Full Breakdown
Blake Lively Seeks $8 Million in Legal Fees from Justin Baldoni
7/1/2026, 4:17:55 AM
Fee Claim After Settlement
Actress Blake Lively filed a motion on June 30 2026 in Manhattan federal court seeking $8,035,040.88 in attorneys’ fees ($7,495,526.87) and litigation costs ($539,514.01) from director-actor Justin Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios. The claim follows a May 2026 settlement that ended their parallel lawsuits—Lively’s sexual-harassment suit and Baldoni’s $400 million defamation countersuit—while preserving her right to recover legal expenses under California Civil Code § 47.1.
Key Parties
Blake Lively, 38, is represented by Michael Gottlieb (Willkie Farr & Gallagher) and Esra Hudson (Manatt, Phelps & Phillips). Justin Baldoni, 42, and his Wayfarer Studios are defended by Bryan Freedman of Liner, Freedman, Taitelman + Cooley.
Fee Breakdown and Litigation Scope
Lively’s motion lists $7.5 million in attorney fees and $540,000 in other costs. Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips are billed roughly $4.5 million and $3 million respectively; Michael Gottlieb recorded 224 hours at $2,187 per hour. The case docket includes about 1,500 entries and over 7,000 produced documents.
Court Rulings
Judge Lewis J. Liman applied California’s 2023 Protecting Survivors from Weaponized Defamation Lawsuits Act, allowing a prevailing defendant to recover fees when a retaliatory defamation claim is dismissed. He approved Lively’s fee request but denied punitive and treble damages, noting procedural deficiencies. He ordered Baldoni and Wayfarer to respond.
Opposition
Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman says the award is “limited,” that Lively “pivoted to exploit” the California law after her claims were dismissed, and that the fees exceed what is justified for a case that “lasted only a matter of months,” urging a reduction.
Conflicting Reports
Some outlets report the settlement occurred in May 2025, while others cite May 2026; the court docket confirms the May 2026 date, indicating earlier reports were inaccurate.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This gross abuse of the legal system was not meant to win in court — its aim was to retaliate against Lively by falsely branding her a liar, intimidating witnesses and the media, and discouraging others from speaking out,” — Lively’s attorneys, Michael Gottlieb & Esra Hudson
- “The Wayfarer Parties employed scorched-earth litigation tactics designed to drain Lively's resources.” — Lively’s filing
- “Ms. Lively was only awarded limited attorney fees for a single claim as part of a case that lasted only a matter of months, nothing more,” — Bryan Freedman, counsel for Baldoni
- “The value of this ruling is in the precedent it creates, the accountability it imposes, and the protection it provides to those who may one day find themselves facing similar retaliation for speaking the truth.” — Lively’s attorneys
Future Proceedings
Baldoni and Wayfarer must file a response by July 13 2026. Judge Liman will then decide whether to award the full $8 million, a reduced sum, or deny portions, testing the reach of California’s § 47.1 in high-profile entertainment disputes.
