Rudy Giuliani's secretive defense fund is paying up to $675-an-hour for bankruptcy lawyers
Two secretive legal defense funds have paid a $70,000 retainer to bankruptcy lawyers for Rudy Giuliani.
In a four-page motion to amend his bankruptcy declaration on Tuesday, Giuliani said he had retained Berger, Fischoff, Shumer, Wexler & Goodman, LLP.
"The Debtor has selected the Firm because it has considerable experience in matters of insolvency and because the Debtor believes that such Firm is well qualified to represent it as Debtor and Debtor-In-Possession," attorneys for Giuliani wrote.
The filing said the firm was expected to perform "ordinary and customary components of an individual Chapter 11," including "all other legal services for the Debtor which may be desirable and necessary concerning the administration of the Debtor's estate and the reorganization of the Debtor's assets and liabilities."
Those services could cost between $585 and $675 per hour for partners and between $425 and $510 per hour for associate attorneys. Other staff would be billed at $210 per hour.
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A $70,000 retainer fee was paid by two organizations. The Giuliani Freedom Fund Legal Defense T.R. paid $40,000 and $30,000 came from Giuliani Defense.
While one of the funds is run by Giuliani's son Andrew, little is known about where the money came from.
Giuliani owes Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss $148 million after being found liable for a defamation lawsuit, and they want to know who is backing the funds.
"Given the totality of the circumstances — including that Mr. Giuliani's son is President of Giuliani Defense — it is essential to obtain clarity on how the Legal Defense Funds were themselves funded," attorneys for Freeman and Moss wrote in a February filing.