Guo Wengui / Miles Guo — bankruptcy case · ORDER · ECF #4203

METADATA

Defendant
Guo Wengui / Miles Guo / Ho Wan Kwok
Court
CTB
Case No.
22-50073
ECF #
4203
Type
ORDER
Filed
2023-08-18

Monthly Fee Statement — In re Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), CTB 22-50073 ECF #4203 (filed Aug 18, 2023). Kobre & Kim (GCC) LLP, UAE special counsel to Chapter 11 Trustee Luc A. Despins, requests interim payment of 80% of fees ($33,096.40) and 100% of expenses ($3,672.49) for professional services rendered from December 1 through December 31, 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 KOBRE & KIM (GCC) LLP FOR COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES FOR PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 1, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 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 Kobre & Kim (GCC) LLP ("Kobre & Kim") 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 special counsel in the United Arab

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Emirates to Luc A. Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the "Trustee") appointed in

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the chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok, for the period from December 1, 2024 through and

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including December 31, 2024 (the "Fee Period"). By this Monthly Fee Statement, Kobre & Kim

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respectfully requests payment of 80% of all fees and 100% of all expenses actually and

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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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necessarily incurred for services rendered during the Fee Period, in the amounts of \$33,096.40 and \$3,672.49, respectively.

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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 position, hours, rate, and total fees earned for each Kobre & Kim individual who provided services during the Fee Period.

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2. Attached hereto as Exhibit B is Kobre & Kim's fee statement 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 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) Kobre & Kim (Attn: Paul Hughes (Paul.Hughes@kobrekim.com) and (ii) the Notice Parties by email no later than April 1, 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.

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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 Kobre & Kim 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: March 11, 2025
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By: /s/ Paul Hughes
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Paul Hughes KOBRE & KIM (GCC) LLP
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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.,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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------------------------------------------------------x :

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
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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.

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Dated: March 11, 2025 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 USD Amount USO
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Partner 8.5 1,875.00 15,937.50 Princioal 5.6 1.300.00 7 280.00 Associate 8.7 1,050.00 9,135.00 Analyst 14.8 585.00 8,658.00
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Litigation Assistant 0.8 450.00 360.00

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TOTAL 38.4 41,379.50 Exhibit B
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Fee Statement
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PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION

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Schedule of Professional Services
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Date/Tkpr Description of Work Rate Hours Amount

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12/02/2024
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PRH Confer Nada Oteifi and review communications Paul Hastings team. \$1,875.00 0.3 \$562.50 NAE Attention to correspondence from client and Kroll. 1,050.00 0.2 210.00

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12/03/2024
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PRH Review further communications Kroll. 1,875.00 0.2 375.00 NAE Respond to Kroll email and liaise with team on timing for client/Kroll call. 1,050.00 0.2 210.00

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12/04/2024
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PRH Prepare for Kroll call and confer Nada Oteifi. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50 PRH Attend Kroll call. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50 PRH Attend internal strategy call regarding immediate next

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steps. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50
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ERB Prepare for and attend call with Kroll and Paul Hastings; follow up correspondence. 1,300.00 0.8 1,040.00 ERB Consider priority action items and next steps following

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Kroll update. 1,300.00 0.5 650.00
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NAE Call with Kroll and client. 1,050.00 0.5 525.00 NAE Team debrief and consider list of deliverables before

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end of year. 1,050.00 0.7 735.00
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NAE Confer with team to obtain 1,050.00 0.2 210.00

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NRS Confer with Mike Brasky and Sofia Balestrin regarding 585.00 0.6 351.00
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SLB Confer with Nadia Simpson and Michael Brasky

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regarding instruction for
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(0.5). Under attorney supervision, analyse any and all case

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docket related to main case (1.5). 585.00 2.0 1,170.00
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SB Identify and monitor ongoing proceedings for case

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team attention. 450.00 0.3 135.00
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PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION

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Date/Tkpr Description of Work Rate Hours Amount

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12/06/2024
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PRH Review and approve email Kroll and review response. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50 PRH Review communications regarding next steps and confer Emily Beirne. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50 PRH Review and approve updates to Paul Hastings team and

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response. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50
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ERB Attention to additional documents and information provided by Kroll. 1,300.00 0.6 780.00 ERB Consider issues of 1,300.00 0.8 1,040.00 NAE Correspond with client regarding 1,050.00 0.3 315.00 NAE Correspond with Kroll on requested documents. 1,050.00 0.3 315.00 NAE Review information and documents received from

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Kroll. 1,050.00 0.4 420.00
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NRS Attention to client documents in relation to 585.00 0.3 175.50 SB Attention to key correspondence and documents to expedite work by legal team. 450.00 0.2 90.00

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12/09/2024
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JDC Confer internally regarding status and next steps. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50 NAE Further review of documents received from Kroll. 1,050.00 0.4 420.00 NRS Attention to client documents in relation to 585.00 0.5 292.50

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12/10/2024
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PRH Review internal communications regarding updated

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next steps. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50
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PRH Update from Kroll and confer team regarding next

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steps. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50
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NAE Review further information and documents received from Kroll and confer with Emily Beirne and Nadia

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Simpson. 1,050.00 0.6 630.00
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NRS Attention to client documents in relation to 585.00 0.5 292.50 PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION

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Date/Tkpr Description of Work Rate Hours Amount

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12/11/2024
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PRH Liaise with Emily Beirne and Nada Oteifi regarding next steps, review and approve email out to client. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50 NAE Liaise with team on next steps and client update. 1,050.00 0.3 315.00 NAE Explore further investigation areas based on Kroll's

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findings. 1,050.00 0.4 420.00 NRS Attention to
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and prepare table of the same for attorney review. 585.00 0.7 409.50

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12/12/2024 NAE Attention to 1,050.00 0.4 420.00 NRS Attention to
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and prepare table of the same for attorney review. 585.00 0.9 526.50

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12/13/2024
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PRH Finalising and approving detailed client update. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50 ERB Internal discussion regarding next steps; prepare brief update email to client. 1,300.00 0.7 910.00 NAE Review Kroll's findings and draft follow up queries. 1,050.00 0.7 735.00

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NAE Confer with team as to and agree on next steps. 1,050.00 0.3 315.00 12/16/2024
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PRH Review and approve external communications with Paul Hastings and confer internally. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50

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NAE Brief review of and consider 1,050.00 0.4 420.00
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NAE Attention to update from client as to US actions and confer with Emily Beirne. 1,050.00 0.4 420.00

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NRS Attention to 585.00 2.8 1,638.00 12/17/2024
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PRH Prepare for and attend strategy call ahead of call with

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clients. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50
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PRH Review and approve agenda and client update. 1,875.00 0.2 375.00 PRH Strategy call with Luc and team and attend to follow

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up actions. 1,875.00 1.0 1,875.00
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PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION

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Date/Tkpr Description of Work Rate Hours Amount

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ERB Prepare for an attend internal discussion regarding next steps and priority items in 1,300.00 0.6 780.00 ERB Prepare for an attend update call to discuss next steps

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with client. 1,300.00 0.7 910.00
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NAE Attend strategy client call and follow up with team on

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next steps. 1,050.00 0.9 945.00
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NAE Consider strategy and prep for client call. 1,050.00 0.5 525.00 NRS Prepare for upcoming client call and prepare agenda on the same for case team review. 585.00 0.5 292.50

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NRS Attention to 585.00 2.3 1,345.50
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NRS Attend client call and prepare key points for case teams

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review. 585.00 0.8 468.00 12/18/2024
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ERB Prepare draft update to client including 1,300.00 0.7 910.00

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; confer
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with Nadia Simpson. NRS Prepare client email regarding UAE strategy for

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attorney review. 585.00 1.8 1,053.00
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SB Identify key legal materials to expedite work by legal

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team. 450.00 0.3 135.00 12/19/2024
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NAE Review draft client email and liaise with team on potential UAE counsel. 1,050.00 0.3 315.00

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12/20/2024
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NRS Finalise key notes and action items from client call for attorney team review. 585.00 0.6 351.00

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12/23/2024
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PRH Review email from Paul Hastings and confer team. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50 PRH Review, amend and approve client update. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50

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12/24/2024
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PRH Review, amend and approve email Kroll. 1,875.00 0.2 375.00 PRH Review update from Kroll. 1,875.00 0.2 375.00 PRH Review updated communications regarding next steps. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50 PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION

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Date/Tkpr Description of Work Rate Hours Amount

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NAE Revise draft email requesting Kroll to conduct targeted

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investigation. 1,050.00 0.3 315.00
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NRS Prepare email to Kroll regarding new and outstanding investigations for attorney review. 585.00 0.5 292.50

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12/26/2024
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PRH Review update Paul Hastings team. 1,875.00 0.2 375.00

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12/31/2024
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ERB Attention to correspondence received. 1,300.00 0.2 260.00

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Total Current Fees \$41,370.50 Schedule of Disbursements
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12/01/2024 Thomson Reuters - West - Online Database Total Current Disbursements 3,132.17 \$3,672.49
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12/01/2024 Thomson Reuters - West - Online Database 356.62 12/01/2024 Thomson Reuters - West - Online Database \$183.70 Date Description Amount
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Total Current Fees & Disbursements \$45,042.99

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