The phrase "contingent basis" means that something will happen only if a specific condition or event occurs. In other words, it is dependent or reliant on certain circumstances. Full definition
On this humanistic and historically contingent basis there is actually a certain logic in applying «rights» only to some human beings. (faith.org.uk)
After the launch of our portfolio funding product with law firms at the end of 2014, we saw significant demand in the offering from lawyers interested in working on a partial contingent basis and we rolled this out across a number of leading firms with particular interest from the arbitration community. (therium.com)
Among the most inefficient uses of capital by law firms is the way that most firms now pay for case expenses — that is, for all the experts, local counsel, discovery costs, tribunal costs and other non-time-based disbursements they must cover in order to bring commercial litigation and arbitration to fruition when they work on a fully contingent basis. (burfordcapital.com)