Trump spent $50 MILLION on legal bills in 2023: Here are 9 attorneys who got the lion's share
9 attorneys who made a killing in legal consultation fees from Donald Trump in 2023
Former President Donald Trump paid a massive amount as legal consultation fees in 2023. According to a report by The Hill, the Republican frontrunner spent around $50 million on legal consulting last year, out of which $30 million was for the second half of 2023 alone. His 91 criminal charges, along with multiple civil suits, are burdening his expenses as attorney fees. Let us take a look at which law firms got the lion's share by representing the presidential hopeful in court in 2023.
1. Chris Kise: $8.97 million
Florida-based lawyer Chris Kise topped the list with a whopping $8.97 million in legal fees he brought to his office, Chris Kise & Associates, and the law firm Continental PLLC. Kise represented Trump as the lead lawyer in the New York civil fraud case filed by Attorney General Letitia James for inflating the values of Trump Organization properties for tax and insurance benefits. Besides, he represents the former real estate mogul's federal criminal case over his alleged mishandling of classified documents after the presidential term.
2. Clifford Robert: $5.29 million
Clifford Robert of Robert & Robert, PLLC made $5.29 million in 2023 for representing Donald Trump and his businesses. He represented the ex-president's eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, in the New York civil fraud case. Both sons, executive vice presidents at the Trump Organization, were accused of falsifying the assets' net value. Robert also handled at least part of Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen's case against his business regarding outstanding legal fees.
3. Harmeet Dhillon: $4.61 million
California attorney Harmeet Dhillon earned $4.61 million for her firm by working on Donald Trump's ongoing cases. She defended the ex-president against the efforts to remove him from state ballots, citing his violation of the Constitution's 14th Amendment. Dhillon's firm will represent Trump next week at SCOTUS for oral arguments about his eligibility for the ballot. The firm also represented him in a failed defamation suit by porn star actress Stormy Daniels.
4. Alina Habba: $4.03 million
As per records, Alina Habba's law firm, Habba Madaio & Associates, received more than $4 million as legal consultation fees in the past year. Habba, who also serves as the former President's legal spokesperson, represented him in two civil trials filed by writer E Jean Carroll. However, Trump lost both cases; the first cost him damage of $5 million, while the second cost an eye-popping $83.3 million.
5. John Lauro: $2.65 million
John Lauro, attorneys Greg Singer, and Filzah Pavalon earned $2.65 million as legal fees for defending Donald Trump in the federal charges accusing his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Lauro, who has supported his client outside the courtroom, has had nasty exchanges with District Judge Tanya Chutkan in the Washington DC courtroom. The judge had asked him to "take the temperature down" during the initial courtroom arguments.
6. Evan Corcoran: $2.63 million
Evan Corcoran was part of the legal team representing Trump in Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigations over the ex-President's mishandling of classified documents after the presidency. He responded to the subpoena in 2023 for classified documents at Trump's luxury resort Mar-a-Lago. However, he withdrew as the billionaire's attorney after a judge ruled that Trump may have misled Corcoran, piercing attorney-client privilege. His firm, Silverman Thompson Slutkin & White, received $2.63 million from Save America in 2023.
7. Todd Blanche: $2.33 million
Todd Blanche represented Trump along with attorney Emil Bove in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. Besides, he also defended the former President in the federal indictments over the 2020 election subversion and classified documents. Save America doled out around $2.32 million to Blanche Law in 2023 and also $345,000 to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, where Blanche worked initially.
8. Joe Tacopina: $1.77 million
Tacopina, Seigel & DeOreo, the law firm of New York-based attorney Joe Tacopina, earned $1.77 million last year from Trump entities. He represented the former President in the hush money case and one of the lawsuits filed by E Jean Carroll. However, Tacopina withdrew from Trump's legal team without any explanation in early January.
9. Steve Sadow: $1.52 million
Steve Sadow, famous for representing A-list clients like radio host Howard Stern and former NFL player Ray Lewis, joined Trump's team hours before Trump surrendered to Georgia authorities after his indictment in the election interference case. Trump's Save America paid him $1.52 million over the year in three installments.
