After a few months of searching, lawyers at Greenberg Traurig LLP, the firm that represented Kanye West for all issues, including contract disputes and employment lawsuits, have finally tracked him down. The firm now looks to sever all ties with the controversial rapper.
Towards the end of 2022, West went off-grid and couldn’t be located at his various residences or business addresses. He was reportedly found at the end of January at a location “primarily used by persons and entities not affiliated with Ye or his businesses,” according to lawyers for Greenberg Traurig.
“The address at which Ye was personally served is not one that is publicly affiliated with Ye or his businesses, but one that Ye nonetheless frequents,” a Greenberg Traurig added in a court filing.
The action brings the firm closer to concluding the legal disputes following West’s series of antisemitic stunts and statements that began last October. Greenberg Traurig had been working on a copyright case for West at the time, but partners began to express wishes to sever ties with the rapper following his public outbursts.
While most judges complied with the law firm’s intentions, US District Judge Analisa Torres, who is presiding over a case in Manhattan from a music publishing agency alleging West used uncredited samples for his song ‘Flowers’, also requested that they serve West a withdrawal notice and an order she had penned.
Torres’ note explained that she allowed the firm to stop representing him and that he would need to get himself new attorneys or represent himself in court. After this, West became difficult to track down. He was finally served the order on January 27th, according to court documents filed on February 3rd.
The address where Greenberg Traurig’s representative found West was put under seal to maintain the privacy of the people he was living with and prevent “unwanted loitering and attempted access by third parties,” as the firm stated.
“Ye’s conduct, the persons and entities ceasing to be affiliated with Ye as a result, and GT’s Motion to Withdraw in particular, have generated immense publicity,” Greenberg Traurig added. “Certain articles indicate that the press and/or members of the public have frequented locations thought to be associated with Ye.”
Without legal backing, West now faces pending lawsuits from copyright holders, former employees, a former business manager, and a high fashion loaning service alleging he cumulatively owes millions of dollars for stolen music, underpaid wages, unpaid bills, and unreturned clothing. If he can’t find representation in due course, the cases could be progressed without his input resulting in expensive default judgements.
