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- Top attorney Sigrid McCawley joins Lively’s camp
- What McCawley will handle: communications and public strategy
- Who’s on the legal roster and where the case stands
- Allegations, counterclaims and earlier rulings
- Deposition excerpts and on-set disputes
- High-profile background that shapes the courtroom narrative
- What to watch next in the Lively–Baldoni case
Blake Lively has added a powerhouse litigator to her legal team as she prepares for a high-stakes court battle with director Justin Baldoni. The hire signals a sharpened focus on public messaging as the dispute moves deeper into courtroom motions and pretrial hearings.
Top attorney Sigrid McCawley joins Lively’s camp
Lively has retained Sigrid McCawley, a veteran lawyer known for representing survivors in major abuse cases. McCawley is the managing partner at Boies Schiller Flexner and has handled several headline-making matters. Her involvement marks a significant escalation in Lively’s approach to the case.
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McCawley said she views the case as centered on a hostile work environment and the need to protect female colleagues. She framed her role as supporting those goals while working alongside Lively’s existing counsel.
What McCawley will handle: communications and public strategy
According to sources, McCawley’s primary responsibility will be public-facing communications. That includes media outreach, messaging during key filings, and coordinating statements that accompany court developments.
- Shaping press responses to filings and hearings
- Managing relationships with reporters and outlets
- Advising on public narrative to support legal claims
Lively’s lead attorneys, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, welcomed McCawley’s arrival. They cited her record of taking on powerful figures and said her experience will strengthen the team’s outreach.
The move underscores how high-profile litigation now blends courtroom strategy with public relations work.
Who’s on the legal roster and where the case stands
Gottlieb and Hudson remain the core trial lawyers handling the matter in the Southern District of New York. McCawley will operate in a complementary role, focusing on the courtroom-to-public interface.
The immediate legal timeline includes a hearing on Jan. 22. The judge will consider Justin Baldoni’s motion for summary judgment. That filing asks the court to dismiss some or all claims before a jury hears the case.
Originally scheduled for March, the trial date has been pushed to May. Both sides are preparing extensive briefing and witness lists ahead of the next deadlines.
Allegations, counterclaims and earlier rulings
Lively first filed complaints in December 2024 after months of reported tension on the set of the film It Ends With Us. Her filings named Baldoni and set out multiple causes of action.
- Sexual harassment
- Retaliation
- Breach of contract
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress
- Invasion of privacy
- Lost wages
Baldoni quickly answered with an aggressive countersuit. That filing sought $400 million and targeted Lively, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds. Many of those claims were later tossed by the court in rulings that pared down the litigation.
Separately, a suit against Lively’s publicist was dismissed in mid-2025. The legal back-and-forth has produced multiple filings and decisions that both sides will likely cite at the upcoming hearing.
Deposition excerpts and on-set disputes
Details from depositions have added vivid scenes to the record. In one transcript, Baldoni described Lively’s New York residence with a phrase that drew attention: he said she referred to her penthouse as “Buckingham Palace.”
He also testified that many production meetings took place at that apartment. Baldoni asserted Lively preferred that venue for discussions related to the film.
Another point of contention concerns intimate scenes. Baldoni has alleged Lively refused a body double for sex scenes and suggested that refusal was intended to create a difficult situation for him. Lively disputes his account.
High-profile background that shapes the courtroom narrative
McCawley brings experience from representing survivors in cases tied to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. That history informs how she handles sensitive testimony and media scrutiny.
Her track record with complex, high-visibility matters was a key reason for her recruitment, according to Lively’s team. They said her familiarity with public pressure and survivor representation will be an asset as the case unfolds.
Key dates and procedural milestones
- December 2024 — Lively files complaints alleging misconduct.
- Early 2025 — Baldoni files $400 million countersuit; later partly dismissed.
- June 2025 — Suit involving publicist Leslie Sloane dismissed.
- Jan. 22 — Hearing on Baldoni’s motion for summary judgment.
- May — Trial now scheduled to begin.
What to watch next in the Lively–Baldoni case
The Jan. 22 hearing will test whether the court finds legal grounds to limit or end portions of Lively’s claims. If the judge declines to dismiss key counts, the litigation will proceed toward the May trial.
Expect continued media attention. With McCawley handling communications, Lively’s team appears intent on controlling the public narrative as aggressively as the legal one.
Witness lists, deposition excerpts and court rulings released in the weeks ahead will likely shape public perception and legal strategy alike.
