Compensation for legal services performed by a lawyer or law firm personnel at the request of a client, in or out of court. Attorneys’ fees may be billed on an hourly, flat-rate or contingent fee. In litigation, attorneys’ fees are separate from fines, compensatory and punitive damages, and court costs. In the instance of a lawsuit, attorney fees are not paid by the losing party to the winning party except pursuant to specific statutory or contractual rights.