The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is not over. The two sides settled in May 2026. No money changed hands in that settlement. But Lively preserved one specific right. The right to go back to court and ask for her legal fees.
On June 29, she did exactly that.
The number
Blake Lively filed a motion asking US District Judge Lewis J. Liman to order Justin Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios to pay her $8,035,040.88. The figure breaks down into two parts. Attorneys’ fees of $7,495,526.87 and litigation costs of $539,514.01.
The fees cover legal work billed at rates as high as $2,187 per hour. That rate was already discounted. Lively’s lead attorney Michael Gottlieb of Willkie Farr and Gallagher billed $457,000 across 224 hours. His firm received roughly $4.5 million in total. Her co-lead attorney Esra Hudson of Manatt Phelps and Phillips received approximately $2.9 million.
Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have until July 13 to respond to the motion. Judge Liman will then decide how much, if anything, to award.
What the $8 million covers and what it does not
This number represents only a portion of what Lively spent over 18 months of litigation. The $8 million covers only the cost of defending against Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit. It does not include what Lively spent pursuing her own claims. Her own lawsuit involved extensive depositions, discovery, document review, and public relations work. None of those costs are included in this motion.
This is the last financial claim Lively has available to her unless she files a new lawsuit.
How the case got here
Lively first went public with her allegations in December 2024. This was roughly four months after It Ends With Us premiered in theatres. She accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the production of the film. She also alleged that Wayfarer Studios launched a coordinated campaign against her after she raised concerns about the alleged misconduct on set.
Baldoni denied the allegations. He and Wayfarer Studios filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds. Baldoni also separately filed a $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times following an article about the alleged smear campaign.
Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit. The ruling found that Lively’s statements about the alleged misconduct were protected under California law. With that case gone, Lively was permitted to pursue reimbursement for the costs of defending against it.
The settlement came in May 2026, just weeks before the case was set to go to trial. A joint statement was released at the time. It said the film was a source of pride and acknowledged that the process had presented challenges. The financial terms were not disclosed. Lively received no money.
The legal basis for the fee request
Lively’s attorneys are relying on California Civil Code Section 47.1. The law was passed in 2023. It protects people who report allegations of sexual misconduct from retaliatory defamation claims. Under this law, a person who successfully defends against a retaliatory defamation lawsuit is entitled to recover their legal fees.
Judge Liman ruled on June 12 that Lively qualifies for this protection and can seek reimbursement. The same ruling denied her request for additional damages. The fee motion is now her remaining financial avenue.
Her attorneys Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson said in a statement that the ruling sends a clear message. They said those who consider using a lawsuit as a weapon of intimidation have been put on notice that there are consequences. They said the value of the ruling is in the precedent it sets and the protection it provides to others who might face similar retaliation.
What Baldoni’s side is saying
Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman pushed back on the significance of the ruling when it came in on June 12. He said Blake Lively was only awarded limited fees for a single claim in a case that lasted a short period of time. Also, he pointed out that 10 of Lively’s 13 claims were dismissed by the court before the settlement. He said her sexual harassment and defamation claims were all thrown out and that her attempt to use the California law to obtain damages had failed.
Baldoni’s team has not commented on the new fee motion but will have the opportunity to formally respond before July 13.