Biglaw billing disputes typically happen behind closed doors, but occasionally these matters burst into public view with startling figures. Such is the case with WilmerHale, currently under the judicial microscope for a staggering $35 million legal bill, which has prompted a court-ordered assessment in London.

The client, Alberto Safra, a scion of the late billionaire Joseph Safra, enlisted WilmerHale for representation in a family dispute over a $23 billion fortune. Over two years, the legal fees accumulated to $35 million, with $18.9 million yet to be paid. The size of these fees led Safra to challenge the invoices at London's High Court, bringing significant public attention to the charges.

In court, some eyebrow-raising billing entries were highlighted. These included a single-day charge exceeding $162,000 and instances where top partners billed up to $2,095 per hour—an increase of $265 per hour from previously agreed rates. Notably, Washington, D.C. partner John Trenor was recorded working 19.3 hours in one day, while a team of nine collectively logged 130.2 hours within 24 hours.

WilmerHale defended these charges under the claim of a "contentious business agreement" (CBA), which typically shields legal fees from court scrutiny under English law. However, the court was not entirely convinced by this defense.

Judge Leonard pointed out that WilmerHale had unilaterally increased its hourly rates during the retainer period without proper notification to Safra, which he deemed a significant oversight in providing adequate cost information. Despite these criticisms, the judge acknowledged the demanding nature of the work handled by Trenor and his team, noting that the hours billed were justified by the scale of work involved. He also recognized that the rate increases were largely due to inflation and were comparable to fees charged by other advisors in the case.

With these considerations, the case continues to unfold as Judge Leonard's detailed assessment of WilmerHale's bills is awaited. This legal billing drama not only highlights the complexities of managing high-stakes legal fees but also underscores the importance of transparency and communication between law firms and their clients.