Kimora Lee Simmons Embroiled in Legal Battle Over Alleged Forgery, Fraud, and Multi-Million Dollar Property Dispute

Kimora Lee Simmons, the model, entrepreneur, and former Baby Phat CEO, is currently embroiled in a series of legal battles surrounding her business ventures and financial dealings. These issues have sparked attention due to their high-profile nature, including disputes over property ownership, allegations of fraud, and connections to her husband, former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner, who faced charges for his involvement in the 1MDB scandal, according to court documents.

One of the key issues in Kimora’s legal landscape is her battle over ownership of a luxurious mansion in Beverly Hills, a property she occupies but is now under dispute. In ongoing litigation, her company, Keyway Pride Limited LLC, is contesting an alleged sale agreement made by her husband, Leissner, with a company known as 25 Beverly Park Circle PropCo LLC. Keyway Pride, which claims ownership of the property, argues that Leissner acted without proper authority when he attempted to sell the mansion in 2020. The company’s legal team even suggested that the operating agreement Leissner used to assert his authority was a “clear forgery,” adding another layer of complexity to the case  .

The spotlight on Kimora’s finances doesn’t end with the mansion dispute. Russell Simmons, her ex-husband, has raised further concerns over her involvement in several high-stakes transactions with Leissner. At the heart of these allegations is a 2018 stock purchase agreement (SPA) in which Kimora reportedly acquired nearly 4 million shares in Celsius Holdings, Inc. Simmons has claimed that this SPA, which was signed between Kimora and Leissner after his arrest in 2018, lacks the transparency of a legitimate arm’s-length transaction. In court filings, Russell argues that this transaction, purportedly exchanged for shares in a company called All Def Media LLC, could be void, as he asserts that All Def Media LLC might not legally exist .

Another contentious issue lies in Kimora’s claims regarding Keyway Pride’s structure and her control over the company’s assets. Kimora, who has asserted she is the sole manager of Keyway Pride, faces opposition from her ex-husband and Keyway’s own filings, which argue that the operating agreement does not give any single manager full authority without joint decision-making. Russell Simmons’ legal team has pointed out that even if the agreement were legitimate, the document requires both Kimora and Leissner to act together on any significant transactions, suggesting her actions could be void without mutual consent.

The trial is set to start in January 2026.