Blake Lively seeks $8 million in legal fees from Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively has filed a request for $8,035,040.88 in legal fees from Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, following the dismissal of Baldoni's $400 million counterclaim. The fees cover attorney costs and expenses incurred during the legal battle over the film 'It Ends With Us.' Source: Infobae

The Fee Request

The breakdown includes $7,495,526.87 in attorney fees and $539,514.01 in costs for the period between January and June 2025, as well as additional expenses from the ongoing litigation. Source: El País Lively's legal team, consisting of Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, argued that the work was "exhaustive and essential to achieving the total victory obtained." Source: Diario Libre The judge, Lewis J. Liman, previously ruled that Lively could seek reimbursement under California's Section 47.1 of the Civil Code, which protects victims of retaliation lawsuits. Source: Listín Diario

Background of the Case

The dispute began in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set. Baldoni denied the claims and filed a defamation and extortion counterclaim against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, which was later dismissed. In May 2026, the parties reached a settlement that avoided trial, but the issue of legal fees remained. Source: La Vanguardia Lively's lawyers accused Baldoni of employing "scorched-earth litigation tactics" to drain her resources. Source: Excélsior

What's Next

Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have until July 13, 2026, to respond to Lively's fee request. The judge will then decide whether to grant the full amount, reduce it, or deny it. Source: El País Lively's attorneys emphasized that the decision sets a precedent against using lawsuits as intimidation tools. Source: Infobae