Keep guessing, I’m sure you’ll come up with some theory that pleases you
BS! If your friend was the attorney of record for the law suit representing Trump, he must not have been very good at what he does or he would have received his cut. The courts protect their own (lawyers) when it comes to fees owed. Unlike a criminal case, civil lawsuites and the attorneys of record always get their share of the cut if they win. I gaurantee you if they even had a bit of a leg to stand on they would have gone to court and got their money.