Securities class action filings last year hit the highest level since 2008, according to a report by NERA Economic Consulting, with 234 new cases—an increase of 8 percent over 2014.

A relatively modest 108 cases settled, but plaintiffs lawyers did well, raking in more than $1 billion in fees. The big winners included Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, which was lead or co-lead counsel in four of the year’s 10 biggest payouts.