COUNSEL FEES DRL § 237(a), the statutory predicate for an award of counsel fees, provides as follows: (a) In any action or proceeding brought...for a divorce...the court may direct either spouse...to pay counsel fees and fees and expenses of experts directly to the attorney of the other spouse to enable the other party to carry on or defend the action or proceeding as, in the court's discretion, justice requires, having regard to the circumstances of the case and of the respective parties.