In places where "loser" pays (such as the UK), rates are capped at fairly low hourly levels and hours are also capped (or at least there is a known "reasonable" number of hours for a particular type of case).

Note also that the "loser" factors in offers to settle. So if I offer you $10,000 to settle and you refuse and the court awards only $5,000 to you, you are the one that has to pay my legal bill, even though I am the one that "lost".