If you ever wanted to know how big-name clients negotiate with big-name law firms about work on massive patent lawsuits, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr has given us all an instructive look.

The Boston-based firm has filed an extensive motion in San Diego federal court detailing its $8.5 million-plus price tag for work on behalf of Broadcom Corp. in a nasty patent dispute with rival Qualcomm Inc.