My dad did a house renovation job for a lawyer once. It was a ship of Theseus deal where it was really an entirely new house but for local rules they had to do it as a renovation. Anyways, at the end the lawyer delayed payments on several invoices and then on the last one made it close that he had no intention of paying. He welcomed my dad to sue him but let him know that he would make sure the lawsuits lasted many years.

One good rule is to never work for lawyers. Another is to stop work at the first sign of a delay in payment. Lastly, at the very least leave something critical unfinished until paid everything back due.