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Crypto collapses generate hundreds of millions of dollars for lawyers

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The authorized trade has emerged as a serious winner amid cryptocurrency collapses like FTX and Celsius, producing a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} for legal professionals.

Attorneys, accountants, consultants, analysts and different professionals have collected a minimum of $700 million in charges from the bankruptcies of main crypto companies over the previous 12 months, in accordance with a report and an evaluation by The New York Occasions.

The calculated quantity consists of the prices charged as a part of the crypto chapter circumstances of 5 crypto companies — FTX, Celsius Community, Voyager Digital, BlockFi and Genesis World — between July 5, 2022, and July 31, 2023. The determine is more likely to develop considerably because the circumstances unfold within the close to future, with Sam Bankman Fried’s trial coming in October.

The charges charged in crypto chapter circumstances. Supply: The New York Occasions

In keeping with the information, the authorized specialists concerned within the FTX case are the most important winners of cryptocurrency bankruptcies, charging a complete of $326 million. The legislation agency Sullivan & Cromwell, which is managing FTX’s chapter, has reportedly charged over $110 million in authorized charges, along with $500,000 in bills.

Andrew Dietderich reportedly famous that the prices are significantly pushed by the shortage of clear cryptocurrency laws, which made the circumstances extra complicated and time-consuming.

Kirkland & Ellis, which handles Celsius, Genesis and Voyager bankruptcies, has billed $101 million for its work, with $2.5 million in bills, The New York Occasions analysts stated. Alvarez & Marsal, a turnaround administration agency, has reportedly charged greater than $125 million for its work on FTX, Celsius and Genesis.

Associated: SEC v. Ripple: Attorneys leave SEC side, both groups add new lawyers

A few of the preliminary studies indicating that companies akin to Sullivan & Cromwell would reap a fortune from their crypto chapter work surfaced in January 2023. The agency reportedly had greater than 150 folks engaged on the FTX case on the time, together with 30 companions with rates exceeding $2,000 per hour.

Amid considerations over excessive authorized charges, america chapter court docket appointed Katherine Stadler as price examiner for the FTX case. In June, Stadler reported that the crew engaged on FTX had requested greater than $200 million in charges for the reason that November chapter, stating that the fees were reasonable.

Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried’s authorized crew is continuous to struggle in opposition to america Division of Justice, asking the court docket on Sept. 1 to deny all recent requests by the authority. As beforehand reported by Cointelegraph, one of many DOJ’s requests included an attraction to ban all of SBF’s seven expert witnesses from testifying in court docket. A few of the witnesses may cost SBF up to $1,200 per hour to testify.

Journal: Asia Express: Bitcoin miner gets life in prison, China offers bounties for crypto firms