Pop star KE$HA is fighting a $14 million lawsuit from her former managers amid allegations she failed to honour a commission deal for helping her land a major recording contract.

Bosses at DAS Communications Inc. claim the singer signed a contract in 2006 agreeing to pay the New York-based firm 20 per cent of her earnings if they secured her a big music deal.

According to legal papers filed in New York on Wednesday, she was allowed to terminate their business relationship if they failed to do so within a year.

The managers struggled to fulfil their side of the deal but Ke$ha reportedly dismissed the deadline and continued to work with DAS.

In 2008, executives set up a deal with Warner Bros. Records - but Ke$ha's songwriter/producer pal Dr. Luke allegedly halted the negotiations and "induced, intimidated and convinced" the singer to fire DAS as her representatives in September that year.

Ke$ha eventually signed to RCA/Jive Label Group and shot to fame with her hit single TiK ToK. Her debut album, Animal, was co-produced by Dr. Luke and released in January.

He has also been named in the lawsuit and DAS bosses are seeking $12 million from the music guru himself, reports the Associated Press.

However, Ke$ha's lawyer, Charles Ortner, has hit back at the legal action, insisting the star was fully within her legal rights when she cut ties with DAS, which is run by David Sonenberg.

He says, "This lawsuit seeks to require her to pay him commissions on her RCA/Jive record deal that he (Sonenberg) had nothing to do with, long after she terminated him in writing."