asylum Street Hartford, CT 06103 Attn: Dylan Kletter, Esq. Telephone: (860) 509-6500 Facsimile: (860) 509-6653 Email: dkletter@brownrudnick.com\n\nSeven Times Square New York, NY 10036 Attn: William R. Baldiga, Esq. (*pro hac vice*) Jeffrey L. Jonas, Esq. (*pro hac vice*) Bennett S. Silverberg, Esq. (*pro hac vice*) Telephone: (212) 209-4800 Facsimile: (212) 209-4801 Email: wbaldiga@brownrudnick.com jjonas@brownrudnick.com bsilverberg@brownrudnick.com\n\n64800336 v1\n\n<span id=\"page-3-0\"></span><sup>1</sup> The Debtor is known by the following names: Guo Wengui; Miles Guo; Miles Kwok; and Ho Wan Kwok.","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格区破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------X\n关于：Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵），债务人。[1]\n第 11 章\n案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n--------------------------------------------------------------------X\nVERDOLINO & LOWEY, P.C. 对第 11 章受托人证据开示动议的答复及权利保留\n\nVerdolino & Lowey, P.C.（以下简称“VLPC”）特此就《第 11 章受托人依据〈破产规则〉第 2004 条及〈本地规则〉第 2004-1 条请求作出准予就债务人的多名法律和财务顾问进行证据开示之命令的综合动议》（以下简称“《2004 动议》”）（案卷号 637）提交本答复。针对《2004 动议》，VLPC 陈述如下：\n\n事实背景\n\n1. 2022年2月15日，Ho Wan Kwok（以下简称“债务人”）依据《破产法典》第 11 章申请救济。\n\n2. 2022年3月16日，债务人提交了聘请 VLPC 担任律师的申请（案卷号 90）。法院于 2022年4月27日 就债务人的申请举行了证据听证会。债务人聘请 VLPC 的申请仍在审理考虑中。\n\n3. 2022年6月15日，法院作出一项命令，指示任命一名第 11 章受托人。案卷号 465。现任第 11 章受托人 Luc Despins（以下简称“受托人”）于 2022年7月7日 被任命。案卷号 514。\n\n1 债务人已知姓名如下：Guo Wengui（郭文贵）；Miles Guo；Miles Kwok；以及 Ho Wan Kwok。\n\n4. 2022年7月28日，受托人提交了《2004 动议》，寻求对债务人现任和前任专业人士进行广泛的证据开示。案卷号 637。\n\n答复\n\n5. VLPC 承认受托人已大体继承了债务人的特权，包括律师-委托人保密特权。尽管受托人拥有此项权力，VLPC 提供文件及接受询问仍可能正当地受到某些法律或执业伦理方面的限制，其性质和范围将取决于与受托人及/或债务人的进一步讨论；如未能达成完全一致，则可能取决于本法院的进一步命令。\n\n6. 在《2004 动议》获得准许的范围内，VLPC 保留基于任何理由对任何特定证据开示请求提出异议的全部权利，包括但不限于适用法律赋予 VLPC 和其他当事方的保护。\n\n[本页下半部分有意留白。]\n\n日期：2022年8月5日\nBROWN RUDNICK LLP\n\n签署人：/s/ William R. Baldiga\nBROWN RUDNICK LLP\n185 Asylum Street\nHartford, CT 06103\n收件人：Dylan Kletter 律师\n电话：(860) 509-6500\n传真：(860) 509-6653\n电子邮箱：dkletter@brownrudnick.com\n\nSeven Times Square\nNew York, NY 10036\n收件人：William R. Baldiga 律师（特许临时出庭）\n收件人：Jeffrey L. Jonas 律师（特许临时出庭）\n收件人：Bennett S. Silverberg 律师（特许临时出庭）\n电话：(212) 209-4800\n传真：(212) 209-4801\n电子邮箱：wbaldiga@brownrudnick.com\njjonas@brownrundnick.com\nbsilverberg@brownrudnick.com\n\nVerdolino & Lowey, P.C. 之代理律师\n\nUNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格区破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\n债务人。[1]\n\n关于：\n第 11 章\nHo Wan Kwok，\n案号：22-50073\n\n送达证明书\n\n本人 William R. Baldiga 特此证明，于 2022年8月5日，《Verdolino & Lowey, P.C. 对第 11 章受托人证据开示动议的答复及权利保留》已通过法院电子归档系统的运作，以电子邮件形式发送给所有出庭当事方。\n日期：2022年8月5日\nBROWN RUDNICK LLP\n\n签署人：/s/ William R. Baldiga\nBROWN RUDNICK LLP\n185 Asylum Street\nHartford, CT 06103\n收件人：Dylan Kletter 律师\n电话：(860) 509-6500\n传真：(860) 509-6653\n电子邮箱：dkletter@brownrudnick.com\n\nSeven Times Square\nNew York, NY 10036\n收件人：William R. Baldiga 律师（特许临时出庭）\nJeffrey L. Jonas 律师（特许临时出庭）\nBennett S. Silverberg 律师（特许临时出庭）\n电话：(212) 209-4800\n传真：(212) 209-4801\n电子邮箱：wbaldiga@brownrudnick.com\njjonas@brownrundnick.com\nbsilverberg@brownrudnick.com\n\n64800336 v1\n\n1 债务人已知姓名如下：Guo Wengui（郭文贵）；Miles Guo；Miles Kwok；以及 Ho Wan Kwok。","key_entities":["Kwok","Je","Ho Wan Kwok","Guo","Miles Guo","Despins","Luc Despins"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":629,"status":"published","published_at":"2022-08-05 00:00:00","created_at":"2022-08-05","updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:27:00"}