Guo Wengui / Miles Guo — bankruptcy case · ORDER · ECF #4306

METADATA

Defendant
Guo Wengui / Miles Guo / Ho Wan Kwok
Court
CTB
Case No.
22-50073
ECF #
4306
Type
ORDER
Filed
2023-08-18

Monthly Fee Statement — In re Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), CTB 22-50073, ECF No. 4306 (Filed 2023-08-18). Kobre & Kim (GCC) LLP, special UAE counsel to Chapter 11 Trustee Luc A. Despins, submits its monthly fee statement for February 1, 2025 through February 28, 2025, requesting payment of 80% of fees ($46,602.40) and 100% of expenses ($604.18).

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 FEBRUARY 1, 2025 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2025

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

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appointed in the chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok, for the period from February 1, 2025 through

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and including February 28, 2025 (the "Fee Period"). By this Monthly Fee Statement, Kobre &

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Kim 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 \$46,602.40 and \$604.18, 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 name, 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 May 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: April 10, 2025
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By: /s/ Paul Hughes
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Paul Hughes KOBRE & KIM (GCC) LLP Office 27-01, Level 27 ICD Brookfield DIFC Dubai, UAE 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: April 10, 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 Amount
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Paul Hughes 11.3 \$1,875.00 \$21,187.50 Emily Beirne 16.1 \$1,300.00 \$20,930.00

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Associate 15.2 \$1,050.00 \$15,960.00 Analyst 0.3 \$585.00 \$175.50 TOTAL 42.9 58,253.00 Exhibit B
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Fee Statement
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Luc Despins Invoice No. 471766 March 28, 2025 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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02/03/2025 ERB Attention to \$1,300.00 1.3 \$1,690.00 02/05/2025 PRH Prepare for call with Luc and Al Tamimi. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50 PRH Attend
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call Luc and Al Tamimi. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50

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PRH Update from Paul Hastings regarding and confer Emily. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50
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NAE Call with Tamimi and client followed by debrief with Tamimi and Paul Hughes. 1,050.00 0.6 630.00

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NAE Prepare for call with
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client and Al Tamimi. 1,050.00 0.3 315.00

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02/06/2025
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PRH Review and approve detailed email of instructions Al

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Tamimi. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50 NAE Attention to materials to be shared with Tamimi. 1,050.00 0.3 315.00 NAE Update client on next steps and confer with Paul Hughes. 1,050.00 0.4 420.00
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NAE Draft and send briefing note to Tamimi and liaise with

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Paul on the same. 1,050.00 0.5 525.00 02/07/2025 NAE Consider 0.4 420.00
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02/10/2025 PRH Review query from Paul Hastings and liaise Emily
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regarding response. 1,875.00 0.2 375.00

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PRH Prepare
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for call with Al Tamimi. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50

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PRH Review detailed note from Al Tamimi, confer Nada
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regarding response, amend and approve response. 1,875.00 0.6 1,125.00

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PRH Attend
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call with Al Tamimi. 1,875.00 0.7 1,312.50

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ERB Attention to 1,300.00 2.8 3,640.00 ERB Confer Nada and Paul regarding 1,300.00 0.2 260.00
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Luc Despins Invoice No. 471766 March 28, 2025 PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION

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Date/Tkpr Description of Work Rate Hours Amount
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NAE Review note from Tamimi and follow up with related
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queries;

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confer with Paul Hughes on strategy. 1,050.00 0.8 840.00 NAE Prep for and attend call with Tamimi. 1,050.00 0.7 735.00 02/11/2025 ERB Attention to 1,300.00 0.6 780.00 02/13/2025 PRH Review queries from Paul Hastings, review amend and approve Emily response. 1,875.00 0.6 1,125.00 ERB Review and comment upon client update email. 1,300.00 0.2 260.00 ERB Review
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;

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related
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correspondence with client. 1,300.00 0.3 390.00

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ERB Prepare and send correspondence to client regarding 1,300.00 0.4 520.00 NAE Address client's queries regarding 1,050.00 1.8 1,890.00
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NAE Further amends to draft email on 1,050.00 0.4 420.00 02/14/2025 PRH Review updated advice from local counsel and confer Nada regarding nextsteps and approve email to clients. 1,875.00 0.4 750.00 PRH Review further queries from Paul Hastings team and review, amend and approve
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email in response. 1,875.00 0.4 750.00

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NAE Address client's follow up queries regarding 1,050.00 0.5 525.00 NAE Review and consider note from Tamimi. 1,050.00 0.5 525.00 02/15/2025 PRH Review further queries from Paul Hastings and instructions to team regarding response, review and approve response. 1,875.00 0.4 750.00 PRH Review and approve email update to Luc regarding 1,875.00 0.2 375.00 NAE Attention to Client's further query as to and liaise with team on response. 1,050.00 0.2 210.00
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Case 22-50073 Doc 4306 Filed 04/10/25 Entered 04/10/25 15:39:42 Page 9 of 11

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Luc Despins Invoice No. 471766 March 28, 2025 PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION

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Date/Tkpr Description of Work Rate Hours Amount
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02/18/2025
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ERB Attention to 1,300.00 4.1 5,330.00

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NAE Draft query to 1,050.00 0.3 315.00 NAE Call with 1,050.00 0.3 315.00 NRS Prepare email to 585.00 0.3 175.50 02/19/2025 PRH Review further queries from Paul Hastings, confer
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Emily regarding response. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50

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PRH Update from Nada regarding , review amend and approve email out to and response from and review and amend Emily response
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to Paul Hastings. 1,875.00 0.7 1,312.50

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ERB Attend to 1,300.00 2.9 3,770.00 NAE Research on use of and consider related challenges. 1,050.00 0.5 525.00 NAE Analyze rules on 1,050.00 0.3 315.00 NAE Correspond with team in relation to and consider client's
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additional queries. 1,050.00 0.3 315.00 NAE Attention to registrar's response on 1,050.00 0.2 210.00

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02/20/2025 PRH Detailed review of , amending and
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commenting and liaising with Emily. 1,875.00 1.5 2,812.50

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ERB Amendments to 1,300.00 0.2 260.00 NAE Progress strategies for 1,050.00 2.0 2,100.00 ; conduct legal research on
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Case 22-50073 Doc 4306 Filed 04/10/25 Entered 04/10/25 15:39:42 Page 10 of 11

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Luc Despins Invoice No. 471766 March 28, 2025 PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION

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Date/Tkpr Description of Work Rate Hours Amount
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02/21/2025 PRH Review final version of 1,875.00 0.4 750.00 ERB Work on 1,300.00 1.7 2,210.00 ERB Confer Paul Hughes regarding 1,300.00 0.3 390.00 NAE Progress and consider framework for 1,050.00 1.8 1,890.00 02/24/2025 PRH Review, amend and approve Nada email to Paul
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Hastings, discuss approach and review response. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50 NAE Confer with client. 1,050.00 0.2 210.00

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NAE Draft client email summarizing the strategy for the
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UAE and confer with team on the same. 1,050.00 0.5 525.00

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02/25/2025 PRH Prepare for call on UAE
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strategy with Luc and team. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50

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PRH Review client comments on and
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confer Emily regarding next steps. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50

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PRH Call with Luc and team concerning and next steps. 1,875.00 0.5 937.50
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PRH Review comments from Paul Hastings on

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and confer Emily regarding next steps. 1,875.00 0.4 750.00 PRH Attend to follow up items following call with Luc and team concerning 1,875.00 0.3 562.50 PRH Review, amend and approve email to Tamimi. 1,875.00 0.2 375.00 NAE Correspond with Tamimi to 1,050.00 0.3 315.00 NAE Prep for and attend client call. 1,050.00 0.9 945.00 02/26/2025
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ERB Confer Nada and Paul regarding 1,300.00 0.4 520.00

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NAE Call with Tamimi to agree on 1,050.00 0.2 210.00
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Case 22-50073 Doc 4306 Filed 04/10/25 Entered 04/10/25 15:39:42 Page 11 of 11

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Luc Despins Invoice No. 471766 March 28, 2025 PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION

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Date/Tkpr Description of Work Rate Hours Amount
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02/27/2025 ERB Update
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;

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review Paul
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Hasting team comments. 1,300.00 0.5 650.00

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02/28/2025 PRH Review amend and approve email Emily to Paul Hastings. 1,875.00 0.3 562.50
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ERB Correspondence with client. 1,300.00 0.2 260.00

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Total Current Fees \$58,253.00 Schedule of Disbursements
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Total Current Disbursements \$604.18
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02/01/2025 Thomson Reuters - West - Online Database 375.09 02/01/2025 Thomson Reuters - West - Special Online Database \$229.09 Date Description Amount
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Total Current Fees & Disbursements \$58,857.18

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