Texas Lawyer: Lawyers Fight Each Other, Clients in $10M Fee Dispute
January 9, 2026 — Texas Lawyer reports that a high-profile trade secrets case that produced jury verdicts totaling more than $300 million has now turned into a high-stakes fight between lawyers and former clients.
According to the January 9, 2026, article, Brewer client Williams Simons & Landis (WSL) has filed a federal lawsuit seeking more than $10 million in unpaid legal fees. Texas Lawyer reports that WSL helped secure a $115 million jury verdict against Walmart in April 2021. WSL "then helped keep the case going through a retrial, which led to a $223 million verdict in May 2025. The case settled in August 2025, but the settlement amount has not been made public," the article states.
The defendants include the firm’s former clients — RiskOn International, Ecoark Holdings, Zest Labs Holdings, and related entities — as well as San Francisco law firm Bartko Pavia, which served as lead counsel during the retrial.
WSL alleges that after benefiting from years of trial and appellate work, the defendants conspired to avoid paying contractually owed contingent fees and expenses. William A. Brewer III, Brewer partner and lead counsel for WSL, described the situation as extraordinary in comments to Texas Lawyer.
“For the client now to try to avoid paying for the work that was done over five years ago by my client, that’s an extraordinary injustice,” said Brewer. “No lawyer, particularly trial lawyers, who's developed and tried the case and prevailed substantially, likes to be put in the position where you have to sue your client to get paid. That's what's happened here.”
In addition to fees tied to the Walmart recovery, WSL says it is owed approximately $300,000 for work on a separate lawsuit against Deloitte Consulting. As reported, “Williams Simons & Landis is seeking a jury trial, attorney fees, court costs, and an order requiring the defendants to provide a full accounting of settlement proceeds, litigation recoveries, and fund transfers related to the Walmart case. The firm is also seeking exemplary and punitive damages for what it calls the defendants' ‘willful, malicious, fraudulent and tortious conduct’ – plus any other legal or equitable relief the court might award.”
“Everybody should be popping champagne and enjoying a fight well fought,” Brewer said. “Instead, they’re trying to get away with not paying their bill.”
Reuters and Law360 Report on Brewer Client's Lawsuit for Unpaid Legal Fees
January 9, 2026 — Reuters and Law360 today report that Brewer client Williams Simons & Landis PC (WSL) is "suing a group of its former clients, saying they breached a representation contract by failing to pay more than $11 million owed to the firm after a successful trade secrets suit against Walmart," the Law360 report states.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division, names RiskOn International, its predecessor Ecoark Inc., Zest Labs Holdings, and law firm Bartko Pavia LLP as defendants.
As reported, WSL alleges it was retained under written engagement agreements to prosecute high-stakes trade-secret litigation against Walmart on a hybrid and contingent-fee basis. In 2021, WSL secured a staggering $115 million jury verdict. According to the complaint, WSL also built the litigation record that later supported a retrial verdict of approximately $223 million and culminated in an August 2025 confidential settlement.
The Law 360 report states, "Despite these victories, and the eventual settlement, triggering the contingency fee agreements, WSL said that its former clients refused to pay for its work and instead fabricated negligence claims to justify the non-payment."
"Williams Simons & Landis delivered extraordinary results in the Walmart litigation — and the firm's advocacy was the foundation for two jury verdicts totaling more than $325 million," said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel to WSL. "The record reflects that a retrial was ordered so additional evidence could be considered. The retrial relied on the same trial record WSL developed and resulted in an even larger verdict. This dispute isn't about performance; it's about payment."
Reuters reports that Zest Labs subsequently filed a separate lawsuit on January 8, 2026, against WSL in state court in connection with the Walmart litigation.
Brewer told Reuters that WSL delivered "extraordinary results" in the Walmart case and that Zest's lawsuit was "nothing more than an attempt to deflect from paying our client."
Law 360 Reports on Emerging Developments Involving Lake Law Firm, Brewer Client Sylvia Benito
December 5, 2025 – Law 360 reports today that following allegations by multiple creditors that the firm suffered from significant mismanagement — and just one week after creditors initiated involuntary Chapter 7 proceedings against it -- the Law Offices of Edward J. Lake (the Lake Law Firm) in New York filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In October, Brewer client Syliva Benito filed state court claims alleging Lake defrauded her out of more than $2.5 million by inducing her to loan the firm money under the guise of bridge financing and improperly mislabeling her investment in ERTC claims as loan.
In commenting on today’s developments, William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel to petitioning creditor Benito, stated:
“Lake Law’s responsive December 3 bankruptcy filing—which seeks to use creditor-advanced funds for payroll and a $30,000 monthly salary to Ed Lake—underscores the purpose of the involuntary bankruptcy filing. As the bankruptcy court noted, Lake Law’s filing is ‘the functional equivalent of an admission that relief is warranted.’ We look forward to the appointment of a trustee to ensure an orderly and equitable distribution to creditors.”
The matter now proceeds toward a December 9 hearing, where the court will evaluate whether the Chapter 11 case should continue and whether an interim trustee will be appointed to oversee the firm’s assets.
Read more: https://www.law360.com/articles/2418333/ny-law-firm-files-ch-11-after-hostile-takeover-allegations
The Independent Reports on Brewer Client Gregg Jarrett’s Lawsuit Against Vigliano Associates
November 26, 2025 – The Independent reports today on a new lawsuit filed by noted author Gregg Jarrett against his former literary agent, Vigliano Associates. Jarrett filed suit in New York State Court on November 25, 2025, against David Vigliano and Vigliano Associates Ltd., alleging breaches of fiduciary duty and contract in their handling of his literary earnings.
According to the report, the lawsuit – filed by Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors – claims the agency failed to provide a full accounting of royalties and later issued an unexplained payment into Jarrett’s account without documentation or justification.
As The Independent notes: “The complaint notes that, while previous payments from Vigliano Associates — run by founder David Vigliano — typically included details of any payments the agency had previously sent to Jarrett. This would generally accompany the deposit and document the title of the book or project associated with the payment, as well as the commission retained by Vigliano.”
The complaint further states: “Although Jarrett requested nothing more than a simple accounting, Defendants expressly refused the request. In response, Defendants sent a two-sentence letter stating that the Deposit represented unspecified ‘royalties’ for ‘prior matters’ and, if Jarrett sought further information, he would have to obtain it through formal legal discovery.”
The article also references an earlier, still-pending case in which Jarrett alleges that his agents conspired with Simon & Schuster to misappropriate a book concept he developed – claims that likewise center on breaches of loyalty and conflicts of interest within the publishing industry.
“Our client trusted his agents to act with loyalty, candor, and care,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and lead counsel for Mr. Jarrett. “Instead, they have flatly refused to account for funds under their control. The refusal to provide any information regarding Mr. Jarrett’s accounts requires this filing.”
Brewer added, “Of course, literary agents occupy a position of trust that demands loyalty. If an agent acts as Mr. Vigliano allegedly acted here, it undermines the integrity of the industry.”
Read more here: Fox News star sues estranged literary agent over ‘mystery’ royalty payments | The Independent
Los Angeles Times: Brewer Files Suit Against WPP on Behalf of Former CEO Alleging Whistleblower Retaliation and Wrongful Termination
November 12, 2025 – The Los Angeles Times reports today that Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors has filed suit on behalf of the former CEO of WPP’s GroupM, Richard Foster. The lawsuit alleges that WPP terminated Foster after years of internal whistleblowing over the company’s alleged misuse of client rebate ad revenue, a practice Foster claims amounted to a kickback scheme amassing between $1.5 billion to $2 billion.
Foster, the producer behind “Love Island” and other reality TV shows, raised repeated concerns with senior executives about the legality and ethics of WPP’s rebate handling. In December, he submitted a 35-page internal report warning of the potential risks the rebates could pose to the company.
In January, Foster was asked to discuss the report with Brian Lesser, global CEO of GroupM. Lesser expressed concerns and claimed he would investigate further. However, days later, Foster claims he received a text from Lesser requesting a sanitized version of the report, one scrubbed of any criticism of GroupM.
Despite Foster’s 17-year tenure, WPP executives chose not to confront his claims. Rather, he claims they marginalized him and ultimately, on July 10th, terminated him.
“Richard Foster devoted nearly two decades to helping build one of the world’s most successful media and entertainment creation operations,” said lead counsel William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. “When he stood up for transparency and accountability at WPP, he was let go. This case will shine a light on systemic misconduct and the retaliation faced by an executive who refused to go along to get along.”
The complaint alleges violations of whistleblower protections statutes seeking $100 million in damages.
Read More
Bloomberg Law: Brewer Client Richard Solit Files Suit Alleging Fraud and Breach of Contract Against New York Attorney
October 28, 2025 – Bloomberg Law reports that Dr. Richard Solit, an experienced investor, filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County, against New York attorney Edward J. Lake and his firm, The Law Office of Edward J. Lake, P.C. d/b/a The Lake Law Firm. The suit alleges a pattern of misconduct related to a mass-torts litigation finance venture.
The suit alleges that Lake induced certain entities that Dr. Solit was affiliated with to invest $1 million in a mass-tort portfolio and $4.25 million in an Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC) portfolio by falsely presenting themselves as experts in the field and later, making grandiose promises to secure additional funding. The suit further alleges that Lake and his firm failed to deliver the promised case portfolios and later attempted to address the shortfalls through replacement agreements that were never fulfilled.
According to the filing, Lake further represented that his firm was in financial distress, and requested that Dr. Solit provide $950,000 in loans to keep the firm operational. Dr. Solit alleges that it only recently became clear that defendants never intended to repay these loans and did not do so.
“Dr. Solit is pursuing justice after discovering that Ed Lake and his firm misused investment funds and his confidence in an attorney was exploited,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. “Dr. Solit intends to ensure that those responsible are held to account under the law.”
The complaint asserts that Lake’s actions violated his contractual and fiduciary duties, undermining the standards of integrity expected of those entrusted to manage client and investor funds.
Read more here.
Law360 and American Lawyer: Brewer Client Sylvia Benito Files Suit Alleging Fraud and Contract Breaches by New York Attorney
October 21st, 2025 – Law360 and American Lawyer report that a lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County, details what the complaint describes as a series of schemes by attorney Edward J. Lake and his firm, The Law Office of Edward J. Lake, P.C. d/b/a The Lake Law Firm, to mislead investors and misuse millions in litigation-finance funds.
Filed on behalf of Sylvia Benito, a Florida-based investment professional, the suit alleges that defendants cultivated investor confidence through claims of guaranteed returns and proprietary case-acquisition models in the mass-torts litigation finance space. According to the complaint, those assurances masked a pattern of financial misconduct, including the diversion of investor funds and the use of new investments to pay off prior obligations.
The complaint asserts claims for breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation, and constructive trust. Benito seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as disgorgement of profits allegedly earned through her investments.
According to the filing, Benito and her associates invested more than $15 million with Lake Law. The complaint alleges that defendants failed to deliver on the case portfolios promised and later induced Benito to provide additional funding under false pretenses, including loans totaling more than $1 million that were never repaid.
The lawsuit also alleges that Benito personally invested $1.5 million to acquire Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC) claims, only to discover that Lake instead purchased those claims for himself while characterizing her investment as a loan. The complaint contends that this deprived her of any potential return and reflected a broader pattern of deception.
“Our client seeks to hold a lawyer accountable for betraying the trust of investors and misusing their money under the guise of legal expertise,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. “Ms. Benito seeks justice for herself and the many others who were deceived by false promises and fraudulent guarantees.”
According to the filing, Lake’s actions not only violated his contractual obligations but also abused the position of trust he held with investors, who relied on his representations of expertise and integrity. The complaint calls for compensatory and punitive damages, disgorgement of profits, and the imposition of a constructive trust over assets belonging to Lake and his firm.
Brewer Client Wholesale Payments Secures Injunction in First Wave of Texas Business Court Trade Secret Cases
September 12, 2025 — Wholesale Payments, a Texas-based financial services firm, secured a Temporary Injunction today from the newly expanded Texas Business Court. The order of the Court for the Eighth Division enjoins the defendants — all former insiders at Wholesale Payments – from diverting merchant accounts. The high-stakes case is among the first heard under the Business Court’s new jurisdiction over trade secret disputes.
Originally filed August 18, 2025, in the 96th Judicial District of Tarrant County, the lawsuit accuses former independent sales partners of breaching Portfolio Purchase Agreements — deals worth over $1 million meant to safeguard client portfolios and relationships. In breach of those agreements, the defendants allegedly conspired to launch Goal Line Payments, LLC, a direct competitor based in Collin County, Texas. Wholesale Payments seeks more than $10 million in damages, disgorgement, and permanent injunctive relief.
“This is an important development because those entrusted with a company’s clients owe a duty of loyalty that cannot be abandoned for personal gain,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel for Wholesale Payments. “Our client believes defendants executed a deliberate scheme to raid its workforce and misappropriate its trade secrets.”
On September 2, 2025, the case was removed to the Texas Business Court. The court’s expanded jurisdiction, effective just one day earlier under House Bill 40, now includes trade secret disputes. Created in 2023, the Business Court system handles high-dollar commercial litigation with speed, consistency, and subject-matter expertise.
Brewer added, “We moved quickly to obtain protection in the Texas Business Court. Its expanding jurisdiction is well-suited for complex trade secret disputes.”
Founded in 2006, Wholesale Payments is a Texas-grown leader in electronic payment processing. It operates nationwide with more than 80 employees and a sales agent network exceeding 300.
According to the complaint, Goal Line Payments, LLC was launched while the defendants remained bound by restrictive covenants and confidentiality agreements. The suit asserts claims for breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference, and conspiracy under Texas law.
Wholesale Payments is also pursuing related claims in Florida. A separate lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that Merchant Lynx Services and several of its executives orchestrated a corporate raid by luring Wholesale Payments’ employees, diverting clients, and misusing confidential business information to fuel a competing operation.