Justin Baldoni has expanded his legal team by hiring Alexandra A.E. Shapiro, a veteran defense attorney, to join his defense in the ongoing dispute with Blake Lively. A court document filed Monday in a New York federal court shows Shapiro appearing as counsel for Baldoni and several co-defendants, including publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel and Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath.
Shapiro also represents Sean 'Diddy' Combs, who this year was found guilty of prostitution charges but acquitted on sex trafficking. The attorney’s résumé includes work alongside Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos, Anthony Ricco and Anna Estevao. Baldoni’s longtime lead attorney, Bryan Freedman, remains listed on the docket, and Shapiro is not described as replacing Freedman.
The development comes as new harassment allegations surfaced in court filings. An unknown person, whose name is redacted, alleged there were 'repeated, negative interactions with Mr. Baldoni and his associates, including verbal abuse by Mr. Baldoni.' Lively has publicly accused Baldoni of making her feel uncomfortable on set, and Baldoni has denied her allegations, having previously pursued a defamation claim against Lively that a judge dismissed earlier this year. The case remains active, with a March 2026 court date slated for the parties to confront their wider disputes in federal court.
Court records show the discovery phase is approaching, and Baldoni’s expanded legal team is positioned to push forward as the proceedings move toward the 2026 hearing. The hiring of Shapiro, who also represents other high-profile clients, signals a push to shore up the defense ahead of what is expected to be a drawn-out process in the highly publicized feud with Lively.
