Blake Lively Seeks $8 Million in Legal Fees from Justin Baldoni After It Ends With Us Dispute

Blake Lively has filed a court claim in Manhattan for $8 million in legal costs from actor‑director Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, following the settlement of a lawsuit that began in December 2024. The filing, submitted Tuesday, details the amount Lively seeks to recover after a federal trial was halted and a judge ruled she may be entitled to some of the expenses she incurred defending a countersuit.

The dispute centers on allegations that Baldoni orchestrated a smear campaign against Lively after she accused him of sexual harassment during the production of the 2024 film It Ends With Us. Lively’s lawsuit, filed in federal court, claimed that Baldoni and Wayfarer employed “scorched‑earth litigation tactics” to drain her resources. Baldoni denied the harassment claims and counter‑sued for defamation, extortion, and invasion of privacy.

Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit in October 2025 and later dismissed Lively’s sexual‑harassment claims, ruling that she was an independent contractor rather than an employee on the set. In a separate ruling, the judge allowed Lively to recover legal fees incurred while defending the countersuit, citing a California law that protects survivors of harassment from retaliatory lawsuits. The law requires plaintiffs to pay defendants’ legal costs if a defamation claim is dismissed, unless malice can be proven.

Lively’s attorneys, Michael Gottlieb of Willkie Farr & Gallagher and a partner at Manatt Phelps & Phillips, detailed the fees in a court declaration. Gottlieb billed 224 hours at a discounted rate of $2,187 per hour, totaling $457,000. The filing lists $4.5 million owed to Willkie Farr & Gallagher and about $3 million to Manatt Phelps & Phillips, for a combined $7.5 million in attorney’s fees and $500,000 in other expenses.

The settlement reached in May 2026 resolved Lively’s remaining claims of retaliation and breach of contract against Wayfarer and associated publicists. No monetary payment was made to Lively as part of the settlement, but the court’s decision to allow recovery of legal costs remains pending approval.

It Ends With Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel, premiered in August 2024 and grossed $351 million on a $25 million budget. The film’s release was followed by a high‑profile marketing campaign that highlighted the conflict between Lively and Baldoni. The controversy attracted media attention and prompted discussions about workplace conduct and the legal responsibilities of film producers.

Industry observers note that the case illustrates the complexities of litigation involving creative collaborations. The California law cited by Judge Liman is designed to prevent defendants from using costly countersuits to silence alleged victims, a principle that may influence future disputes in the entertainment sector.

As of now, the court has not yet approved the $8 million claim. Lively’s lawyers have requested the judge’s review, and the case will be decided when the judge issues a final ruling on the amount of recoverable costs.

The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni concluded with a settlement that waived future litigation rights for both parties, effectively ending the dispute.