Guo Wengui / Miles Guo — bankruptcy case · ORDER · ECF #4011
METADATA
- Defendant
- Guo Wengui / Miles Guo / Ho Wan Kwok
- Court
- CTB
- Case No.
- 22-50073
- ECF #
- 4011
- Type
- ORDER
- Filed
- 2023-08-18
Monthly Fee Statement — In re Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), CTB 22-50073 ECF #4011 (filed Aug 18, 2023). Forensic investigator Kroll, LLC, retained by Chapter 11 Trustee Luc A. Despins, requests interim payment of 80% of professional fees ($43,216.48) and 100% of expenses ($1,759.29) for asset recovery and investigation services rendered from December 1 through December 31, 2024.
FULL TEXT
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION
-------------------------------------------------------------- x
In re: : :
HO WAN KWOK, et al., :
Debtors.1 : :
: -------------------------------------------------------------- x MONTHLY FEE STATEMENT OF KROLL, LLC FOR COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES FOR PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 1, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 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 Kroll, LLC ("Kroll") hereby submits this monthly
statement (the "Monthly Fee Statement") seeking compensation for services rendered and
reimbursement of expenses incurred as forensic investigators 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 December 1, 2024 through and including December 31, 2024 (the "Fee Period").
By this Monthly Fee Statement, Kroll 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 \$43,216.48 and \$1,759.29, respectively.
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.
1. Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a timekeeper summary that includes the name, title, service line, standard rate, discounted rate, total hours, and total fees earned for each Kroll individual who provided services during the Fee Period. The rates charged by Kroll for services rendered to the Trustee are discounted per the engagement letter to the rates that Kroll charges generally for professional services rendered to its non-bankruptcy clients.
2. Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a summary of Kroll's services rendered and compensation sought for the Fee Period organized by Project Category.
3. Attached hereto as Exhibit C is a summary of Kroll's services rendered and compensation sought for the Fee Period organized by Matter ID.
4. Attached hereto as Exhibit D is a summary of Kroll's expenses incurred and reimbursement sought for the Fee Period organized by Expense Type.
5. Attached hereto as Exhibit E are Kroll's fee statements for services provided during the Fee Period.
6. 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 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").
7. Objections to this Monthly Fee Statement, if any, must be filed with the Court and served upon (i) Kroll (Attn: Allen Pfeiffer (allen.pfeiffer@kroll.com) and (ii) the Notice Parties by email no later than February 17, 2025 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.
8. If no objections to this Monthly Fee Statement are filed and received on or before the Objection Deadline, the estate shall promptly pay Kroll 80% of the fees and 100% of the expenses identified in this Monthly Fee Statement.
9. 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.
By:/s/ Allen Pfeiffer Allen Pfeiffer KROLL, LLC 55 East 52nd Street, Floor 17 New York, New York 10055 UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION
------------------------------------------------------ x
In re: : :
HO WAN KWOK, et al.,3 : :
: Debtors. :
The undersigned hereby certifies that on the date hereof, 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: January 27, 2025 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
3 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).
Time Period: December 1-31, 2024.
Timekeeper Title Service Line Standard Discounted Total Total Fees
Parizek, Pam Managing Director Forensic Investigations \$ 890 \$ 712 4.4 \$
Barker, James Associate Managing Forensic Investigations \$ 710 \$ 639 6.8 \$
Jones, Iain Associate Managing Forensic Investigations \$ 710 \$ 639 5.0 \$
Lazarus, Jordan Senior Manager Forensic Investigations \$ 575 \$ 518 7.0 \$
Lomas, Adam Senior Manager Forensic Investigations \$ 575 \$ 518 48.8 \$
Levenson, Patrick Associate Manager Forensic Investigations \$ 420 \$ 378 6.2 \$
Spier, Tre Research Analyst Forensic Investigations \$ 245 \$ 221 55.0 \$
Total Hours and Fees:
SUMMARY OF COMPENSATION BY PROJECT CATEGORY
Time Period: December 1-31, 2024.
U.S. Trustee Task Code and Project Category Hours Billed Fees Billed
B120 Asset Analysis and Recovery - \$ -
B160 Fee/Employment Applications 5.5 \$ 3,040.75 B170 Fee/Employment Objections - \$ - B180 Avoidance Action Analysis - \$ - B181 Preference Analysis and Recovery Actions - \$ - B182 Post-Petition Transfers and Recovery Actions - \$ - B190 Other Contested Matters (excl. assumption/rejections motions)- \$ -
B261 Investigations 127.7 \$ 50,979.85
Time Period: December 1-31, 2024.
00001 General Debtor Representation 5.5 \$
00002 Asset Recovery Investigation and Litigation 121.4 \$
00003 HK USA Adversary Proceeding - \$
00004 Bravo Luck Adversary Proceeding - \$
00006 SN Apartment Adversary Proceeding - \$
00007 Greenwich Land Adversary Proceeding - \$
00009 Mei Guo Adversary Proceeding - \$
00010 Interpleader Adversary Proceeding - \$
00012 Golden Spring Adversary Proceeding - \$
00013 Mahwah Adversary Proceeding - \$
00015 Lamp Capital Adversary Proceeding - \$
00016 G-Club Adversary Proceeding - \$
00017 Rule of Law Adversary Proceeding - \$
00018 UAE Asset Recovery Actions 6.3 \$
00019 Leading Shine Adversary Proceeding - \$
Time Period: December 1-31, 2024.
Expense Category Matter ID Task Code Expense Amount
Database and Research Fees for Asset Recovery Investigation and Litigation Asset Analysis and Recovery \$
Subcontractor- Expense Asset Recovery Investigation and Litigation \$
(Investigative Ressearch in UAE) Asset Analysis and Recovery
Timekeeper Date Matter Task Narrative Hours Amount
Jones, Iain 10/24/2024 UAE Asset Investigations Conduct investgation into 5.0 \$ 3,195.00
Parizek, Pam 11/15/2024 UAE Asset Investigations Review team update re: 0.3 \$ 213.60 Recovery Actions (.2), reply to inquiry from Paul Hastings
Parizek, Pam 11/15/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review team updates re:
Parizek, Pam 11/26/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and revise redacted description 0.5 \$ 356.00 Investigation and of services [.5].
Barker, James 11/27/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Preparation for Meeting with client or 3.0 \$ 1,917.00 Investigation and counsel.
Parizek, Pam 11/27/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations transaction 0.4 \$ 284.80
Barker, James 11/28/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Call with A. Lomas, P. Parizek, J. 0.4 \$ 255.60 Investigation and Lazarus, Paul Hastings [L. Despins, N. Litigation Bassett, D. Barron, L. Song], and NPM Law [P. Linsey and K. Mitchell] re:
related matters. Parizek, Pam 12/2/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Email introduction to
Parizek, Pam 12/3/2024 UAE Asset Investigations Review updated
Recovery Actions update from I. Jones [.4]. Parizek, Pam 12/4/2024 UAE Asset Investigations Introductory call with I. Jones, J. Barker, 0.2 \$ 142.40 Recovery Actions [N. Oteifi , E. Bierne , P.
N. Bassett, D. Barron] [.2].
Lazarus, Jordan 12/4/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Compile
Investigation and action support per request from NPM Litigation Law; correspondence with NPM Law [P. Linsey] re: related matters. Levenson, Patrick 12/4/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Conducted
Lomas, Adam 12/4/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Respond to inquiry from Paul Hasting 0.2 \$ 103.50 Investigation and [W. Farmer] re: statements for
Barker, James 12/5/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Call with P. Parizek, J. Lazarus, Paul 0.4 \$ 255.60 Investigation and Hastings [L. Despins, N. Bassett, D. Litigation Barron, L. Song], and NPM Law [P. Linsey and K. Mitchell] re: and related matters. Lazarus, Jordan 12/5/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Call with P. Parizek, J. Barker, Paul 0.2 \$ 103.50 Investigation and Hastings [L. Despins, N. Bassett, D. Litigation Barron, L. Song], and NPM Law [P. Linsey and K. Mitchell] re: and related matters.
Timekeeper Date Matter Task Narrative Hours Amount
Levenson, Patrick 12/5/2024 Asset Recovery
Litigation Investigations Respond to inquiry from NPM Law [K. Mitchell] re: addition banks to include in
Litigation Investigations Preliminary review of supplemental
Litigation Investigations Aggregate list of identified overseas
with respect to Rule 2004 subpoena; related document and transaction review. 1.7 \$
Litigation Investigations Respond to inquiry from NPM Law [K.
accounts at various financial institutions
Recovery Actions Investigations Review I. Jones update re:
Litigation Investigations Review of document productions from
Lazarus, Jordan 12/9/2024 General Debtor
Applications Billing - Prepare November 2024
Litigation Investigations Review and analysis of
updates to master transaction file. 0.4 \$
Litigation Investigations Reviewed and matched postpetition
as part of analysis of postpetition inflows requested by Paul Hastings [L. Despins]. 4.6 \$
Litigation Investigations Staff supervision with respect to analysis
Recovery Actions Investigations Review I. Jones update re:
Litigation Investigations Respond to inquiry from NPM Law [P.
respect to transfers to certain transfers to
documents; composed related email. 1.7 \$
Litigation Investigations Review of document production from
Litigation Investigations Continued analysis of postpetition
Litigation Investigations Review and analysis of
updates to master transaction file.
documents.
transaction file.
bank account transactions;
related updates to master transaction file.
updates to master transaction file.
Corresponded with NPM Law [P.
transaction analysis.
Respond to inquiry from NPM Law [K.
transaction review and research.
updates to master transaction file.
Hastings [L. Despins, N. Bassett, D.
Barron, L. Song], and NPM Law [P.
analysis and related matters.
Paul Hastings and NPM counsel teams.
Review of correspondence from A.
transfers, transactional activity re: and related matters.
email to Paul Hastings counsel team.
Hastings [L. Despins, N. Bassett, D.
Barron, L. Song] and NPM Law [P. Linsey, K. Mitchell] re: analysis of bank
summary of post-petition inflows by Timekeeper Date Matter Task Narrative Hours Amount
transferees and transferors [.3].
Timekeeper Date Matter Task Narrative Hours Amount
Lomas, Adam 12/12/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Meeting re: quantification of postpetition 0.6 \$ 310.50
investigative updates; with Paul Hastings
L. Song]; NPM Law [P. Linsey and K. Mitchell]; and Kroll [P. Parizek and J. Lazarus]. Lomas, Adam 12/12/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Respond to inquiry from NPM Law [P. 0.8 \$ 414.00 Investigation and Linsey] re: transfers to Litigation LLP. Lomas, Adam 12/13/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and analysis of 0.2 \$ 103.50 Investigation and LLC transactions in The Litigation bank account; related updates to master transaction file. Lomas, Adam 12/13/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Instructions to T. Spier re: review and 0.5 \$ 258.75
Litigation account transactions; related staff supervision. Lomas, Adam 12/13/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Incorporate transactions from 0.4 \$ 207.00
Litigation into master transaction file for analysis.
Investigation and Investigations Review and analysis of
transaction file. Lomas, Adam 12/13/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Incorporate 0.2 \$ 103.50
Litigation LLC bank account transactions into
review/analysis. Spier, Tre 12/13/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and analysis of 2.7 \$ 595.35 Investigation and LLC bank account transactions; Litigation related updates to master transaction file. Spier, Tre 12/16/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and analysis of 3.7 \$ 815.85 Investigation and LLC bank account transactions; Litigation related updates to master transaction file. Lomas, Adam 12/16/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Incorporate
Investigation and account transactions into master Litigation transaction file for review/analysis. Lomas, Adam 12/16/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Staff supervision with respect to analysis 0.2 \$ 103.50
Litigation transactions. Lomas, Adam 12/16/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Incorporate 1.9 \$ 983.25 Investigation and bank account transactions into master Litigation transaction file for review/analysis. Lomas, Adam 12/16/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Incorporate
Investigation and transactions into master transaction file Litigation for review/analysis. Spier, Tre 12/16/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and analysis of
Investigation and bank account transactions; related Litigation updates to master transaction file. Spier, Tre 12/17/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and analysis of
Litigation bank account transactions; related updates to master transaction file.
Timekeeper Date Matter Task Narrative Hours Amount
Litigation Investigations Review of document productions from
Bank;
Litigation Investigations Preliminary review of
Litigation Investigations Meeting with NPM Law [P. Linsey and
Levenson, Patrick 12/17/2024 Asset Recovery
Litigation Investigations tracing research and
Litigation Investigations Review and analysis of LLC bank account transactions; related updates to master transaction file. 3.8 \$
Lazarus, Jordan 12/17/2024 Asset Recovery
Litigation Investigations Call with A. Lomas and NPM Law [P.
alter egos, and related matters. 0.4 \$
Levenson, Patrick 12/18/2024 Asset Recovery
Litigation Investigations tracing research and
Litigation Investigations Respond to inquiry from Paul Hastings [K. Catalano] re:
transaction activity after 12/21/23. 3.1 \$
Litigation Investigations Review A. Lomas analysis of personal bank accounts, status update re: analysis of other Kwok entities [.1]. 0.1 \$
Litigation Investigations Review and analysis of LLC bank account transactions; related updates to master transaction file. 1.1 \$
Litigation Investigations Review and analysis of LLC bank account transactions; related updates to master transaction file. 0.9 \$
Litigation Investigations Communication with internal Kroll team
Litigation Investigations Staff supervision [T. Spier] with respect
Litigation Investigations Review assignment re: forfeiture amounts, confer A. Lomas re: same [.1]. 0.1 \$
Inc bank account transactions into master transaction file for review/analysis. 0.5 \$
Timekeeper Date Matter Task Narrative Hours Amount
Lomas, Adam 12/19/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Respond to inquiry from Paul Hastings 3.3 \$
Investigation and [D. Barron] re:
accounts.
Investigation and Investigations Review and analysis of bank account transactions; related 3.2 \$
Litigation updates to master transaction file. Lomas, Adam 12/19/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Respond to inquiry from Paul Hastings 0.4 \$
Investigation and [L. Despins] re: postpetition inflows; Litigation related revisions to schedule of postpetition inflows over time. Parizek, Pam 12/19/2024 General Debtor Fee/Employment Review November 2024 Fee Statement, 1.0 \$
Representation Applications review and approve redactions to narrative time detail [1.0]. Lazarus, Jordan 12/19/2024 General Debtor Fee/Employment Billing - Prepare November 2024 2.0 \$
Representation Applications Monthly Fee Statement Spier, Tre 12/20/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and analysis of 1.2 \$
Investigation and bank account transactions; Litigation related updates to master transaction file.
Spier, Tre 12/20/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and analysis of 1.2 \$
Investigation and bank account transactions; related Litigation updates to master transaction file. Lomas, Adam 12/20/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Respond to inquiry from NPM Law [P. 0.2 \$
Investigation and Linsey] re: bank accounts.
Investigation and Investigations Incorporate
account transactions into master 0.4 \$
Litigation transaction file for review/analysis. Lomas, Adam 12/20/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Staff supervision [T. Spier] with respect 0.3 \$
Investigation and to additional bank accounts to review and Litigation analyze. Spier, Tre 12/20/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and analysis of 2.5 \$
Investigation and bank account transactions; related Litigation updates to master transaction file. Parizek, Pam 12/21/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review J. Barker update re: [.1]. 0.1 \$
Spier, Tre 12/23/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and analysis of 2.0 \$
Investigation and bank account transactions; related Litigation updates to master transaction file. Spier, Tre 12/23/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and analysis of 2.4 \$
Litigation transactions; related updates to master transaction file.
Investigation and Investigations Respond to inquiry from NPM Law [K.
Spier, Tre 12/23/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Review and analysis of 3.1 \$
Investigation and bank account transactions; Litigation related updates to master transaction file.
Lomas, Adam 12/23/2024 Asset Recovery Investigations Incorporate 0.9 \$
Investigation and bank account transactions into master Litigation transaction file for review/analysis.
Timekeeper Date Matter Task Narrative Hours Amount
Litigation Investigations Staff supervision [T. Spier] with respect to additional bank accounts to review and
transaction file for review/analysis. 0.5 \$
transactions into master transaction file
Litigation Investigations Call with Paul Hastings [L. Despins] re: analysis of postpetition inflows and funds
Litigation Investigations Preliminary review of
Litigation Investigations Review and analysis of
Litigation Investigations Review and analysis of bank account transactions; related updates to master transaction file. 1.8 \$
Litigation Investigations Compose email to T. Spier with list of bank account-related analyses/tasks. 0.7 \$
Litigation Investigations Attention to analysis of postpetition
Litigation Investigations Attention to analysis of postpetition
SUBSCRIBE
New filings added to this archive go out in the weekly brief.
No email-open or email-link tracking. One-click unsubscribe. or use RSS · details