Guo Wengui / Miles Guo — bankruptcy case · ORDER · ECF #3202

METADATA

Defendant
Guo Wengui / Miles Guo / Ho Wan Kwok
Court
CTB
Case No.
22-50073
ECF #
3202
Type
ORDER
Filed
2023-08-18

Monthly Fee Statement — In re Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), CTB 22-50073 ECF #3202 (filed 2023-08-18). Swiss counsel Prager Dreifuss AG requests interim compensation of CHF 16,968.72 in fees (80% of CHF 20,795.00) and CHF 415.90 in disbursements (100%) for Swiss legal services rendered to Chapter 11 Trustee Luc A. Despins from April 1, 2024 through April 30, 2024.

FULL TEXT

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UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION

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x
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In re: : :

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Chapter 11
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HO WAN KWOK, et al., : :

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Case No. 22-50073 (JAM)
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Debtors.1 : :

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Jointly Administered
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x
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MONTHLY FEE STATEMENT OF PRAGER DREIFUSS AG FOR COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES FOR PERIOD FROM APRIL 1, 2024 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2024

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In accordance with the Order Establishing Procedures for Interim Compensation and

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Reimbursement of Expenses for Retained Professionals, dated August 18, 2023 [Docket No.

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2094] (the "Interim Compensation Order"),2 Prager Dreifuss AG ("Prager Dreifuss") hereby

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submits this monthly statement (the "Monthly Fee Statement") seeking compensation for

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services rendered and reimbursement of expenses incurred as Swiss law counsel to Luc A.

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Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the "Trustee") appointed in the chapter 11 case

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of Ho Wan Kwok, for the period from April 1, 2024 through and including April 30, 2024 (the

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"Fee Period"). By this Monthly Fee Statement, Prager Dreifuss respectfully requests payment of

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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 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).

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2 Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Interim Compensation Order.

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80% of all fees and 100% of all expenses actually and necessarily incurred for services rendered during the Fee Period, in the amounts of CHF 16,968.72 and CHF 415.90, respectively.3

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SERVICES RENDERED AND EXPENSES INCURRED
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1. Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a timekeeper summary that includes the name, hours, rate, and total fees earned for each Prager Dreifuss individual who provided services during the Fee Period.

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2. Attached hereto as Exhibit B are Prager Dreifuss' fee statements for services provided during the Fee Period.

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NOTICE AND OBJECTION PROCEDURES
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3. Notice of this Monthly Fee Statement will be given by email on the Notice Parties: (i) Luc A. Despins, as chapter 11 trustee for the estate of Ho Wan Kwok (lucdespins@paulhastings.com); (ii) Counsel for the Trustee, (x) Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166 (Attn: G. Alexander Bongartz (alexbongartz@paulhastings.com) and Douglass Barron (douglassbarron@paulhastings.com)) and (y) Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C., 195 Church Street, 13th Floor, New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (Attn: Douglas S. Skalka (dskalka@npmlaw.com) and Patrick R. Linsey (plinsey@npmlaw.com)); (iii) the Office of The United States Trustee, Giaimo Federal Building, 150 Court Street, Room 302, New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (Attn: Holley L. Claiborn (holley.l.claiborn@usdoj.gov)); (iv) counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, Pullman & Comley, LLC, 850 Main Street, 8th Floor, PO Box 7006, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06601-7006 (Attn: Irve J. Goldman (igoldman@pullcom.com); and (v) counsel for Pacific

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3 In accordance with Prager Dreifuss' retention order [Docket No. 3034], (a) Prager Dreifuss is authorized to charge a flat fee for disbursements in an amount equal to 2% of the total fees charged and (b) Prager Dreifuss is authorized to invoice its fees and expenses in Swiss Francs (CHF) and to have such fees and expenses paid in Swiss Francs (CHF), subject to the terms of the Interim Compensation Order.

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Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P., O'Melveny & Myers LLP, 7 Times Square, New York, New York 10036 (Attn: Peter Friedman (pfriedman@omm.com) and Stuart M. Sarnoff (ssarnoff@omm.com) (collectively, the "Notice Parties").

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4. Objections to this Monthly Fee Statement, if any, must be filed with the Court and served upon (i) Prager Dreifuss (Attn: Daniel Hayek (daniel.hayek@prager-dreifuss.com) and (ii) the Notice Parties by email no later than June 10, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. (prevailing Eastern Time) (the "Objection Deadline"), setting forth the nature of the objection and the specific amount of fees or expenses at issue.

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5. If no objections to this Monthly Fee Statement are filed and received on or before the Objection Deadline, the estate shall promptly pay Prager Dreifuss 80% of the fees and 100% of the expenses identified in this Monthly Fee Statement.

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6. To the extent that an objection to this Monthly Fee Statement is filed and received on or before the Objection Deadline, the estate shall withhold payment of that portion of this Monthly Fee Statement to which the objection is directed and promptly pay the remainder of the fees and expenses in the percentages set forth above. To the extent such an objection is not resolved, it shall be preserved and scheduled for consideration at the next interim fee application hearing.

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Dated: May 20, 2024
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By: /s/ Daniel Hayek
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Daniel Hayek PRAGER DREIFUSS AG Mühlebachstrasse 6 CH-8008 Zürich UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION

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x
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In re: :

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: Chapter 11
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HO WAN KWOK, et al.,1 :

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: Case No. 22-50073 (JAM)
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Debtors. : :

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: (Jointly Administered)
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
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The undersigned hereby certifies that on May 20, 2024, the foregoing Monthly Fee Statement was electronically filed. In addition, a copy of the Monthly Fee Statement was served by email on the Notice Parties. Parties may access this filing through the Court's CM/ECF system.

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Dated: May 20, 2024 By: /s/ G. Alexander Bongartz

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New York, New York G. Alexander Bongartz (admitted pro hac vice) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6000 alexbongartz@paulhastings.com

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Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee
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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 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).

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Exhibit A
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Name Hours Rate CHF Amount CHF
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Hayek, Daniel 3.60 750.00 2,700.00 Meili, Mark 32.90 550.00 18,095.00 TOTAL 36.50 20,795.00 Exhibit B
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Paul Hastings LLP Mr. Luc Despins 200 Park Avenue New York NY 10166 United States of America

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May 17, 2024 Invoice no. 201334-24-11
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Fees for services rendered between April 1, 2024 and April 30, 2024 in the matter of Ho Wan Kwok, as per the attached details.

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Total CHF 21'210.90
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VAT 0% export CHF 0.00 CHF 21'210.90
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Disbursements 2% (in lieu of itemized minor disbursements) CHF 415.90

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Legal Fees CHF 20'795.00
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Terms of payment 30 days net VAT No. CHE-115.724.136 MWST

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Please arrange for payment under reference of the above invoice number to our following account:

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Zürcher Kantonalbank, 8001 Zürich
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IBAN CH67 0070 0114 8037 7648 0
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BIC/SWIFT ZKBKCHZZ80A
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Prager Dreifuss AG ▪ Zürich, Bern, Brüssel ▪ www.prager-dreifuss.com

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Details of invoice no. 201334-24-11
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Invoice period: April 1, 2024 – April 30, 2024

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Legal Fees
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Date Service Name VAT Hours
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03.04.2024 rev. files and work on recognition application Switzerland MMA 0.00% 2.40 04.04.2024 E-Mail Alex re Swiss assets and recognition procedure MMA 0.00% 0.50 05.04.2024 Rev. of documents re alter ego and fraudulent transfer

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claims MMA 0.00% 0.70
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05.04.2024 E-Mail Paul Hastings re assets Switzerland MMA 0.00% 0.30 11.04.2024 rev. asset information Switzerland and email Doug MMA 0.00% 0.50 12.04.2024 Work on recognition application MMA 0.00% 1.60 15.04.2024 Work on recognition application MMA 0.00% 1.70 15.04.2024 rev. submission to Zurich Court as work in progress HA 0.00% 1.00

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16.04.2024 rev. docs. HA 0.00% 1.30
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16.04.2024 prep. and call Luc re status recognition application and

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issues MMA 0.00% 0.50
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16.04.2024 work on recognition application MMA 0.00% 1.20 16.04.2024 Call Luc and Alex re: BVI legal opinion etc. HA 0.00% 0.50 16.04.2024 conf. MMA re doc review HA 0.00% 0.30 17.04.2024 Work on recognition application MMA 0.00% 2.80 18.04.2024 email Alex re service of process in Switzerland MMA 0.00% 0.50 18.04.2024 Work on recognition application MMA 0.00% 2.20 18.04.2024 rev. order district court Basel and emails Luc/Alex MMA 0.00% 0.50 18.04.2024 rev. submission for fees etc. HA 0.00% 0.50 19.04.2024 email Luc re service of process MMA 0.00% 0.20 19.04.2024 email Luc re conciliation proceedings Basel and costs MMA 0.00% 0.30 19.04.2024 work on recognition application MMA 0.00% 2.40 19.04.2024 emails Alex re service of process and supporting

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documentation MMA 0.00% 0.20
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21.04.2024 work on recognition application MMA 0.00% 1.50 22.04.2024 Work on recognition application MMA 0.00% 3.50 23.04.2024 Call court in Lausanne re service of process, email Luc MMA 0.00% 0.30 23.04.2024 work on recognition application MMA 0.00% 4.80 25.04.2024 work on recognition application MMA 0.00% 1.80 25.04.2024 rev. notarized chapter 11 application, email Doug re same MMA 0.00% 0.30 30.04.2024 rev. additional documentation and comments by Paul Hastings/Alex Bongartz on recognition application MMA 0.00% 2.20

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Total excl. VAT 36.50 Expenses
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Total excl. VAT 415.90
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17.05.2024 Disbursements 0.00% 415.90 Date Text VAT Amount CHF
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Provider Hours Rate CHF Amount CHF
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Hayek, Daniel 3.60 750.00 2'700.00 Meili, Mark 32.90 550.00 18'095.00 36.50 569.75 20'795.00

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