VOORHAM v. HICKS VOORHAM (2025)

Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Michael L. Katz, J.), entered March 3, 2025, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, granted defendant wife's motion for interim attorneys' fees in the amount of $750,000, subject to reallocation after a trial, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in awarding $750,000 in interim attorneys' fees to the wife, considering the facts and circumstances of this case, including the nature and complexity of the issues raised (see Domestic Relations Law §§ 237[a];  238;  see also DeCabrera v. Cabrera–Rosete, 70 N.Y.2d 879, 881, 524 N.Y.S.2d 176, 518 N.E.2d 1168 [1987];  Wolinsky v. Berkowitz, 227 A.D.3d 433, 434, 208 N.Y.S.3d 202 [1st Dept. 2024]).  The parties' respective incomes and access to funds, the qualifications of the wife's attorneys, the significant length of time the wife had already spent unsuccessfully attempting to obtain discovery from the husband, and the court's prior finding that the husband was the monied spouse pendente lite all support the amount awarded.  Additionally, the court properly considered the fact that the husband had engaged in dilatory conduct and taken positions resulting in a delay of the proceedings and unnecessary litigation (see Bloom v. Hilpert, 222 A.D.3d 574, 576, 203 N.Y.S.3d 250 [1st Dept. 2023];  Prichep v. Prichep, 52 A.D.3d 61, 64, 858 N.Y.S.2d 667 [2d Dept. 2008]).

We have considered the husband's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.