Guo Wengui / Miles Guo — bankruptcy case · ORDER · ECF #3918

METADATA

Defendant: Guo Wengui / Miles Guo / Ho Wan Kwok
Court: CTB
Case No.: 22-50073
ECF #: 3918
Type: ORDER
Filed: 2023-08-18

FULL TEXT

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

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

### **MONTHLY FEE STATEMENT OF WINNE, BANTA, BASRALIAN & KAHN, P.C.FOR COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES FOR PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2024**

In accordance with the *Order Establishing ProceduresforInterim Compensation and*

*Reimbursement ofExpensesfor Retained Professionals, datedAugust 18, 2023* [Docket No.

2094] (the "Interim Compensation Order"),2 Winne, Banta, Basralian & Kahn, P.C.

("WBB&K") hereby submits this monthly statement (the "Monthly Fee Statement") seeking

compensation for services rendered as New Jersey real estate counsel to Luc A. Despins, in his

capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the "Trustee") appointed in the chapter 11 case ofHo Wan

Kwok, for the period from October 1, 2024 through and including November 30, 2024 (the "Fee

Period"). By this Monthly Fee Statement, WBB&K respectfully requests payment of 80% of all

fees and 100% of all expenses actually and necessarily incurred for services rendered during the

Fee Period, in the amounts of \$6,718.00 and \$828.93, respectively.

i 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 oftax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits oftax 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 ofHo 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.

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

1. Attached hereto as Exhibit A are WBB&K's fee statements for services provided during the Fee Period along with a timekeeper summary that includes the name, rate, total hours and total fees earned for each WBB&K individual who provided services during the fee period. These fee statements also list the expenses incurred for which WBB&K seeks reimbursement for the Fee Period.

#### **NOTICE AND OBJECTION PROCEDURES**

2. Notice ofthis 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 ofThe 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 ofUnsecured 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 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").

3. Objections to this Monthly Fee Statement, if any, must be filed with the Court and served upon (i) Winne, Banta, Basralian & Kahn, P.C., (Attn: Richard R. Kahn and (ii) the Notice Parties by email no later than **January 9, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. (prevailing Eastern Time) (the "Objection Deadline"),** setting forth the nature ofthe objection and the specific amount of fees or expenses at issue.

4. If no objections to this Monthly Fee Statement are filed and received on or before the Objection Deadline, the estate shall promptly pay WBB&K 80% ofthe fees and 100% ofthe expenses identified in this Monthly Fee Statement.

5. 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 ofthat portion ofthis Monthly Fee Statement to which the objection is directed and promptly pay the remainder ofthe 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.

*[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALL YBLANK.]*

Dated: December 19, 2024

B *wO*

Richard R. Kahn Winne Banta Basralian & Kahn, PC Court Plaza South, East Wing Suite 101 21 Main Street Hackensack, New Jersey 07601

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

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

### **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**

The undersigned hereby certifies that on December 19, 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: December 19, 2024 at New Haven, Connecticut By: */s/ Patrick R. Linsey*

Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.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** Winne, Banta, Basralian & Kahn, P.C. Fee Statement

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**COURT PLAZA SOUTH -EAST WING 21 MAIN STREET, SUITE 101 P.O. BOX 647 11ACKENSACK. NJ 07601 -7021**

> **(201)487-3800 FACSIMILE (201)487-8529**

> > www.winnebanta.com

December 18, 2024

| Luc A. Despins- Trustee | Invoice #: | 254872 | |-------------------------------|----------------------|--------| | Paul Hastings, LLC | Client #: | 11157 | | Avenue 200 Park | Matter #: | 1 | | New NY York, 10166 | Billing Attorney: | RRK |

# **INVOICE SUMMARY**

For professional services rendered and disbursements advanced through November 30, 2024:

### **RE: Local NJ Real Estate Counsel regarding the sale of Crocker Mansion (Mahwah Mansion), located at 675 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, New Jersey**

| Professional Services Total Disbursements Advanced | \$ 8,397.50 \$ 828.93 | |----------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------| | TOTAL THIS INVOICE | \$ 9,226.43 | | Outstanding Balance | \$ 1,134.90 | | TOTAL BALANCE DUE | \$ 10,361.33 |

# **WBB&K P.C**

Invoice #: 254872 December 18, 2024

# **PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RENDERED**

| Date | Tkpr | of Narrative Services___________________________________________ | Hours | |----------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------| | 10/01/24 | RRK | Nancy Review revised Supplemental Declaration and respond Kinsella. to | .20 | | 10/02/24 | RRK | ofreviewed Kinsella Supplemental Email N. transmittal and executed Declaration and P. Linsey emails. | .30 | | 10/08/24 | RRK | Emails with Sherman regarding landscaper cleanup recommendations W. | .10 | | 10/09/24 | RRK | Review bankruptcy retention court approval. | .10 | | 10/10/24 | RRK | Sherman emails regarding Landscaper/Clean cost estimate. W. Up | .10 | | 10/11/24 | RRK | Emails with W. Sherman - Landscape contractors. | .30 | | 10/14/24 | RRK | repair Emails with Sherman regarding vendors. W. | .10 | | 11/04/24 | RRK | Order title search. | .10 | | 11/04/24 | RRK | ofAppearance. of Review Chiesa Shahinian Notice and advise & Giantomasi | .20 | | 11/04/24 | RRK | Email with Sherman regarding advice Broker prospect. W. on | .10 | | 11/04/24 | RRK | report Email from Meccia regarding title acknowledgment. K. | .10 | | 11/04/24 | RRK | Emails regarding need secure title - W. Sherman to search. | .10 | | 11/06/24 | RRK | and repair Sherman Garinco emails status W. A. re: | .20 | | 11/07/24 | RRK | Sherman email repair status. W. re: | .10 | | 11/12/24 | RRK | of Emails with Sherman status Title W. re: Report. | .10 | | 11/13/24 | RRK | roofrepairs. Emails with and Garino W. Sherman re: A. | .10 | | 11/14/24 | RRK | oftitle Transmittal report Sherman. to W. | .10 | | 11/14/24 | RRK | Review title report. | .30 | | 11/14/24 | RRK | report Confer with Meccia title review. A. Jr. re: | .10 | | 11/15/24 | RRK | Review title report with First Bergen Title Insurance Co. | .40 | | 11/15/24 | RRK | Advise client regarding ownership problem. | .10 | | 11/15/24 | RRK | Confer with regarding addressing foreclosure Redish construction lien G. actions. | .40 | | 11/15/24 | RRK | client regarding foreclosure Email to actions. | .10 | | 11/15/24 | GSR | Telephone conference with Richard New Jersey pendens Kahn, Esq. on lis fde. | .30 | | 11/15/24 | GSR | Telephone conference with Bill Sherman New Jersey pendens on lis issue; | .30 | | 11/15/24 | GSR | Review title report work strategy. to on | 1.00 | | 11/15/24 | GSR | for Telephone conference with Michael Starr, Esq., attorney lien claimant. | .30 | | 11/15/24 | GSR | Telephone conference with Mark Blount, attorney for lien claimant; Esq. | .20 |

### **WBB&K P.C**

| Invoice | #: 254872 | December | 18, 2024 | |----------|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------| | Date | Tkpr | Narrative of Services | Hours | | 11/15/24 | GSR | Review adversary complaint in Connecticut Bankruptcy Court | .50 | | 11/18/24 | RRK | Confer with mechanic claimants Redish on lien strategy. G. | .30 | | 11/18/24 | GSR | Review title/Chapter 11 pleadings and claimant's State Court pleadings. | 2.00 | | 11/18/24 | GSR | Telephone with both counsel for conference claimants. | .40 | | 11/18/24 | GSR | Work on letter to claimant's counsel. | .60 | | 11/19/24 | RRK | Revise side letter. | .10 | | 11/19/24 | RRK | Confer with mechanic's enforcement Redish lien strategy. G. re: | .20 | | 11/19/24 | RRK | of Review Redish draft correspondence construction re: liens. G. | .20 | | 11/19/24 | RRK | Review, research and advise client regarding property condition disclosure. | .30 | | 11/19/24 | RRK | Confer with I. Vargas regarding whether may avoid property condition Trustee disclosure. | .20 | | 11/19/24 | GSR | Complete title review. | 1.00 | | 11/19/24 | GSR | of ECourt review lien claims. | .70 | | 11/19/24 | GSR | Draft letter lien claimants. to | .30 | | 11/19/24 | IMV | Receipt and review thread from R.Kahn regarding client inquiry email on property disclosure requirements and potential trustee exception thereto. | .10 | | 11/19/24 | IMV | ofNJ Research, review analysis Real Estate Consumer Protection and Enhancement Act relevant provisions property for on disclosure statement requirements. | .50 | | 11/19/24 | IMV | Research and review guidance NJ Consumer Protection DCA the Real Estate on Enhancement Act practice templates and in connection therewith. | .30 | | 11/19/24 | IMV | Draft email summary R.Kahn and M.Taus in response to client inquiry and to provide Act and findings the forms found online. on | .10 | | 11/19/24 | IMV | Attention to email communication with Taus and R. Kahn responsive M. to research findings provided. | .10 | | 11/20/24 | RRK | Emails with Redish, W. Sherman, Skalka construction liens. G. D. re: | .50 | | 11/20/24 | GSR | Review Trustee's amendments to letter. | .20 | | 11/21/24 | RRK | Review Redish regarding executed correspondence and exhibits email going G. StaiT and to M. M. Blout. | .10 | | 11/22/24 | GSR | Finalize letter claimants' to lien counsel. | .30 |

#### **TOTAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES \$ 8,397.50**

Case 22-50073 Doc 3918 Filed 12/19/24 Entered 12/19/24 15:08:18 Page 9 of 11

#### **WBB&K P.C.**

Invoice #: 254872 December 18, 2024

### **TIMEKEEPER SUMMARY**

| Name | Rate | Hours | Total | |-------------------------|--------|-------|-------------| | Kahn, Richard R. | 585.00 | 5.70 | 3,334.50 | | Redish, Gary S. | 585.00 | 8.10 | 4,738.50 | | Vargas, Ivette M. | 295.00 | 1.10 | 324.50 | | TOTALS | | 14.90 | \$ 8,397.50 |

### **DISBURSEMENTS ADVANCED**

| Description______________________________________ | Amount | |------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------| | Printing | 6.60 | | First Agency Bergen Title LLC, Searches, File #H24-0171 | 721.00 | | UPS, Messenger/Courier | 40.97 | | UPS, Messenger/Courier | 19.18 | | Messenger/Courier UPS, | 19.18 | | Messenger/Courier UPS, | 22.00 | | | |

#### **TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS ADVANCED \$ 828.93**

**TOTAL THIS INVOICE \$ 9,226.43**

Case 22-50073 Doc 3918 Filed 12/19/24 Entered 12/19/24 15:08:18 Page 10 of 11

# WBB&K P.C

Invoice #: 254872 December 18, 2024

# **OUTSTANDING INVOICES**

| INVOICE | DATE | INVOICE | PAYMENTS | ENDING | |---------|-----------|----------|----------|----------| | NUMBER | | TOTAL | RECEIVED | BALANCE | | 253199 | ] 1/08/24 | 2,398.50 | 1,263.60 | 1,134.90 |

| \$ 10.361.33 | |-----------------| | \$ 9,226.43 | | \$ 1,134.90 | | |

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**COURT PLAZA SOUTH EAST WING 21 MAIN STREET, SUITE 101 P.O. BOX 647 HACKENSACK, NJ 07601-7021**

> **(201)487-3800 FACSIMILE (201)487-8529**

> > **www.winnebanta.com**

December 18, 2024

Invoice #: Client #: Matter #: 254872 11157 1 Billing Attorney: RRK

Luc A. Despins- Trustee Paul Hastings, LLC 200 Park Avenue New York, NY 10166

#### **REMITTANCE ADVICE**

RE: Local NJ Real Estate Counsel regarding the sale of Crocker Mansion (Mahwah Mansion), located at 675 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, New Jersey

| BALANCE DUE THIS INVOICE | \$ 9,226.43 | |-----------------------------------|-------------| | Outstanding Balance | \$ 1,134.90 | | TOTAL BALANCE DUE | \$10.361,33 |

Please return this advice with payment to: WBB&K P.C.

ATTN: Accounts Receivable P.O. Box 647 Hackensack, NJ 07602-0647

# **DUE UPON RECEIPT**

| To Pay By Credit Card: | | | | | |------------------------------------|------------------------|---------------------|---|-------------------| | Visa | Mastercard | Discover | | | | Account No.: | | Expiration Date: | / | Security Code: | | Amount: \$ | Name Account: on | | | | | Cardholder Billing Address: | | | | | | Authorization Signature: | | | | | | E-Mail Address: | | | | |