How Much Did Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's “It Ends With Us ”Dispute Likely Cost? Legal Experts Weigh In (Exclusive)

Elizabeth RosnerTue, May 5, 2026 at 7:43 PM UTC

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Blake Lively and Justin BaldoniCredit: TIMOTHY A.CLARY / AFP via Getty; John Nacion/Getty -

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settled their It Ends With Us dispute two weeks before trial in New York

Experts say both sides likely spent millions, with soaring legal fees and trial uncertainty outweighing any potential payoff

A judge had already dismissed most claims, narrowing the case and making settlement the most practical outcome

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's legal battle tied to It Ends With Us may be over, but it likely came at a steep cost, legal experts say.

“Millions,” says New York-based attorney Richard Schoenstein. “The combined legal expense is in the multiple millions. There are around 1,500 docket entries, countless lawyers on both sides, and these are high-priced firms billing well over $1,000 an hour.”

Attorney Megan Thomas, founder of Megan Thomas Law, PLLC in New York, puts it even more bluntly: “An obscene amount. I can't give a number, but both sides had multiple lawyers.”

Both attorneys have no ties to the It Ends With Us legal dispute.

Lively, 38, and Baldoni, 42, along with his company Wayfarer, reached a settlement just weeks before trial — a move experts say reflects the mounting costs and shrinking upside of continuing the fight.

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively on the set of "It Ends with Us" on January 12, 2024 in Jersey City, New Jersey.Credit: Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

“I think they settled because the case wasn't worth it at this point for either of them,” Schoenstein says. “The case had been reduced — his counterclaims were dismissed, and her claims were substantially narrowed. There wasn't enough to gain from going to trial given the cost, which would have been extremely high, in the millions.”

Thomas says the timing tracks with how these cases often play out.

“I see cases settle at key points, often right before filing or right before trial,” she explains. “Right before a case goes public, the value is often at its highest. Once it becomes public, the value can go down. Another common time is right before trial — we often say cases settle on the courthouse steps, which is what happened here.”

At that point, both sides weigh what a jury will actually see.

“They're looking at motions in limine — what evidence will be allowed — jury selection, the jury pool. It's all data,” Thomas says. “Her team may have believed key evidence wouldn't come in at trial, which is a big reason to settle. For Blake, that's especially important because her retaliation claim depended on evidence of harassment being admitted. If that evidence comes in, it helps her case. If not, it makes it much harder.”

Beyond cost, the risks of a public trial also loomed. “There's also the potential adverse PR impact of a trial, and all the evidence that would come out — including possibly involving other people,” Schoenstein says. “Neither side could have had strong confidence in the outcome, since juries are unpredictable.”

As the case narrowed, after the judge threw out a substantial portion of Lively's claims, including sexual harassment, leverage shifted. “She had more power initially, but after many of her claims were dismissed, that power was reduced,” Schoenstein says.

Thomas, however, believes Lively may still have held an advantage heading into settlement talks.

“I would think she did,” she says. “His countersuit was dismissed, and although 10 of her 13 claims were dismissed, she still had three strong claims heading into trial. He was more in the hot seat.”

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Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively on the set of It Ends With UsCredit: Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Both experts say reputation — not just money — likely played a central role in resolving the dispute.

“These are two very wealthy parties, so money may not have been the main issue,” Thomas says. “Reputation likely mattered more. The joint statement is telling — it seems more favorable to Blake, suggesting her claims deserved to be heard.”

Baldoni also had less exposure as the case headed to trial. "The allegations weren't as strong, and by the end, there were no claims against Baldoni personally, just against the companies," says Schoenstein.

Schoenstein agrees that even if money changed hands, it likely doesn't outweigh the broader impact.

“I don't think anyone got a payout large enough to make this worth it,” he says. “Both sides took reputational hits.”

As for what the settlement includes, both attorneys point to standard provisions like confidentiality, mutual releases and non-disparagement clauses.

“I strongly suspect there was a mutual non-disparagement clause,” Thomas says. “That's almost always included in these kinds of settlements, especially when reputation is at stake.”

The settlement was confirmed Monday, May 4, in a joint statement from attorneys representing both sides — Bryan Freedman and Ellyn Garofalo for Wayfarer, and Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson for Lively — just two weeks before the case was set to go to trial in New York.

“The end product — the movie It Ends With Us — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life,” the statement read. “Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind.”

“We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard. We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments,” the statement continued. “It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Blake Lively and Justin BaldoniCredit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty

The dispute began in December 2024, when Lively filed a complaint accusing Baldoni — her director and costar — of sexual harassment on set and alleging that he and his company engaged in a campaign to damage her reputation. Lively alleged a coordinated smear campaign against her by Baldoni and his public relations firm that she says cost her nearly $300 million in damages.

Baldoni denied the allegations and filed a $400 million countersuit, which was later dismissed.

In April, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman dismissed several of Lively's claims, including sexual harassment, defamation and civil conspiracy, while allowing others — including retaliation-related claims — to proceed. By that point, Baldoni was no longer personally named as a defendant in the remaining claims.

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