A complex $26 billion global deal is forging ahead after months of negotiations that will distribute money this year to thousands of cities, counties and states struggling with the nation's opioid crisis. But the process of doling out the deal's nearly $2.3 billion in attorney fees and costs has just begun.

[falcon-embed src="embed_1"]Settlement documents totaling 800 pages outline a complicated mix of attorney compensation that include a common benefit fund, contingency fees and payments to states with outside counsel. The total amount for lawyers had a ceiling; the deal's provisions required that no less than 85% of the funds go toward opioid remediation.

U.S. District Judge Dan Polster of the Northern District of Ohio, who is overseeing more than 3,000 lawsuits in the opioid multidistrict litigation, has taken an active role in the fees. On Aug. 6, he capped all contingency fees at 15%—a move to contain what he said would be "enormous" compensation to lawyers. Some contingency fee contracts signed by cities and counties promised attorneys as much as 40% of recoveries. Days later, Polster signed off on a detailed distribution plan for a $1.6 billion attorney fee fund. On Tuesday, he approved the trusts for that fund.