Settlement Attorney Fee and Incentive Award UI

Quick answer

Attorney fee UI separates class benefit from counsel compensation with auditable math—not a single “30% of settlement” field hidden in admin settings. Design FEE- lodestar worksheets* with hours, rates, and task codes linked to fairness hearing briefs, INC- incentive awards* for named plaintiffs and cy pres allocators with conflict checks, and OBJ-FEE- objection workflows* that feed class objection intake without duplicating OBJ-CLS-* records. Every FEE-* payout must wait on APR-SET- fee approval* and run SCRUB-FEE- redaction* before any public benchmark export. Without this UI, fees disburse before court approval and incentive recipients appear without standing documentation. Start from the Figma guides hub and pair with residual fund allocation, payment disbursement, and final accounting.

Who this is for

Product designers building fee administration modules in class action and breach settlement platforms.
Settlement counsel and claims administrators who need lodestar line items—not spreadsheet exports pasted into PDFs.
Legal ops proving every INC-* recipient passed conflict and tax reporting checks before wire.

Fee allocation lifecycle overview

FeeProgram — FEE-SET992 · settlement: SET992 · Status: Lodestar draft
├── Triggers:
│   ├── Preliminary settlement agreement sets fee cap or percentage
│   ├── Court orders lodestar submission at FAIR-* hearing
│   ├── OBJ-FEE-* or OBJ-CLS-* theme: excessive fees
│   └── Common fund calculation finalized from claims pool
├── ID namespace:
│   ├── FEE-* (fee request) · LOD-* (lodestar line) · MLT-* (multiplier)
│   ├── INC-* (incentive award) · OBJ-FEE-* (fee-specific objection)
│   ├── BENCH-FEE-* (benchmark settlement) · APR-FEE-* (fee approval order)
│   ├── DISB-FEE-* (fee disbursement batch) · W-9-FEE-* (tax form)
│   ├── SCRUB-FEE-* (public redaction) · LOG-FEE-* (fee audit)
│   ├── LINK-FAIR · LINK-APR · LINK-CY · LINK-TAX
│   └── NET-FEE-* (net to counsel after costs and incentives)
├── Fee models:
│   ├── Lodestar · percentage of common fund · hybrid cap
│   ├── Fee shift from defendant · cy pres fee skimming (jurisdiction-dependent)
│   ├── Costs reimbursement · expert witness fees · notice campaign costs
│   └── Reduction on appeal · RMD-* remand fee cap
├── Workflow:
│   ├── Import time entries · map to LOD-* categories
│   ├── Apply MLT-* multiplier with justification narrative
│   ├── Allocate INC-* per court guidelines · conflict check
│   ├── Publish fee summary for OBJ-FEE-* period
│   ├── File BRIEF-FEE-* · respond to objections
│   ├── Capture APR-FEE-* approved amount
│   ├── DISB-FEE-* wire to firms · W-9-FEE-* · 1099 track
│   └── Reconcile in [final accounting](/designing-breach-settlement-final-accounting-and-court-closure-ui-in-figma/)
└── Outcomes:
    ├── Transparent fee-to-benefit ratio for court and class
    ├── INC-* documented and taxed correctly
    └── No fee wire before APR-FEE-* and STY-* clear

FEE-* state	Class member view	Counsel view
Draft LOD-*	Hidden	Edit hours · rates
Published for objection	Summary in notice	OBJ-FEE-* open
OBJ-FEE- pending*	FAQ: fee under review	Response due
APR-FEE- approved*	Approved fee in FAQ	DISB-FEE-* unlocked
Reduced on appeal	Updated summary	Clawback or holdback
Paid	Final ratio in closure notice	1099 issued

Verdict: DISB-FEE- must require APR-FEE- and clear STY-* from appeal UI—not manual finance override.**

LOD-* lodestar worksheet and MLT-* multiplier UI

LodestarWorksheet — FEE-992-LOD · hours: 12,440 · Status: Under review
├── Line entry (LOD-*):
│   ├── Date range · attorney USR-GST-* · role (partner · associate · paralegal)
│   ├── Task code: discovery · mediation · notice · claims admin · FAIR-* prep
│   ├── Hours · blended or individual rate · extended amount
│   ├── Narrative: specific work · link DEP-* · DSQ-* · FAIR-* event
│   └── Duplicate LOD-* detection · block billing flag
├── Adjustments:
│   ├── Court-ordered rate cap · jurisdiction schedule
│   ├── Exclude non-compensable tasks (client development · duplicate)
│   ├── MLT-* multiplier: 1.0–2.0 with factor checklist
│   └── Compare to BENCH-FEE-* similar breach settlements table
├── Common fund tie-in:
│   ├── Gross settlement · claims paid · cy pres · admin costs
│   ├── Fee as % of common fund · court reasonableness threshold
│   ├── Side-by-side: class recovery per member vs total FEE-*
│   └── SCRUB-FEE-* before public BENCH-FEE-* export
├── Outputs:
│   ├── PDF lodestar for BRIEF-FEE-* · e-file attachment
│   ├── Chart for EXH-FAIR-* at [fairness hearing](/designing-breach-settlement-fairness-hearing-and-class-objection-ui-in-figma/)
│   └── [Compliance export](/designing-compliance-exports-and-legal-hold-ui-in-figma/) for insurer
└── Integration:
    ├── Pull notice campaign costs from LINK-NOT-*
    └── Expert costs from [expert designation](/designing-breach-settlement-expert-witness-designation-and-report-review-ui-in-figma/)

Use tables for LOD-* grids, sliders for MLT-* preview (read-only in production), and cards for benchmark comparisons.

INC-* incentive award and representative plaintiff UI

IncentiveAward — INC-992-003 · recipient: CLM-4410 · Status: Pending court approval
├── Eligibility:
│   ├── Named plaintiff · class representative · active OBJ-CLS-* filer (jurisdiction rules vary)
│   ├── Standing documentation · declaration on file
│   ├── Conflict check: not counsel employee · not administrator affiliate
│   └── Cap as % of FEE-* or flat court guideline
├── Award types:
│   ├── Service award · out-of-pocket costs · risk premium
│   ├── Cy pres allocator honorarium (nonprofit board member)
│   └── Claims liaison stipend (strict disclosure)
├── Workflow:
│   ├── Propose INC-* in settlement agreement · publish in notice
│   ├── OBJ-FEE-* or OBJ-CLS-* may challenge INC-* specifically
│   ├── APR-FEE-* or APR-SET-* includes INC-* approval line
│   ├── Tax: W-9-FEE-* · 1099 classification · [tax reporting UI](/designing-breach-settlement-tax-reporting-and-1099-ui-in-figma/)
│   └── DISB-FEE-* or separate DISB-INC-* batch
├── Privacy:
│   ├── Public notice: amount range · not full SSN
│   ├── Sealed INC-* declaration if safety concern
│   └── SCRUB-FEE-* on published fee summary
└── Common mistakes prevented:
    ├── Duplicate INC-* to same CLM-*
    └── INC-* paid before APR-FEE-* fee approval

Pair with forms for recipient intake and badges for conflict-check status.

OBJ-FEE-* fee objection and APR-FEE-* approval UI

FeeObjection — OBJ-FEE-992-012 · objector: OBJ-CLS-992-041 · Status: Verified
├── Distinct from generic OBJ-CLS-*:
│   ├── OBJ-FEE-* auto-tags GND-FAIR-* theme: excessive fees
│   ├── Pre-filled comparison: requested FEE-* vs BENCH-FEE-* median
│   ├── Links LOD-* lines objector challenges (if public summary)
│   └── May merge into grouped RSP-OBJ-* at FAIR-* hearing
├── Objector tools:
│   ├── Slider: "reasonable fee" counter-proposal (non-binding)
│   ├── Upload benchmark settlements · expert fee study
│   └── Request sealed review of confidential rate data
├── Counsel response:
│   ├── RSP-FEE-* per OBJ-FEE-* or theme
│   ├── Offer fee reduction · MLT-* decrease · cost shift
│   └── LOG-FEE-* negotiation history (not public)
├── APR-FEE-* capture:
│   ├── Approved gross fee · approved INC-* list
│   ├── Holdback for appeal · escrow DISB-FEE-* partial
│   ├── Modified cy pres if fee skimming ordered
│   └── Effective date · wire authorization signatures
└── Post-approval:
    ├── Update [notice FAQ](/designing-breach-faq-and-notice-landing-page-ui-in-figma/)
    ├── Unlock DISB-FEE-* if STY-* clear
    └── Feed [fund reconciliation](/designing-breach-settlement-fund-reconciliation-and-bank-matching-ui-in-figma/)

Use progress indicators for objection review stages and modals for counter-offer acceptance.

DISB-FEE-* disbursement and cost recovery UI

FeeDisbursement — DISB-FEE-992-B1 · amount: $2,840,000 · Status: Pending wire
├── Split rules:
│   ├── Multi-firm fee sharing · percentage by LOD-* contribution
│   ├── Costs first: notice vendor · expert · administrator pass-through
│   ├── NET-FEE-* to lead counsel · referral fee lines
│   └── INC-* separate wires · same APR-FEE-* gate
├── Controls:
│   ├── Require APR-FEE-* · no STY-* · [counsel payout approval](/designing-breach-settlement-counsel-review-and-payout-approval-ui-in-figma/)
│   ├── Bank match to [reconciliation UI](/designing-breach-settlement-fund-reconciliation-and-bank-matching-ui-in-figma/)
│   ├── W-9-FEE-* valid · OFAC check on firm entities
│   └── Holdback % until [final accounting](/designing-breach-settlement-final-accounting-and-court-closure-ui-in-figma/)
├── Reporting:
│   ├── Class-facing fee ratio in closure package
│   ├── [Court monitor](/designing-breach-settlement-court-monitor-and-special-master-reporting-ui-in-figma/) fee exhibit
│   └── [External auditor](/designing-breach-settlement-external-auditor-access-and-read-only-review-portal-ui-in-figma/) read-only DISB-FEE-* log
└── Failure handling:
    ├── Returned wire · same as [returned payment UI](/designing-breach-settlement-returned-payment-and-reissue-ui-in-figma/)
    └── Appeal reduction · [clawback](/designing-breach-settlement-clawback-and-overpayment-recovery-ui-in-figma/) from firm escrow

Comparison: lodestar vs common fund percentage vs hybrid

Dimension	Lodestar + MLT-*	Common fund %	Hybrid cap
Court scrutiny	Line-by-line hours	Single ratio	Both · lower wins
OBJ-FEE- focus*	Block billing · rates	Percentage vs benchmark	Which component exceeded cap
Data entry burden	High · time imports	Low · one calculation	Medium
Best for	Contested FAIR-*	Quick admin settlements	Large breach classes
Public transparency	Summary table · sealed detail	Single ratio prominent	Split disclosure
Appeal risk	Hours challenged	Benchmark challenged	Dual grounds

Common mistakes

DISB-FEE- wired at preliminary APR-SET- without APR-FEE-***— court order violation; clawback required.
INC- paid to counsel affiliate without conflict flag*— fairness hearing defect; remand risk.
LOD- includes claims administration hours billed to class and counsel*— double dip; OBJ-FEE-* sustained.
BENCH-FEE- export includes sealed settlement amounts*— SCRUB-FEE-* failure; competitive harm.
Fee holdback ignored during STY-*— full wire before appeal resolved.

Recommended workflow

Build LOD- from time systems* · apply caps · calculate MLT-* with checklist.
Publish fee summary · open OBJ-FEE-* window aligned with OBJ-CLS-* portal.
File BRIEF-FEE- · respond to objections* · present at FAIR-* hearing.
Capture APR-FEE-* · set holdback · verify STY-* clear.
Run DISB-FEE- and DISB-INC-** · W-9-FEE-* · reconcile · 1099.
Archive LOG-FEE-* per retention policy.

FAQ

Fees paid from cy pres before class claims?

Jurisdiction-dependent · show waterfall chart · block DISB-FEE-* if claims pool unfunded per court order · link cy pres UI.

Objector wants sealed lodestar review?

Sealed LOD- volume* · USR-GST-* access only · SCRUB-FEE-* on public summary · protective order if needed.

Multi-district fee allocation?

FEE- per MDL share* · consolidate BENCH-FEE-* · separate DISB-FEE-* per settling defendant contribution.

Fee appeal only— claims still pay?

Partial STY-* · DISB-FEE-* frozen · claimant DISB-* continues · see appeal UI.

Administrator fee separate from counsel FEE-*?

ADM-FEE- track* · pass-through in LOD-* or separate line · disclose in notice · same APR-FEE-* or distinct court approval.

1099 for INC-* service award?

Yes · link tax reporting UI · W-9-FEE-* before DISB-INC-*.

Next steps

Design breach settlement fairness hearing and class objection UI in Figma — OBJ-CLS-* fee themes and BRIEF-FAIR-* fee sections
Design breach settlement appeal and mandamus review UI in Figma — fee-only STY-* and reduction on appeal
Design breach settlement residual fund and cy pres allocation UI in Figma — fee skimming and cy pres fee interactions
Design breach settlement fund reconciliation and bank matching UI in Figma — DISB-FEE-* bank match
Design breach settlement tax reporting and 1099 UI in Figma — W-9-FEE-* and INC-* tax forms

Designing breach settlement attorney fee allocation and incentive award UI in Figma: FEE-* lodestar, INC-* incentive awards, and OBJ-FEE-* objection workflows