Hunter Biden’s legal troubles deepen as prestigious law firm Winston & Strawn LLP sues him for unpaid legal fees, raising questions about his transactional integrity amid an ongoing storm of legal issues.
At a Glance
- The law firm Winston & Strawn has sued Hunter Biden for over $50,000 in unpaid legal fees.
- The lawsuit, filed in D.C. Superior Court, relates to legal work for his federal gun and tax cases and congressional inquiries.
- The suit comes months after Hunter Biden received a sweeping presidential pardon from his father for his federal convictions.
- His former benefactor, Kevin Morris, reportedly stopped paying his legal bills before the gun trial began.
A Lawsuit Over Unpaid Bills
Hunter Biden is being sued by the prestigious law firm Winston & Strawn for allegedly failing to pay more than $50,000 in legal bills. According to the lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on June 20, the firm is seeking payment for extensive legal work performed between March 2023 and October 2024.
The representation, led by Hunter’s long-time lawyer Abbe Lowell, covered his defense in the Delaware federal firearms case where he was convicted of three felonies, his guilty plea to federal tax charges in California, and his response to congressional oversight investigations. According to the filing reported by Law.com, the firm made “repeated” attempts to collect the fees before filing the suit.
A Pardon for Crimes, Not for Debts
The lawsuit comes just months after Hunter Biden received a sweeping presidential pardon from his father, Joe Biden, in December 2024. That pardon erased his criminal liability for the federal gun and tax convictions. However, a presidential pardon has no bearing on civil debts, meaning Hunter Biden remains contractually obligated to pay for the legal services he received.
The suit also highlights a shift in his legal representation. As detailed by the New York Post, Abbe Lowell, who had been a partner at Winston & Strawn, left the firm in 2024 to start his own practice. The lawsuit is being brought by his former firm for the work done during his tenure there.
A Change in Financial Backing
For years, many of Hunter Biden’s substantial legal and personal expenses were being covered by his friend and benefactor, Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, who loaned him at least $6.5 million. However, reports from the National Review indicate that Morris stopped paying Hunter’s legal bills ahead of the gun trial, which likely contributed to the now-unpaid balance with Winston & Strawn.
This new lawsuit demonstrates that despite the presidential pardon, Hunter Biden’s legal and financial entanglements are far from over. An initial hearing in the case is scheduled for September 19.
