The Virginia State Bar Fee Dispute Resolution Program has helped lawyers and clients successfully, cheaply, and expeditiously resolve hundreds of fee disputes. Some attorneys and law practices are willing to file lawsuits to recover unpaid attorney fees and unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses.Under the "American rule," litigation parties usually pay their own attorney's fees. We can explain how Virginia law recognizes several exceptions. In establishing the Clients' Protection Fund, the Virginia State Bar did not create or acknowledge any legal responsibility for the acts of individual lawyers. I worked as an expert witness for an attorney. His client disagreed with my expert report and refused to pay the lawyer who retained me. An attorney can sue a client for non-payment of fees in a breach of contract lawsuit. Virginia State Bar number of attorney. 8. Name of client(s) or former client(s) that attorney is claiming the lien against.