I will venture a guess their lawyers are paid in full per year, ie, retainer, regardless of any work. 

Two, although I do think the Little Guy gets stiffed much more frequently than the Big Guys with Big Bucks, look closer at  the Trump cases that keep being brought up. Not stiffed- these contractors did not fulfill their contracted obligations, so no differently than Denver and the A Line contractors, they are monetarily penalized for each day they go over the contracted time, or fail to produce a up to par product. That is just how big business is run and that is what contracts do. Hold people accountable for doing their job, usually accountable via $$$.