Top lawyers aren't paid the most because
    they know the law the best; that's ancillary.
    They're paid big bucks because they win money
    for their clients, prevent their clients from losing 
    money and build networks to people that have 
    money to give them. 

Actually, the top people are called "rainmakers". These people are able to find, smooch and retain new customers. The technical people are the first to get laid off.