A federal judge has approved $3.5 million in attorney fees for lawyers with Block & Leviton and Nichols Kaster after they secured a settlement for John Hancock Life Insurance employees who claimed the company mismanaged their 401(k) plans.

U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns of the District of Massachusetts approved the $14 million settlement in the 9,800-person class action lawsuit, according to court papers filed in the Boston federal court Thursday. In addition to $3.5 million in attorney fees, Stearns approved $38,475 in litigation expenses, $85,000 in settlement administration expenses and $20,000 for the two class representatives.