A legal bill reportedly approaching $300,000 has brought Nicki Minaj’s former attorneys back to court, but her legal battles with lawyers extend beyond that dispute. While one law firm is pursuing payment in Los Angeles, another is seeking permission to withdraw from representing the rapper in New York, citing a breakdown in their professional relationship.
According to Billboard, attorneys from Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani filed a renewed request for a default judgment against Minaj in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday (Nov. 3). The firm alleges that the rapper has failed to respond to a lawsuit it filed in March over unpaid legal fees. It is now asking the court to award approximately $295,605, including expenses incurred while attempting to recover the money.
The disagreement stems from Gordon Rees’ work representing Minaj in a copyright infringement case involving her 2014 track “I Lied.” Composer Julius Johnson accused the rapper of borrowing elements from his song “onmysleeve.” However, the lawsuit was resolved through a confidential settlement in late 2024. According to the law firm, Minaj subsequently failed to settle its outstanding invoices, which were initially valued at approximately $229,542.
Documents reviewed by TheWrap also point to contractual late fees that allegedly increased the outstanding balance. Gordon Rees is pursuing a default judgment on the grounds that Minaj has not responded to its complaint, although the judge has yet to approve the request.
Meanwhile, on the East Coast, law firm Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever is facing its own challenges in representing Minaj and her company, Pink Friday Productions LLC. The firm had previously filed a request to withdraw from a $275,000 lawsuit filed by 24/7 Productions over unpaid expenses related to Minaj’s 2023 Jingle Ball performances and promotional events for Pink Friday 2.
In an Oct. 23 court filing, attorney Bruce W. Bieber cited “irreconcilable differences,” claiming that the parties could no longer reach an agreement on how to handle the litigation. He also pointed to “a breakdown in communication,” which he said had made it difficult for the firm to continue representing the rapper.
Attempts to formally notify Minaj about the firm’s request to withdraw reportedly encountered difficulties as well. In subsequent court filings, Bieber detailed unsuccessful efforts to serve the documents at her New York residence. During one attempt, a process server was reportedly told that someone would come downstairs to collect the papers, but no one showed up. Another attempt on Nov. 2 also failed after the server was informed that Minaj was unavailable.
The lawsuit itself remains disputed. 24/7 Productions claims it has not been reimbursed for approximately $275,149 in production and hospitality expenses. However, Minaj’s legal team has challenged the allegations, arguing that her company fulfilled its payment obligations and that the rapper should not be held personally liable for the company’s debts.
New York Judge Leslie A. Stroth has temporarily put the case on hold and scheduled a Dec. 1 hearing to consider the firm’s request to withdraw. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles dispute is set for an earlier hearing on Nov. 16, when Gordon Rees will pursue its request for a default judgment. So far, neither law firm has secured the court ruling it is seeking.
