Texas has agreed to award the global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright more than $156 million in legal fees for its role representing the state in a landmark consumer privacy settlement with Google, underscoring how contingency agreements can deliver major payouts for private counsel in high-stakes litigation.
The fees arise from a $1.375 billion settlement reached with Google after lawsuits filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2022 alleging the tech giant improperly collected biometric data such as facial geometry and voiceprints, tracked user locations despite privacy settings, and misled consumers about the privacy protections of its Incognito mode. Under the terms of the deal, Google agreed to pay up to $190 million in legal fees, a portion of which Norton Rose Fulbright has now claimed for its work on behalf of the state.
State records obtained through a public records request show the firm’s final invoice for its representation, which was led by litigation head Joseph Graham from Norton Rose’s Houston office. The firm, which employs more than 3 000 lawyers worldwide, worked on a pair of lawsuits that settled in May, with the overall payout to Texas to benefit residents and consumers affected by Google’s alleged practices.
Google said its settlement with Texas resolved old claims, many of which it stated had already been addressed elsewhere and reflected product policies it had since changed. The company did not admit wrongdoing as part of the agreement.
The sizeable legal fee award illustrates the financial dynamics at play when private law firms partner with state attorneys general in major disputes with large technology companies. While such arrangements can amplify the resources available to government litigants, they also raise questions about the scale of payouts from public settlements and the balance between public benefit and private compensation.
