Johnny Depp Lawyer Says Justin Baldoni's 'Bold' Approach in Blake Lively Legal Battle Is 'Very Aggressive'

Mar. 15, 2025

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively.Photo:Dia Dipasupil/Getty; Raymond Hall/GC Images

Dia Dipasupil/Getty; Raymond Hall/GC Images

One of Johnny Depp’s lawyers described Justin Baldoni’s team’s legal strategies in the Blake Lively legal battle as “very aggressive.“Speaking on theLaw & Crime Sidebar with Jesse Weberpodcast, attorney Benjamin Chew said Baldoni’s decision to publish a website containing an amended complaint in his lawsuit against Lively is something most attorneys would not do “before a hearing.“Lively and Baldoni’s lawyers met in court for the first time on Feb. 3, and their case is expected to go to trial in March 2026.One ofJohnny Depp’s lawyers is weighing in onJustin Baldoni’s latest legal moves in hisongoing legal battlewithBlake Lively.Benjamin Chew, who represented Depp, 61, during his 2022civil trialagainst ex-wifeAmber Heard, appeared on the Tuesday, Feb. 4 episode of theLaw & Crime Sidebar with Jesse Weberpodcast to discuss thelatest updatesin Baldoni and Lively’s legal battle.When Chew was asked for his opinion on Baldoni’s decision topublish a website containing an amended complainthe filed in court on Friday, Jan. 31, as well as an exhibit labeled as “Timeline Of Events,” the lawyer said, “I agree — bold, aggressive, chutzpah, whatever the right term is. I think it is very aggressive, usually you would not do something like that before a hearing.“Lively and Baldoni’s lawyersmet in court for the first timesince their clients sued each other in New York City on Monday, Feb. 3, where Judge Lewis Liman threatened to expedite the trial if both parties do not rein in their public relations war outside the courtroom.“But I’m sure that they vetted it carefully, that they vetted the material carefully. Certainly, posting a pleading doesn’t seem to be out of bounds; these are pleadings made in the public records,” Chew added of Baldoni’s lawyers pre-hearing actions. “Whenever you’re getting into work product or advocacy pieces, then I think it’s getting closer to the line. So, it’s a novel approach. A bold approach.“Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively at the “It Ends With Us” premiere on August 06, 2024 in New York City.James Devaney/GC Images; Ian West/PA Images via GettyCurrently, theIt Ends With Usactors are preparing tohead to trial in March 2026. WhenLaw & Order Crime Sidebarpodcast host Jesse Weber asked Chew to identify which side he believes may have the stronger case, Chew declined to say, but he noted that he believes either side can benefit from “the more they can cite to audiotape and videotape” as much as possible.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“Whenever you can hang someone with their own language and they’re in a position of having to explain that they didn’t really mean what they said,” he added, noting that text messages are also considered persuasive evidence. “You know the cliché, ‘When you’re explaining, you’re losing.’ So I think on both sides, whenever they have actually used videotape, audiotape or used the actual words of the other side, I think that’s a good day for them.“Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Justin Baldoni.Taylor Hill/WireImage; John Nacion/Variety via GettyTheongoing legal battlebetween Lively and Baldoni began in December 2024, when the actress filed asexual-harassmentcomplaint against Baldoni, alleging that he engaged in misconduct during the film’s production and a subsequent retaliatory smear campaign meant to “destroy” her reputation, which he has denied.Baldoni countered Lively’s initial claim on Jan. 16 with a$400 million lawsuitagainst her, her husbandRyan Reynoldsand their publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging extortion, defamation and more.Both sides' attorneys said they were pleased after their Feb. 3 hearing in N.Y.C. “We will hold the defendants accountable, and we are confident that once all the evidence is submitted in this matter, Ms. Lively will prevail,” Lively’s attorneys Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson said in a statement.Baldoni’s attorney Brian Freedman, meanwhile, told reporters outside the court, “I couldn’t be more pleased with how the case was handled today. We’re going to move as quickly as possible and prove our innocence,” perThe Hollywood Reporter.

One ofJohnny Depp’s lawyers is weighing in onJustin Baldoni’s latest legal moves in hisongoing legal battlewithBlake Lively.

Benjamin Chew, who represented Depp, 61, during his 2022civil trialagainst ex-wifeAmber Heard, appeared on the Tuesday, Feb. 4 episode of theLaw & Crime Sidebar with Jesse Weberpodcast to discuss thelatest updatesin Baldoni and Lively’s legal battle.

When Chew was asked for his opinion on Baldoni’s decision topublish a website containing an amended complainthe filed in court on Friday, Jan. 31, as well as an exhibit labeled as “Timeline Of Events,” the lawyer said, “I agree — bold, aggressive, chutzpah, whatever the right term is. I think it is very aggressive, usually you would not do something like that before a hearing.”

Lively and Baldoni’s lawyersmet in court for the first timesince their clients sued each other in New York City on Monday, Feb. 3, where Judge Lewis Liman threatened to expedite the trial if both parties do not rein in their public relations war outside the courtroom.

“But I’m sure that they vetted it carefully, that they vetted the material carefully. Certainly, posting a pleading doesn’t seem to be out of bounds; these are pleadings made in the public records,” Chew added of Baldoni’s lawyers pre-hearing actions. “Whenever you’re getting into work product or advocacy pieces, then I think it’s getting closer to the line. So, it’s a novel approach. A bold approach.”

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively at the “It Ends With Us” premiere on August 06, 2024 in New York City.James Devaney/GC Images; Ian West/PA Images via Getty

James Devaney/GC Images; Ian West/PA Images via Getty

Currently, theIt Ends With Usactors are preparing tohead to trial in March 2026. WhenLaw & Order Crime Sidebarpodcast host Jesse Weber asked Chew to identify which side he believes may have the stronger case, Chew declined to say, but he noted that he believes either side can benefit from “the more they can cite to audiotape and videotape” as much as possible.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Whenever you can hang someone with their own language and they’re in a position of having to explain that they didn’t really mean what they said,” he added, noting that text messages are also considered persuasive evidence. “You know the cliché, ‘When you’re explaining, you’re losing.’ So I think on both sides, whenever they have actually used videotape, audiotape or used the actual words of the other side, I think that’s a good day for them.”

Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Justin Baldoni.Taylor Hill/WireImage; John Nacion/Variety via Getty

Taylor Hill/WireImage; John Nacion/Variety via Getty

Theongoing legal battlebetween Lively and Baldoni began in December 2024, when the actress filed asexual-harassmentcomplaint against Baldoni, alleging that he engaged in misconduct during the film’s production and a subsequent retaliatory smear campaign meant to “destroy” her reputation, which he has denied.

Baldoni countered Lively’s initial claim on Jan. 16 with a$400 million lawsuitagainst her, her husbandRyan Reynoldsand their publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging extortion, defamation and more.

Both sides' attorneys said they were pleased after their Feb. 3 hearing in N.Y.C. “We will hold the defendants accountable, and we are confident that once all the evidence is submitted in this matter, Ms. Lively will prevail,” Lively’s attorneys Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson said in a statement.

Baldoni’s attorney Brian Freedman, meanwhile, told reporters outside the court, “I couldn’t be more pleased with how the case was handled today. We’re going to move as quickly as possible and prove our innocence,” perThe Hollywood Reporter.

source: people.com