The University of Michigan paid nearly $62,000 to a prominent law firm for an initial investigation into allegations that former football coach Sherrone Moore had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, according to records obtained by news outlets.
The university hired Chicago-based Jenner & Block in November 2025 to probe the claims involving Moore and his executive assistant, Paige Shiver. The firm billed $61,887.60 for about two weeks of work, with hourly rates exceeding $2,000 for some attorneys, documents show.
The invoice, after a 10% discount, included charges from three lawyers: one at $2,345 per hour, another at $1,610 per hour and a third at $1,305 per hour. The probe began Nov. 13, 2025, and contributed to Moore’s firing on Dec. 10, 2025, after the school found “credible evidence” of misconduct.
Moore, 39, who became Michigan’s first Black head football coach in 2024, was dismissed amid the scandal. He faced additional scrutiny after a Dec. 9, 2025, incident at Shiver’s home, leading to his arrest. Shiver, 32, alleged Moore stalked her, threatened suicide, and brandished a butter knife during a confrontation. New evidence, though, has come out that Shiver may not have been truthful with authorities.
Public payroll records show Shiver’s salary rose 55% to $90,000 in the 2024-25 fiscal year, up from $58,025, fueling speculation about the relationship. The university has not confirmed a link between the raise and the affair.
The investigation’s scope later expanded to review the athletic department’s culture under athletic director Warde Manuel, potentially increasing costs to hundreds of thousands or more. Jenner & Block previously investigated former university president Mark Schlissel in 2022 for similar misconduct allegations.
University officials declined to comment on the ongoing probe. Moore’s attorney has denied the assault allegations, and a probable cause hearing is pending.
The scandal has roiled Michigan’s storied football program, which won the national championship in 2023 under former coach Jim Harbaugh.
Flip the pages for photos of Paige Shiver, the woman who took down Sherrone Moore.
