Playboy fights fee bid in dispute with ex-lawyers at Quinn Emanuel

WASHINGTON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Playboy Enterprises and Quinn Emanuel are locked in a dispute over unpaid legal fees after Playboy accused the U.S. law firm of mishandling litigation and ignoring conflicts of interest while representing the adult entertainment company.

Playboy sued the law firm in Los Angeles Superior Court last week, asking a judge to halt an arbitration proceeding in which Quinn Emanuel is seeking legal fees it claims it is owed by Playboy from litigation over its iconic "bunny" logo.

The clash over fees stems from Quinn Emanuel's prior work for Playboy in a lawsuit that alleged sexual wellness company Advanced Vita Supplements infringed the company's bunny trademarks. Playboy claims Quinn Emanuel improperly steered the company away from naming additional defendants in the case because they were clients of the firm.

Playboy argued in its August 18 filing that the arbitration should be paused until after a trial that is scheduled for March 2027 in the trademark case. The resolution of the trial, Playboy said, could affect its claims against the law firm.