In a New York federal court filing on Monday, Justin Baldoni expanded his defense team by adding Alexandra A.E. Shapiro of Shapiro Arato Bach LLP to his roster in the ongoing dispute with Blake Lively. The document states that Shapiro appears as counsel for Baldoni and co-defendants, including publicists Melissa Nathan, Jennifer Abel and Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath.
Shapiro, a veteran trial attorney, also represents Sean Diddy Combs in related matters. The addition does not appear to replace Baldoni’s lead attorney, Bryan Freedman, who remains listed on the docket as part of Baldoni’s defense team. The court filing confirms Shapiro’s involvement as the case moves forward in New York.
The development comes as a looming discovery deadline approaches and after fresh harassment allegations surfaced against Baldoni. Court records show an unidentified person alleging multiple negative interactions with Baldoni and his associates, including verbal abuse by Baldoni. Lively has previously accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set, and Baldoni has denied the claims and had pursued a defamation case against Lively that was dismissed earlier this year. Baldoni and Lively are scheduled to appear in court in March 2026.
Wayfarer Studios founder Baldoni and Lively, who starred together on a prior project, remain at the center of the dispute. The legal maneuvering underscores the high-profile nature of the case, which has drawn attention to the parallel battle over public narratives in Hollywood. The parties have not publicly commented on the latest development.