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The judge presiding over the ongoing legal battle between Multiplex and Mott MacDonald over Wembley Stadium is urging the pair to resolve it by mediation, as he revealed that costs for both firms have risen to more than 拢75m.

Multiplex is now expected to spend 拢45.7m on the case 鈥� of which 拢12m has been spent on expert advice - leading up to next January, while Mott MacDonald鈥檚 costs will reach 拢27.5m.

It also emerged that the 拢253m case, which is due to be heard in January 2011, would now take four weeks instead of the envisaged two, leading to rising costs on both sides.

In a hearing this week Mr Justice Coulson said a mediation service 鈥渨ould be a sensible next step, to be taken sooner rather than later鈥�.

He added that should the case be heard, he will base his cost orders in part on both firms willingness to participate in mediation.

A legal source said: 鈥淭hese costs are staggering. The firms need to seriously consider mediation, otherwise whoever wins could still have costs awarded against them.鈥�

Meanwhile, Mott MacDonald continues to prepare its counter-defence, which will come in one month later than expected at the end of April.