Hunter Biden, the president’s convicted felon son, now faces yet another legal battle as his former law firm sues him for over $50,000 in unpaid legal fees despite his father’s controversial pardon wiping away his criminal convictions.
Key Takeaways
- Hunter Biden is being sued by Winston & Strawn LLP for unpaid legal fees “substantially in excess of $50,000” despite receiving representation during his criminal trials.
- The prestigious law firm charged premium rates – with lead attorney Abbe Lowell billing $1,510 per hour – while other attorneys charged between $230 and $1,945 hourly.
- Despite making some payments between March 2023 and October 2024, Hunter has allegedly ignored repeated requests to settle his remaining debt.
- Hunter’s financial supporter Kevin Morris, who had been bankrolling his legal defenses, was reportedly financially strained by May 2024, potentially explaining the unpaid bills.
- After being convicted of multiple felonies, Hunter avoided consequences when President Biden controversially pardoned his son before leaving office.
Elite Law Firm Demands Payment from First Son
Winston & Strawn LLP, a prestigious law firm that represented Hunter Biden during his federal gun and tax evasion cases, filed a lawsuit Monday in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia seeking recovery of significant unpaid legal fees. The firm’s complaint makes it clear that Hunter has failed to honor his financial obligations despite receiving high-level legal representation during his criminal proceedings. According to court documents, Hunter signed an engagement contract on December 23, 2022, agreeing to compensate the firm for its services in various legal matters, including his Delaware gun case.
“This is breach of contract action against Mr. Biden for unpaid legal fees,” reads the complaint against Hunter filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by Winston & Strawn LLP.
Hunter Biden failed to pay $50k+ in legal bills to @WinstonLaw, the firm alleged in a lawsuit.
The unpaid bills stem from representation provided by Abbe Lowell (at $1,510/hour) & other lawyers who tried (unsuccessfully) to beat gun charges against Biden. https://t.co/uqeoUwYZtU
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) June 24, 2025
Premium Legal Services at Premium Prices
The lawsuit reveals the extraordinary costs associated with Hunter Biden’s legal defense. His lead attorney, Abbe Lowell, commanded an hourly rate of $1,510, while other attorneys at the firm charged between $230 and $1,945 per hour. These premium rates reflect the high-stakes nature of Hunter’s legal battles, which included his conviction on three felony charges in a Delaware gun case and his guilty plea to tax evasion charges in California. Despite the firm devoting substantial resources to his defense, Hunter has allegedly failed to fulfill his financial obligations.
“Despite repeated requests for payment, Mr. Biden has failed to pay the amounts he owes,” states the complaint filed by Winston & Strawn LLP.
The lawsuit seeks to enforce contract rights and obtain a lien on Hunter’s assets to recover the unpaid fees. Court documents indicate that while Hunter made some payments between March 2023 and October 2024, a substantial amount remains outstanding. The first hearing in this case is scheduled for September 19, where the firm will pursue legal remedies to collect what they claim is rightfully owed to them for services rendered.
Financial Troubles Despite Privileged Connections
Hunter Biden’s failure to pay his legal bills highlights a pattern of financial mismanagement that has plagued him for years, despite his privileged access to wealthy connections and lucrative opportunities stemming from his family name. Kevin Morris, a wealthy entertainment lawyer and Hunter supporter, had reportedly been covering many of his legal expenses. However, by May 2024, sources indicated that Morris was becoming financially strained by the mounting costs of Hunter’s extensive legal troubles, potentially explaining why these particular bills went unpaid.
“Although a portion of those fees have been paid, Mr. Biden presently owes [Winston & Strawn] substantially in excess of $50,000 in fees and interest that are due and payable,” claims Winston & Strawn LLP in their lawsuit.
What makes this situation particularly galling to many observers is that despite being convicted of multiple felonies, Hunter Biden faced no consequences for his crimes after receiving a controversial pardon from his father, President Joe Biden, in December before the end of Biden’s term. The pardon effectively erased Hunter’s criminal convictions while apparently doing nothing to resolve his outstanding financial obligations to the very attorneys who represented him in those cases. This lawsuit serves as a reminder that while presidential power can erase criminal records, it cannot eliminate private debts.
