=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2004/01/28/f= inancial1754EST0368.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, January 28, 2004 (AP) Bankruptcy lawyers bill United $59.7 million ERIK AHLBERG, Dow Jones Newswires (01-28) 20:39 PST (AP) -- CHICAGO (Dow Jones/AP) -- The law firm representing United Airlines' parent company in its bankruptcy proceedings, has requested $59.7 million in fees and expenses for the first year of the case, according to court documents. Of that amount, $55.9 million is compensation for the attorneys, which is sometimes more than $700 an hour, and $3.8 million is for expenses such as copy making, airfare and court filing costs. The documents were made available electronically Wednesday. UAL Corp., parent of United Airlines, filed for federal bankruptcy protection on Dec. 9, 2002. The Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based airline, which is undergoing a massive overhaul of its business operations and cost structure, this week said it remains on track to emerge from bankruptcy during the first half of the year. The recent disclosure, which includes the period from the bankruptcy filing itself through Dec. 31, 2003 -- or just over a year -- was made as part of a monthly fee and expense summary required of all professionals under bankruptcy law. The submissions are then reviewed and sometimes revised by a formal fee committee before the actual disbursement of funds. "Bankruptcy costs are truly expensive but necessary," said UAL spokeswom= an Jean Medina. She said that a firm's proposed fee structure is also reviewed by the company and the creditors committee before work is allowed to begin. The law firm, Kirkland & Ellis, so far has received "approved" fees and expenses of $44.8 million and $3.3 million, respectively. In December, lead attorney James H.M. Sprayregen, a Kirkland partner, billed for slightly more than 60 hours of work at $730 an hour for total compensation of $43,873. Kirkland partner David Seligman billed $118,128 for more than 250 hours = of work at a rate of $460 an hour. =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004 AP