Judge blasts £20m fees in Wembley case

A judge has hit out at lawyers involved in the Wembley Stadium dispute after they ran up costs of £20 million - £1 million of which was for photocopying.

Mr Justice Jackson said the sum, billed after a four-year case, was excessive, especially considering Australian firm Multiplex was awarded £6.2 million damages from steel company Cleveland Bridge in the disagreement over who caused delays to construction.

"That level of expenditure far exceeds the sums which are seriously in dispute," he said at the High Court.

"Each party has thrown away golden opportunities to settle this litigation upon favourable terms."

Multiplex lawyers are unhappy after being awarded only 20 per cent of costs.