sean combs unpaid legal fees

As of September 17, 2026, Sean "Diddy" Combs is involved in a public dispute with his former civil legal team, the New York-based firm Sher Tremonte LLP, which has moved to withdraw from his $100 million defamation lawsuit.

The situation is characterized by conflicting accounts from both parties:

• The Law Firm’s Position: Attorneys from Sher Tremonte filed a motion in federal court alleging that Combs has not paid a "substantial balance" of legal fees, costs, and expenses for over six months. Furthermore, the firm cited a "total breakdown in cooperation and communication," claiming Combs has been unavailable for substantive discussions regarding his cases for more than four months, making continued representation "unreasonably difficult".
• Combs’ Position: In a statement issued through his spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, Combs disputed the claims of unpaid fees, characterizing the situation as a business dispute. He asserted that he decided to switch lawyers because he felt the firm was "overcharging" him and running up "bills that were never approved". He maintained that the firm's focus on unpaid fees is simply part of their conflict over these contested charges.

Impact on the Lawsuit:

The law firm's request to withdraw does not automatically end the defamation lawsuit, which Combs filed against Courtney Burgess, attorney Ariel Mitchell, and Nexstar Media. The court must first approve the motion for the attorneys to step aside. As of mid-September 2026, it remained unclear whether Sher Tremonte would also seek to withdraw from other civil sexual assault lawsuits in which they currently represent Combs.