Pioneering class action lawyer William Lerach has agreed to plead guilty to a federal conspiracy charge involving a kickback scheme, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

The deal came after a seven-year federal investigation into allegations that Mr Lerach’s former law firm paid people to sign on as claimants in more than 150 lawsuits against major corporations.

Prosecutors said the firm netted more than $200 million in fees during a 20-year period.

Mr Lerach agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to obstruct justice and making false statements under oath, according to a statement by the US attorney’s office in Los Angeles.

He will forfeit $7.75 million to the government, pay a $250,000 fine and accept a sentence ranging from one year to two years in federal prison, the statement said.

In a statement, Mr Lerach said: “I have always fought for my clients aggressively and vigorously in order to hold powerful corporations responsible when their actions harmed people,

“However, I regrettably crossed a line and pushed too far. For my actions, I apologise and accept full responsibility for my conduct.”

The case against Lerach is part of an ongoing federal probe that led to last year’s indictment against New York law firm Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman and two of its partners.

Prosecutors accuse the firm of secretly paying more than $11 million in kickbacks to get people to take part in shareholder lawsuits, allowing its lawyers to be among the first to file litigation on behalf of shareholders and secure the lucrative position as lead plaintiffs’ counsel.

Mr Lerach and the firm’s co-founder Melvyn Weiss were not named in the 20-count indictment, which alleged the firm paid clients kickbacks so it could become the leaders in class-action litigation and therefore win a larger share of legal fees.

Mr Weiss has not been charged.

The firm, now known as Milberg Weiss, and a former partner, Stephen Schulman, pleaded not guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges. A trial is scheduled for January.

Another former partner, David Bershad, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in July and will be sentenced early next year.

Former physician Steven Cooperman also pleaded to a federal conspiracy charge for his role as a plaintiff in the alleged kickback scheme.

Mr Lerach, 61, and Mr Weiss targeted some of the US’ largest companies in litigation, including AT&T, Lucent, WorldCom, Sears, Roebuck, Microsoft and Prudential Insurance.

Mr Lerach subsequently formed his own firm but resigned last month.

His plea agreement shields the new firm, now known as Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins, from being charged in the Milberg Weiss case.

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