--- type: court_doc id: "court_ctb_1752_1" court: "CTB" case_no: "22-50073" doc_number: 1752 doc_type: "ORDER" filed_date: "2023-05-04" lang: "en" machine_translated: false url: "https://mubeitech.com/en/court/court_ctb_1752_1" json_url: "https://mubeitech.com/api/court/court_ctb_1752_1" --- # Guo Wengui / Miles Guo — bankruptcy case · ORDER · ECF #1752-1 **Notice of Appeal — In re Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), CTB 22-50073 ECF #1752 (filed 2023-05-04). Mei Guo, HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC, Attorney Lee Vartan, and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC appealed to the U.S. District Court from the Bankruptcy Court's sanctions fee award (ECF #1693) and order denying reconsideration (ECF #1733).** UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION In re: HO WAN KWOK, Chapter 11 Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) Debtor, NOTICE OF APPEAL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1), Mei Guo, HK International Funds Investments, (USA) Limited, LLC, Lee Vartan, Esq., and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC hereby appeal to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut from the Order Awarding Fees of Chapter 11 Trustee and His Counsel Pursuant to Sanctions Order (ECF No. 1693), entered by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut (Honorable Julie A. Manning) (the "Bankruptcy Court") on April 21, 2023, and the Order Denying Motion for Relief From Judgment/Order (ECF No. 1733), entered by the Bankruptcy Court on May 1, 2023 (collectively, the "Orders"). Copies of the Orders are attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and Exhibit "B." The names of all parties to the Orders and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of their respective counsel are as follows: PARTY　ATTORNEYS Luc A Despins, Chapter Trustee and　Douglas S. Skalka, Esq. Paul Hastings LLP　James C. Graham, Esq. Patrick R. Linsey, Esq. Lucas Bennett Rocklin, Esq. NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, CT 06510 (203) 781-2847 dskalka@npmlaw.com jgraham@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com lrocklin@npmlaw.com PARTY ATTORNEYS Nicholas A. Bassett, Esq. PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com - and - Luc A. Despins, Esq. Avram E. Luft, Esq. Douglass E. Barron, Esq. G. Alexander Bongartz, Esq. PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, NY 10166 (212) 318-6079 douglassbarron@paulhastings.com alexbongartz@paulhastings.com aviluft@paulhastings.com Mei Guo, HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC, Attorney Vartan (Lee Vartan, Esq.), and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC　Lee Vartan, Esq. Sam Della Fera, Jr., Esq. Melissa F. Wernick, Esq. CHIESA SHAHINIAN & GIANTOMASI PC 105 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland, NJ 07068 (973) 325-1500 lvartan@csglaw.com sdellafera@csglaw.com mwernick@csglaw.com - and - Aaron A. Romney, Esq. James M. Moriarty, Esq. ZEISLER & ZEISLER PC 10 Middle Street, 15th Floor Bridgeport, CT 06604 (203) 368-4234 [aromney@zeislaw.com] [jmoriarty@zeislaw.com] Dated: May 3,2023 /s/ Lee Vartan Roseland, New Jersey Lee Vartan (admitted pro hac vice) [lvartan@csglaw.com] Sam Della Fera, Jr. (admitted pro hac vice) [sdellafera@csglaw.com] Melissa F. Wernick (admitted pro hac vice) [mwernick@csglaw.com] CHIESA SHAHINIAN & GIANTOMASI PC 105 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland, NJ 07068 Telephone: (973) 325-1500 Facsimile: (973) 325-1501 *Attorneys for Mei Guo, HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC, Lee Vartan, Esq., and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC* Aaron A. Romney (ct28144) [aromney@zeislaw.com] James M. Moriarty (ct21876) [jmoriarty@zeislaw.com] ZEISLER & ZEISLER PC 10 Middle Street, 15th Floor Bridgeport, CT 06604 Telephone: (203) 368-4234 Facsimile: (203) 368-5485 *Local Counsel for Mei Guo, HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC, Lee Vartan, Esq., and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC* CERTIFICATION OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on this 3rd day of May 2023, a copy of foregoing Notice of Appeal was filed electronically. Notice of this filing will be sent by e-mail to all parties by operation of the Court's electronic filing system or by mail to anyone unable to accept electronic filing as indicated on the Notice of Electronic Filing. Parties may access this filing through the Court's CM/ECF System. Dated: May 3, 2023 /s/ Lee Vartan Roseland, New Jersey Lee Vartan (admitted pro hac vice) [lvartan@csglaw.com] Sam Della Fera, Jr. (admitted pro hac vice) [sdellafera@csglaw.com] Melissa F. Wernick (admitted pro hac vice) [mwernick@csglaw.com] CHIESA SHAHINIAN & GIANTOMASI PC 105 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland, NJ 07068 Telephone: (973) 325-1500 Facsimile: (973) 325-1501 *Attorneys for Mei Guo, HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC, Lee Vartan, Esq., and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC* Aaron A. Romney (ct28144) [aromney@zeislaw.com] James M. Moriarty (ct21876) [jmoriarty@zeislaw.com] ZEISLER & ZEISLER PC 10 Middle Street, 15th Floor Bridgeport, CT 06604 Telephone: (203) 368-4234 Facsimile: (203) 368-5485 *Local Counsel for Mei Guo, HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC, Lee Vartan, Esq., and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC* UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT HO WAN KWOK, et al., 1 ) ) ) In re: ) Chapter 11 ) Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) ) (Jointly Administered) Debtors. ) Re: ECF Nos. 1537 & 1648 ORDER AWARDING FEES OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE AND HIS COUNSEL PURSUANT TO SANCTIONS ORDER Pursuant to the *Order Holding HK Parties in Contempt of Court and Sanctioning HK Parties, Attorney Vartan and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC* (the "Sanctions Order") [Docket No. 1537] and 11 U.S.C. §§ 328, 330 and 331, Luc A. Despins, as the Chapter 11 Trustee in the above-captioned chapter 11 cases, and his counsel Paul Hastings LLP filed the *Special Fee Application of Chapter 11 Trustee and his Counsel, Paul Hastings LLP, for Services Rendered in Securing Compliance with Court-Authorized Subpoenas* on April 10, 2023 (the "Special Application") [Docket No. 1648]. Upon review of the information included with the Special Application and a determination that the fees sought therein are reasonable and constitute reasonable attorney's fees associated with the Trustee's efforts to secure compliance with the Court-authorized subpoenas as contemplated by the Sanctions Order, it is hereby ORDERED: 1. Compensation in the amount of \$83,370.26 is awarded to Paul Hastings LLP; it is further 1 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 the 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). Case 22-50073 Doc 1752-1 Filed 05/04/23 Entered 05/04/23 10:35:22 Page 7 of Case 22-50073 Doc 1693 Filed 04/21/23 Entered 04/21/23 15:02:54 Page 2 of 2 12 2. Ms. Mei Guo, HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC, Attorney Lee Vartan, and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (collectively, the "HK Parties") are ordered to pay to the Chapter 11 estate of Mr. Ho Wan Kwok (the "Estate") the fees allowed in paragraph 1 above in the aggregate amount of \$83,370.26 on or before May 5, 2023; it is further 3. The HK Parties are jointly and severally liable to the Estate for the payment of all fees awarded in paragraph 1 above in the amount of \$83,370.26; and it is further 4. Upon receipt of the amount awarded in paragraph 1 or a portion thereof from any among the HK Parties, the Estate is ordered to pay such received amount to Paul Hastings LLP; and it is further 5. The Court shall retain jurisdiction to hear and determine all matters arising from the implementation of this Order; it is further 6. The Trustee and Paul Hastings LLP are authorized and empowered to take all necessary actions to implement the relief granted in this Order; it is further 7. Notwithstanding the possible applicability of Bankruptcy Rule 6006(d), 7062, 9014, or otherwise, the terms and conditions of this Order shall be immediately effective and enforceable upon its entry. Dated at Bridgeport, Connecticut this 21st day of April, 2023. by Brown Rudnick LLP Seven Times Square represented New York, NY 10036 212-209-4800 Fax : 212-209-4801 Email: [kaulet@brownrudnick.com] Date filed: 02/15/2022 *341 meeting:* 12/02/2022 William Baldiga TERMINATED: 08/02/2022 Kenneth Aulet Brown Rudnick LLP Seven Times Square New York, NY 10036 New York 212-209-4800 Fax : 212-209-4801 Email: [wbaldiga@brownrudnick.com] TERMINATED: 08/02/2022 William R. Baldiga Brown+, Rudnik, Freed & Gesmer One Financial Center Boston, MA 02111 (617) 330-9000 Fax : 617-289-0420 Email: [wbaldiga@brownrudnick.com] TERMINATED: 08/02/2022 Stephen A. Best Brown Rudnick LLP 601 Thirteenth Street NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 202-536-1737 Fax : 212-938-2937 Email: [sbest@brownrudnick.com] Andrew M. Carty U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of Connecticut (Bridgeport) Bankruptcy Petition #: 22-50073 Assigned to: Julie A. Manning Chapter 11 Voluntary Asset [Show Associated Cases] [Claims Register] Debtor Ho Wan Kwok 373 Taconic Road Greenwich, CT 06831 FAIRFIELD-CT SSN / ITIN: xxx-xx-9595 aka Miles Kwok aka Miles Guo aka Wengui Guo aka Guo Haoyun aka Guo Wen Gui aka Guo Wengui aka Guo Wen-Gui aka Gwo Wen Gui aka Hao Yung Guo aka Haoun Guo aka Haoyun Guo aka Ho Wankwok aka Kwok Ho aka Kwok Ho Wan aka Wan Gue Haoyun aka Wan Gui Haoyun aka Wen Gui Gwo Brown Rudnick LLP Seven Times Square New York, NY 10036 212-209-4800 Fax : 212-209-4801 Email: [acarty@brownrudnick.com] TERMINATED: 08/02/2022 John L. Cesaroni Zeisler & Zeisler PC 10 Middle Street 15th Floor Bridgeport, CT 06604 203-368-4234 Fax : 203-367-9678 Email: [jcesaroni@zeislaw.com] Stephen R. Cook Brown Rudnick LLP 2211 Michelson Drive 7th Floor Irvine, CA 92612 949-440-0215 Fax : 949-252-1514 Email: [scook@brownrudnick.com] Eric A. Henzy Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C. 10 Middle Street 15th Floor Bridgeport, CT 06604 203-368-5495 Fax : 203-549-0861 Email: [ehenzy@zeislaw.com] Jeffrey L Jonas Brown Rudnick LLP Seven Times Square New York, NY 10036 2122094800 Fax : 212-209-4801 Email: [jjonas@brownrudnick.com] TERMINATED: 08/02/2022 Stephen M. Kindseth Zeisler & Zeisler 10 Middle Street 15th Floor Bridgeport, CT 06604 (203) 368-4234 Fax : 203-367-9678 Email: [skindseth@zeislaw.com] Dylan Kletter Brown Rudnick LLP 185 Asylum Street Hartford, CT 06103 860-509-6500 Email: [dkletter@brownrudnick.com] TERMINATED: 08/02/2022 Aaron A Mitchell Lawall & Mitchell, LLC 55 Madison Ave Suite 400 Morristown, NJ 07960 973-285-3280 Email: [aaron@lmesq.com] James M. Moriarty Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C. 10 Middle Street Bridgeport, CT 06604 203-368-4234 Fax : 203-549-0907 Email: [jmoriarty@zeislaw.com] Aaron Romney Zeisler & Zeisler PC 10 Middle Street 15th Floor Bridgeport, CT 06604 203-368-4234 Fax : 203-367-9678 Email: [aromney@zeislaw.com] Bennett Silverberg Brown Rudnick LLP Seven Times Square New York, NY 10036 212-209-4800 Fax : 212-209-4801 Email: [bsilverberg@brownrudnick.com] TERMINATED: 08/02/2022 Filing Date　Number　Docket Text 05/01/2023　1733　ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT/ORDER: On April 28, 2023, Ms. Mei Guo, HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC, Attorney Lee Vartan, and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (collectively, the "HK Parties,") filed a Motion for Reconsideration pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 60, made applicable by Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9024 (ECF No. 1730, the "Motion"), seeking relief from the Order Awarding Fees of Chapter 11 Trustee and His Counsel Pursuant to Sanctions Order entered on April 21, 2023 (the "Order Awarding Amount of Sanctions," ECF 1693). The arguments advanced in the Motion are without merit and/or not persuasive. Furthermore, none of the grounds for relief set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60 and Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9024(b) exist to relieve the HK Parties from complying with the Order Awarding Amount of Sanctions. Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED: The Motion is DENIED. Signed by Judge Julie A. Manning on May 1, 2023. (rms) (Entered: 05/01/2023)