Justin Baldoni is strengthening his defense as his court fight with Blake Lively heats up. The It Ends With Us director has hired powerhouse attorney Alexandra Shapiro — best known for representing Sean “Diddy” Combs — to join his legal team.
According to court documents filed Monday in New York federal court, Shapiro of Shapiro Arato Bach LLP officially appeared as counsel for Baldoni and his co-defendants, including publicists Melissa Nathan, Jennifer Abel, and Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath.
Shapiro is no stranger to high-profile cases. Earlier this year, she stood alongside a team of lawyers defending Diddy, 55, in a trial where the music mogul was acquitted of sex trafficking charges but convicted on prostitution-related counts.
While Shapiro joins the case, Baldoni’s lead attorney Bryan Freedman remains on the docket. The move comes just ahead of the discovery deadline — and shortly after fresh harassment claims surfaced against the 41-year-old actor-director.
Earlier this month, new court filings alleged “repeated, negative interactions” with Baldoni, including verbal abuse. He is already battling sexual harassment accusations from Lively, 37, who claims he made her and other women uncomfortable on set and retaliated against her with a smear campaign after she spoke out.
Baldoni has denied all allegations and previously attempted to sue the Gossip Girl star for defamation, though that case was dismissed earlier this year.
