Prominent attorney Brian Steel has filed documents to join the defense team of rapper Lil Durk in his ongoing murder-for-hire case. The filing, submitted on March 6, seeks to replace current counsel Jonathan M. Brayman.
Steel is applying for pro hac vice admission, allowing him to practice in the California court despite being licensed primarily in Georgia, where he maintains good standing. Approval would add him to a notable team led by Drew Findling, who represents high-profile clients such as Cardi B, Gucci Mane, and former President Donald Trump.
Steel’s High-Profile Track Record
Steel gained prominence defending rapper Young Thug in the YSL RICO trial. He first connected with the Atlanta artist in the early 2010s and handled the complex case, which kept Young Thug incarcerated from May 2022 until October 2024, when he received 15 years of probation and time served.
“I get very close to my clients. I meet their families,” Steel stated in a recent interview. “Because if I’m going to defend somebody, I gotta be invested. I gotta believe in the person. I gotta make it where if I lose this case, it’s going to ruin my life.”
He added: “I just want to help people, ethically and zealously. And I don’t want to hurt anybody, and God willing, something good will come out.”
In April, Steel also joined Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense amid federal charges. Combs later received a 50-month sentence for violating prostitution laws, avoiding more severe sex trafficking and racketeering accusations.
Details of Lil Durk’s Case
Lil Durk, born Durk Banks and founder of OTF (Only the Family), has remained in custody since his October 2024 arrest. Authorities intercepted him attempting a private flight to Italy.
Despite Durk’s opposition, the trial has been postponed again, now set for August 20. Co-defendants requested separation from his proceedings, but Judge Michael Fitzgerald denied the motion.
Prosecutors claim Durk orchestrated a plot to assassinate rival rapper Quando Rondo during a 2022 Los Angeles shooting. Instead, Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson (known as Lul Pap), died in the crossfire. The alleged motive ties to the 2020 death of King Von (Dayvon Bennett), Durk’s close friend and collaborator.
