SCOTUS: Baker Botts Loses Battle over Fees in Bankruptcy Case

Lawyers who vigorously fight with their own clients in bankruptcy court over legal fees cannot seek reimbursement for the time they spent battling over those fees – even if the bankruptcy judge rules the lawyers did a great job and deserve the money, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled Monday.

In a six to three decision, the justices ruled that ASARCO does not have to pay Baker Botts the $5 million in time the law firm spent fighting the copper mining company over the $120 million in legal fees that the bankruptcy judge awarded the Houston-based firm.