Powerhouse attorney Brian Steel has filed to join Lil Durk's defense team in the rapper's federal murder for hire case in California, according to court papers viewed by Billboard.
Steel submitted a pending application to appear pro hac vice, which would permit him to join the team without being licensed in California, the filing states. The move seeks to replace attorney Jonathan M. Brayman on Durk's roster.
If approved, Steel would join a high profile lineup that includes Drew Findling, a defense lawyer noted in the filing. The papers note Steel is in good standing to practice law in Georgia.
Durk has been jailed since his arrest after federal agents believed he was attempting to take a private flight to Italy. Prosecutors allege Durk organized a plot tied to a Los Angeles shooting aimed at rival rapper Quando Rondo, an incident that left Rondo's cousin Lul Pap dead amid crossfire.
Prosecutors say the alleged plot was retaliation for the earlier killing of rapper King Von, who prosecutors describe as Durk's close friend and frequent collaborator. Durk's trial schedule has been delayed again, and a request by co-defendants to be severed from the trial was denied by Judge Michael Fitzgerald.
Steel's Record And Potential Impact On Trial
Steel rose to prominence representing Young Thug in the sprawling YSL RICO case, a matter that culminated in a sentence of probation and time served for that client, according to Billboard reporting. Steel has said he becomes close to clients and their families and that he invests deeply in their defense.
Billboard quoted Steel saying, "I get very close to my clients. I meet their families," and that defending someone must be an investment that could "ruin my life" if lost. He added he wants to help people ethically and zealously.
Steel also joined the defense of Diddy before that client's federal sentencing, a move referenced in the filing. Billboard's account notes Combs was sentenced for violating federal prostitution laws while avoiding higher charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Defense teams often add high profile lawyers in complex federal prosecutions, and Steel's application signals an effort to bolster Durk's California defense with attorneys experienced in large, publicized cases. How a pro hac vice admission might change courtroom dynamics remains an open legal question in the case.
