Sean Combs’ unpaid legal fees spark dispute as three lawyers ask to drop him as client
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Combs says he switched lawyers over alleged unauthorized charges as his former attorneys claim he is in “substantial arrears.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs is disputing claims from three civil attorneys who say he owes a substantial balance in unpaid legal fees and has become difficult to work with. The dispute comes as his defamation lawsuit over alleged sex-tape claims continues and while he serves a federal prison sentence whose projected release date has shifted.
Michael Tremonte, Erica Wolff and Katie Renzler of Sher Tremonte LLP filed a motion asking a federal judge to let them withdraw from Combs’ case against Nexstar Media, attorney Ariel Mitchell and Courtney Burgess.
TMZ reported that the lawyers say Combs has failed to pay a “substantial balance of attorney’s fees,” along with costs and expenses connected to the case. Their filing also alleges that he has been uncooperative and that communication between the attorneys and their client has broken down.
The motion says Combs is in “substantial arrears” and that his last payment to the firm came more than six months ago. The attorneys also accuse him of deliberately disregarding agreements or obligations involving fees and expenses.
Combs disputes that account. Through spokesperson Juda Engelmayer, he said he decided to switch lawyers because he believed he was being overcharged and billed for work that had not been approved.
“This is strictly a business matter,” Combs said in the statement, adding that references to unpaid fees are part of a dispute over what he describes as unauthorized charges.
The underlying defamation lawsuit was filed in January 2025 against Burgess, Mitchell and Nexstar. Combs alleges Burgess falsely claimed to possess videos showing the music mogul sexually assaulting celebrities and minors, and accuses Mitchell and NewsNation of spreading those allegations. The defendants have disputed Combs’ claims.
The case remains pending in federal court in New York. The request from Sher Tremonte LLP now leaves the court to decide whether the three attorneys can formally withdraw while the litigation continues.
The Diddy legal fee dispute is separate from Combs’ criminal case. He is serving a 50-month sentence in federal prison after being convicted of two prostitution-related counts under the Mann Act.