"As a general rule, an attorney's lien takes precedence over other statutory liens against a recovery by way of settlement or judgment............. Section 484.130, RSMo 1994, provides that an attorney's lien attaches to a "client's cause of action or counterclaim, which attaches to a verdict, report, decision or judgment in the client's favor and the proceeds thereof in whosoever hands they may come. . . ." The statute provides that the lien "cannot be affected by any settlement between the parties before or after judgment."7

Few highlights from a good article: http://www.mobar.org/journal/2000/julaug/bradford.htm I did NOT read it all at this late hour, and its too long to copy and paste, so here's the link....