9 million, with Quillon Law representing him in the fee dispute. A judgment handed down by Cost Judge Leonard showed WilmerHale's rates ranged from $1,400 to over $2,000 per hour, with the top partner's rate hitting $2,095 per hour by 2024, while associates billed between $715 and $1,055 per hour. The bill included significant expenses, such as $11,367 for a single London-to-New York airfare, $6,037 for London accommodation for a partner's visit, and thousands of dollars for late-night secretarial support and office 'takeaways' meals for the London-based team during high-intensity periods.
Judge Leonard ruled that the fee agreement was a standard retainer, not a contentious business agreement as WilmerHale argued, because the firm had the 'open-ended' power to unilaterally raise hourly rates. WilmerHale increased rates twice during the retainer and failed to properly notify the client of these increases as they happened. 9 million, and any specific reductions Judge Leonard ordered on the bill, have not been disclosed.
WilmerHale's charges are extremely high, and well outside any 'run of the mill' case. Even a small percentage overcharge would easily amount to a seven-figure sum – and for the reasons above, it is reasonable to expect that reductions on assessment would be far higher.
This legal fee dispute follows Alberto Safra's background in a bitter inheritance battle over his father Joseph Safra's $23 billion fortune, which concluded with an amicable settlement announced by the Safra family. Alberto Safra claimed his father was suffering from cognitive impairment when he altered his will to disinherit him in 2019. The exact details of the settlement and how WilmerHale justified the high expenses remain unknown, as does the current status of the legal relationship between Safra and the firm.