Guo Wengui / Miles Guo — bankruptcy case · ORDER · ECF #3393

### **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**

| -------------------------------------------------------------- | x | |----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | In re: | :<br>:<br>Chapter 11 | | HO WAN KWOK, et al., | :<br>:<br>Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) | | Debtors.1 | :<br>:<br>Jointly Administered | | -------------------------------------------------------------- | :<br>x |

## **MONTHLY FEE STATEMENT OF PRAGER DREIFUSS AG FOR COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES FOR PERIOD FROM JUNE 1, 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2024**

In accordance with the *Order Establishing Procedures for Interim Compensation and*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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).

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

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 5,736.00 and CHF 143.40, respectively.3

#### **SERVICES RENDERED AND EXPENSES INCURRED**

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.

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

# **NOTICE AND OBJECTION PROCEDURES**

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

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.

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").

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 **September 3, 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.

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.

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.

Dated: August 12 2024

By: */s/ Daniel Hayek*

Daniel Hayek PRAGER DREIFUSS AG Mühlebachstrasse 6 CH-8008 Zürich

## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**

| ------------------------------------------------------ | x | | |---------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------------------------| | In re: | :<br>: | Chapter 11 | | HO WAN KWOK, et al.,1 | :<br>:<br>: | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) | | Debtors. | :<br>: | (Jointly Administered) | | ------------------------------------------------------x | | |

## **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**

The undersigned hereby certifies that on August 12, 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.

Dated: August 12, 2024 By: */s/ G. Alexander Bongartz*

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

*Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*

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).

#### **Exhibit A**

| Name | Hours | Rate CHF | Amount CHF | |---------------|-------|----------|------------| | Hayek, Daniel | 3.40 | 750.00 | 2,550.00 | | Meili, Mark | 8.40 | 550.00 | 4,620.00 | | TOTAL | 11.80 | | 7,170.00 |

# **Exhibit B**

**Fee Statement**

Paul Hastings LLP Mr. Luc Despins 200 Park Avenue New York NY 10166 United States of America

July 11, 2024

## **Invoice no. 201334-24-14**

Fees for services rendered between June 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024 in the matter of Ho Wan Kwok, as per the attached details.

| Total | CHF | 7'313.40 | |------------------------------------------------------------|-----|----------| | VAT 0% export | CHF | 0.00 | | | CHF | 7'313.40 | | Disbursements 2% (in lieu of itemized minor disbursements) | CHF | 143.40 | | Legal Fees | CHF | 7'170.00 |

| Terms of payment | |------------------| |------------------|

Terms of payment 30 days net VAT No. CHE-115.724.136 MWST

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

Zürcher Kantonalbank, 8001 Zürich

IBAN CH67 0070 0114 8037 7648 0

BIC/SWIFT ZKBKCHZZ80A

**Prager Dreifuss AG** ▪ Zürich, Bern, Brüssel ▪ www.prager-dreifuss.com

#### **Details of invoice no. 201334-24-14**

Invoice period: June 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024

#### **Legal Fees**

| Date | Service | Name | VAT | Hours | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------|-------|-------| | 04.06.2024 | rev. order District Court Zurich re recognition | MMA | 0.00% | 0.50 | | 04.06.2024 | draft email to Luc re order District Court Zurich re<br>additional documentation | MMA | 0.00% | 0.20 | | 04.06.2024 | call Lux and Alex re order District Court Zurich re<br>recognition and next steps | MMA | 0.00% | 0.30 | | 04.06.2024 | Kwok rev. and translate Order of District Court | HA | 0.00% | 0.50 | | 04.06.2024 | E-Mail to Luc and Alex re: content of e-mail | HA | 0.00% | 0.30 | | 04.06.2024 | Call Lux and Alex | HA | 0.00% | 0.30 | | 04.06.2024 | Conf. MMA re: next steps | HA | 0.00% | 0.20 | | 04.06.2024 | Conf HA re next steps | MMA | 0.00% | 0.20 | | 07.06.2024 | rev. email HA re discussions with judge on recognition<br>applicaiton | MMA | 0.00% | 0.20 | | 11.06.2024 | Conf HA re court order and discussions with court | MMA | 0.00% | 0.40 | | 11.06.2024 | work on submission to court re document request | MMA | 0.00% | 1.80 | | 11.06.2024 | Call Judge Talbot | HA | 0.00% | 0.60 | | 11.06.2024 | E-Mails Luc and Alex re: exhibits | HA | 0.00% | 0.50 | | 11.06.2024 | Conf. MMA re: call judge and additional submission | HA | 0.00% | 0.50 | | 12.06.2024 | work on submission to court re document request | MMA | 0.00% | 2.00 | | 13.06.2024 | work on submission to court re document request | MMA | 0.00% | 0.80 | | 14.06.2024 | Finalize submission to court re document request | MMA | 0.00% | 0.90 | | 15.06.2024 | Handle Court Application, Court Fees Zürich | HA | 0.00% | 0.50 | | 18.06.2024 | Check with District Court re advance on costs and filed<br>brief | MMA | 0.00% | 0.30 | | 24.06.2024 | rev. updates and documents from Alex re Swiss<br>investigation | MMA | 0.00% | 0.30 | | 28.06.2024 | rev. correspondence re certificate of non-service<br>Switzerland, e-mail Alex | MMA | 0.00% | 0.50 |

**Total excl. VAT 11.80**

#### **Expenses**

| Total excl. VAT | | | 143.40 | |-----------------|---------------|-------|------------| | 11.07.2024 | Disbursements | 0.00% | 143.40 | | Date | Text | VAT | Amount CHF |

| Provider | Hours | Rate CHF | Amount CHF | |---------------|-------|----------|------------| | Hayek, Daniel | 3.40 | 750.00 | 2'550.00 | | Meili, Mark | 8.40 | 550.00 | 4'620.00 | | | 11.80 | 607.65 | 7'170.00 |