Actress Blake Lively has significantly bolstered her legal team ahead of a high-stakes trial, recruiting a prominent attorney known for her work representing victims of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
A High-Profile Legal Recruitment
The 38-year-old Gossip Girl star has enlisted attorney Sigrid McCawley, the managing partner of the firm Boies Schiller Flexner, according to a report by People magazine. McCawley brings a formidable reputation, notably for her previous representation of individuals who were victims of Jeffrey Epstein.
This move comes as Lively prepares for a trial scheduled for May 2026 against actor and director Justin Baldoni. The legal conflict stems from the production of the 2024 film It Ends With Us, in which both starred, with Baldoni also directing.
The Core of the Legal Dispute
The battle began when Lively filed a lawsuit in December 2024, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Baldoni responded with a $400 million countersuit against Lively and a separate $250 million libel suit against the New York Times for its reporting on her allegations; the libel suit was dismissed by a judge in June 2025.
In a statement to People, McCawley said joining Lively's "world class legal team" was a "privilege." She framed the case as one "about a woman who was subjected to a hostile work environment and is being attacked for standing up to protect herself and other female co-workers."
Lively's existing lawyers, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, expressed their enthusiasm for McCawley's addition. "We recruited Sigrid based on her many years of work speaking truth to power, including her courageous representation of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, and have no doubt her experience will serve the team well," they told People. McCawley's primary role will involve managing communications with the media and the public regarding the case.
Escalating Tensions and Star-Studded Details
The litigation has revealed contentious behind-the-scenes details from the film's production. Recent court filings show Baldoni's legal team objecting to Lively's attempts to redact the names of high-profile associates mentioned in case documents, including her husband Ryan Reynolds and friends like Taylor Swift, Hugh Jackman, Emily Blunt, and America Ferrera.
Baldoni's lawyers argued that Reynolds was far from an "innocent third-party," claiming he rewrote a scene and was involved in a dispute over comments made about Lively's weight. They asserted that Lively's efforts to seal these names were because the disclosures "don't help their public images."
In a deposition from October 2025, Baldoni also revealed that Lively referred to the home office in her New York City apartment as "Buckingham Palace" due to the stream of A-list visitors. He stated this was where she requested their professional meetings be held during production.
As both sides prepare for a crucial hearing on 22nd January, the legal teams are firmly established. Baldoni is represented by Alexandra Shapiro, who previously represented Sean 'Diddy' Combs. The Daily Mail reported that it contacted representatives for both Lively and Baldoni but did not receive an immediate response.
