Law360 Covers Brewer Client Williams Simons & Landis in Fee Dispute Against Bartko Pavia LLP

March 11, 2026 – Law360 reports today on Brewer client Williams Simons & Landis PC and its opposition to a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit it filed against California law firm Bartko Pavia LLP over millions in attorneys' fees arising from landmark litigation against Walmart.

As reported, WSL, a Texas litigation boutique, represented RiskOn International and Zest Labs Holdings in the underlying Walmart trade secrets case, securing a $115 million jury verdict before being replaced by Bartko Pavia. WSL contends that its years of work — developing the evidentiary record, legal strategy, and advocacy — laid the groundwork for a subsequent verdict and settlement totaling more than $325 million. WSL alleges it is owed $11 million in fees under a litigation funding agreement and that Bartko Pavia used its control over the settlement proceeds to block payment while increasing its own recovery from the same pool of funds.

Law 360 reports that in opposing Bartko Pavia's motion to dismiss, WSL argued that the firm's invocation of Texas attorney immunity is misplaced. Under Texas law, that doctrine protects zealous client advocacy — not conduct undertaken to advance a lawyer's own financial interests. WSL further argued that its claims for tortious interference with contract and unjust enrichment are adequately pled and that factual disputes raised by Bartko Pavia cannot be resolved at the pleading stage.

Brewer partner William A. Brewer III, counsel for WSL, told Law360: "Our client earned its fees. What allegedly followed — an effort by Bartko Pavia to freeze WSL out of its share of the settlement proceeds to increase its own recovery from the same pool of funds — is precisely the kind of self-dealing that the law does not protect. WSL deserves its day in court."

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