Porsche-racing socialite, 70, shocks Denver high society with latest antics months after winning $29.5m from oil tycoon ex to end VERY ugly divorce battle

By JOE HUTCHISON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 21:49, 13 July 2026 | Updated: 21:50, 13 July 2026 A Porsche-racing Colorado socialite has refused to pay legal fees to her own lawyers after they won her nearly $30 million in a bitter divorce, a lawsuit claimed.  Renee Brinkerhoff, 70, has held back payment from Womble Bond Dickinson who represented her as she battled her husband William Brinkerhoff in court, the firm said. The socialite, whose claim to fame was becoming the first person to race a car across all seven continents driving a 1965 Porsche, won a hefty $29.5million settlement and half her husband's restaurants in the split. According to a lawsuit, seen by BusinessDen, her legal team are still waiting on roughly $2.4 million in fees from Brinkerhoff.  Her ex paid $850,000 towards her legal bill, which totaled $3.3 million, with Brinkerhoff deferring payment while she gained access to her marital estate.  The suit said: 'At Ms. Brinkerhoff’s request, WBD agreed to temporarily defer full payment for its fees and costs while Ms. Brinkerhoff was unable to access her portion of the marital estate. Despite demand, Ms. Brinkerhoff refuses to pay.' The Daily Mail contacted Womble Bond Dickinson and Brinkerhoff for comment over the suit.  For Brinkerhoff, this is the latest in a long line of legal battles. She is also currently being sued by two contractors and she sued her ex-husband earlier this year.  Brothers Gene and Clark Atkinson claimed in their suit that she ripped them off to the tune of $4.5 million after they built one of her La Loma Mexican chain restaurants.  Renee Brinkerhoff (center), has held back payment from Womble Bond Dickinson who represented her as she battled her husband William Brinkerhoff in court, the firm claimed Renee is seen here alongside her ex-husband William Brinkerhoff. She won a hefty $29.5million settlement and half her husband's restaurants in the split Renee accused William of fraud and conspiracy in her latest lawsuit, alleging that he moved $1.1 million out of Brinkerhoff Exploration, the oil and gas company she acquired through the split. She previously told BusinessDen: 'Unfortunately, this legal matter is another instance of Bill (Brinkerhoff) deceiving and manipulating well-meaning friends to help him carry out self-interested, corrupt and injurious business practices and leaves me again with no recourse but to seek help from the court.'  Brothers Gene and Clark Atkinson said they were promptly fired from a number of projects after the divorce was finalized, leaving Clark $3.5 million short.  Clark is also suing Renee over a wrangle about a $1 million loan his company gave to William and the couple's firm Water Street Holdings (WSH), for work on several restaurants. Renee must pay the sum back as she inherited WSH's liability when she acquired it during the split, his lawsuit claims. Clark said the bust up with Renee kicked off when he notified her of the debt he claims in his lawsuit is owed to his firm, ISE LLC. Renee then sued Clark in June last year, claiming that he was wrong to demand repayment of the loan from her due to changes to the original agreement. This prompted Clark to counter-sue for $1 million. 'It is Ms. Brinkerhoff’s individual obligation to pay the debts of the entities that she was awarded as part of her divorce from Mr. Brinkerhoff,' the filing states. The former couple, who are well known in Denver as the owners of La Loma, a chain of Mexican restaurants, have hurled accusations at each other throughout their acrimonious split The socialite also hit back against Gene with a countersuit, alleging that Gene's work on the restaurants was purposely delayed and poor quality and that the invoices were fabricated. In the filing, she claimed Gene was already paid $2.9 million, so the most she could owe was roughly $732,000. The situation took a turn when the divorce court judge ruled that half of the couple's assets - and their liabilities - be awarded to Renee. Renee assumed the Parker, DTC and McGregor La Loma locations, as well as the property associated with the loan. With the La Loma spots nearly completed, Clark said Gene had offered to finish up the projects for Renee. Clark claimed she was cordial at first, but 'then she started playing games, and then she just refused to pay it.' But Renee has fiercely disputed claims that she has been avoiding paying off her debt. In her June 2025 filing against ISE LLC, she claimed the loan agreement was entered by William himself, and had nothing to do with her. She also noted that the three restaurants she was awarded in the divorce, 'have significant debt.' 'Sadly, the accusations made against me and my character are patently false and are a purposeful and deliberate mischaracterization of my life and person, as is the $3.5 million figure PAFC is claiming it is owed,' Renee previously told the Daily Mail.